Our extended zazenkai schedule is generally as follows:
Friday Afternoon
4:30-6:00(?) Oryoki instruction, as needed; service instruction, as needed.
Saturday
5:00-5:25 Coffee and tea
5:30-6:10 Gatha of Atonement/zazen
6:20-7:00 zazen
7:10-7:50 zazen
7:50-8:30 service
8:30-9:00 breakfast
9:00-10:00 break
10:00-10:20 zazen
10:40-11:40 Dharma Talk
11:50-12:10 zazen
12:10-12:20 service
12:20-1:00 lunch
1:00-2:50 break
2:50-3:20 zazen
3:30-4:00 zazen
4:10-4:40 zazen (Note: Some Zazenkai events end after this period.)
[If ending early, 4:40 – 4:50 Nenju]
4:50-5:10 zazen
5:10-5:20 service
5:20-6:00 dinner
6:00-7:00 break
7:00-7:30 zazen
7:40-8:10 zazen
8:20-8:50 zazen
8:50-9:00 Four Bodhisattva Vows
Oryoki (formal meal) instruction is usually scheduled for 4:30 of the Friday afternoon preceding a zazenkai. It is mandatory that first-time participants attend this instruction session. If time allows, there will also be some instruction in service formalities.
We are sometimes asked whether it is OK to come to just the Dharma talk. This is fine, but we prefer that those who come for the talk commit to the period of meditation that precedes it. In other words, if you want to come mainly for the talk, plan on arriving just before the 10:00 AM period of zazen and staying until 11:40, when the talk ends. If you cannot commit to the period of zazen before the talk, please arrive promptly at 10:30 AM, so that we can seat you in time for the talk. We appreciate your cooperation.
