Q: When is the weekly practice? A: Our weekly practice is every Sunday from 5:30 - 7:30 pm. Check our calendar for any cancellations. Please arrive in time to be seated by 5:30 pm. If this is your first time, please arrive a few minutes early for a short orientation. Leave your shoes and your worries outside the door. We invite the bell for sitting meditation promptly at 5:30 pm.
Q: What should I expect when I come to the weekly practice? A: Our typical weekly practice are as follows:
5 min briefing and introduction to meditation and mindfulness outside the door for first-timers
20 min of either silent or guided sitting meditation facing away from the center
10 min of silent walking meditation
20 min of silent sitting meditation
Incense offering and chanting
10 min break
scheduled program for the evening (see our calendar)
for example, we regularly recite the 5 and 14 mindfulness trainings, study sutras, and discuss topics such as handling strong emotions, conquering fear, ect.
Dharma Sharing – the group shares about their experiences regarding the topic of the evening or about insights gained from their daily practices of mindfulness
Q. What is the cost of attendance? A: There is no cost to attend. There is a “Dana” (donation) basket on the back table if you would like to help support our community pay for cost of rent and utilities.
Q: What should I bring? A: Just your full awareness and open-mindedness! Wear comfortable clothing as we will be performing sitting and walking meditation. You could also bring a light sweater if you get cold easily. We provide cushions and chairs. If you require a special pillow or sitting stool, feel free to bring it with you.
Q: Why is there a bell and what is it for? A: When we invite the Bell, it is to invite Mindfulness. A bell reminds us to stop and come home to ourselves and be fully aware of our body, speech, and mind in the present moment. The sound of the bell is calling out to us:
Listen, listen, This wonderful sound Brings me back, To my true home.
By stopping to breathe and restore our calm and our peace, we become free, our work becomes more enjoyable, and the friend in front of us becomes more real. With just three mindful breaths, we can release the tensions in our body and mind and return to a cool and clear state of being.