Zazen:
Morning Meditation:
Everyday at 7:00 AM Eastern USA.
On Saturdays and Sundays there will be a chant at 7:40am led by one of our novice priests.
Meditation In Person:
Otter Creek Yoga at Marbleworks in Middlebury;
Monday-Friday at 7:00 – 7:40 AM
Online:
On zoom: Register here for the Zoom
Saturday and Sunday 7:00 – 8:00am
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.