Our meditation hall — the No Barriers Temple — is a space of quiet, care, and collective intention.

This simple guide offers orientation for how we move and practice in this space, so we can support one another and the depth of our shared silence.

A Culture of Welcome

This is not a monastery for the few. It is a zendo for the many. We welcome people of all backgrounds, identities, abilities, and levels of experience. Whether you’ve been practicing Zen for decades or you’re stepping into stillness for the first time, there’s a place for you. If you’re unsure what to do, ask. If you forget something, just return to the breath and the body. We are a “family style” practice community. There’s no disciplinarian, just the joy of the opportunity to sit in meditation with others.  

Before You Enter

Arrive Early: Aim to arrive at least 5 -15 minutes early. This gives you time to settle, greet others quietly, and enter the hall with intention.

Dress Simply: Wear comfortable, loose clothing that doesn’t distract you or others. Leave your shoes near the front door on the mat or on the shelves. You can wear socks or be barefoot.

Silence Your Devices: Before entering the zendo, please turn off your phone and put it away. Even vibrate mode can disrupt the stillness.

Entering the Zendo

Enter Quietly: Pause briefly at the doorway to bow—a moment to gather yourself. Then enter with soft steps and a quiet mind.

Find Your Seat: If you’re new or unsure, ask someone where to sit. Choose a cushion, bench, or chair. You don’t need to sit on the floor unless that’s comfortable for your body.

Standing Bow: Once you find your place, bow toward your cushion before sitting, then stand facing the center of the room, bow with palms together. This is a simple act of joining the community of practice and welcoming each other.

During Sitting Meditation

(Zazen or Themeless Meditation)

Posture: Sit in a way that is upright and relaxed. You can sit on a cushion, bench, or chair. Hands resting in one another with the thumbs touching, if that’s comfortable, or resting gently in your lap.

Stillness: Once seated, do your best to remain still. If you need to shift, do so mindfully. If you must leave, wait until a transition period (like walking) if possible.

Silence: We practice simply and in silence—there are no themes to our meditation, and spoken words are set aside unless it is a time that includes chanting (weekends) or teaching (Wednesdays). We enjoy just sitting, perhaps as if you were under a tree looking out on a still lake.

Mindfulness of Others: Be aware of your body and breath, but also of those practicing beside you. We sit alone and together, supporting each other’s practice as we cultivate our own.

Walking Meditation (Kinhin)

When the bell rings, we stand together and begin simple walking meditation. Simple instructions will be given.

Hands are held simply folded gently in front.

We walk in a slow, even pace following a leader around the perimeter of the long corridor.

This is not a break from meditation—it’s themeless meditation in motion, and a time to move our legs after a period of stillness. You can place your attention on the sensations of your feet slowly touching the earth.

Chanting & Service

At times we chant together, using chant books or printed sheets. Join in if you feel comfortable, or simply listen and absorb the rhythm and sound.

Chanting is a communal offering of energy and attention, not a performance. Mistakes are as much a part of the practice as our solid effort to do the movements together.

Bowing and Forms

We bow in gratitude and connection—not out of obligation.

If you’re unfamiliar with the movements of the body (called “forms”), follow along as best you can, and don’t worry. Someone near you has probably been unsure before, too.

We use simple bows:

Standing bow: Palms together, bow from the waist.

Full prostration: Optional. If you do this, it’s a way of offering the whole body to the practice and touching the earth—a way of remembering that you belong here, right now.

Leaving the Zendo

At the end of the period, we bow and leave in silence.

If you need to go early, do so with care and as little disruption as possible.

We often have informal conversation after practice—feel free to stay and connect. But in the zendo, we keep the stillness and silence.

A Note About Mistakes

We all forget, stumble, and fidget. That’s not a problem. Practice is not about getting it right—it’s about showing up, returning, and deepening our capacity to meet each moment with awareness and compassion. If you forget to bow, if your phone rings, if you sit down in the “wrong” place—it’s okay. We return. That’s what we do.

Instructions on Sitting Meditation

Each morning and each evening, practice sitting meditation for at least five minutes. Find a comfortable, quiet place. If you’d like, create a small altar with a candle, incense, and some flowers. You can sit on a chair or on a cushion on the floor.

Posture is important. It’s both an expression of awakening and a way to support the natural flow of breath.

If you sit on a chair, place your feet flat on the floor and sit upright, away from the back of the chair.

If you sit on the floor, use a cushion or meditation bench to lift your seat so your knees can rest easily on the ground. You can sit cross-legged in full or half lotus, or in any variation that works for you. Sitting in seiza (kneeling with your weight on your lower legs) is also an option. A cushion or bench can be used here, too, for added support.

Align your posture by lining up your ears with your shoulders and your nose with your navel. Let your shoulders fall back and your chin drop slightly. Find a hand position that’s natural and supportive. One traditional way is to place the back of your left hand in your right palm, with thumbs lightly touching to form a circle, and rest that circle at your lower belly. Or simply rest your hands in your lap or on your thighs.

Your eyes can be open or closed. If open, let your gaze rest softly on a spot on the floor a few feet in front of you. If closed, just be careful not to drift off to sleep.

Discomfort may arise. Sit with it gently for a while. If it continues, shift your posture slowly and mindfully until it eases. Over time, your “sitting muscles”—physical, mental, and spiritual—will grow stronger.