Practice Our practice of Zen points directly to the core of Reality beyond all beliefs, scriptures, rituals and other distracting preoccupations of mind, so that sincere practitioners may see into their deepest nature and live from it, and thus ultimately realize Buddha-nature for themselves in this very lifetime. This practice results in the development of peace and joy, a clearer mind and a more open non-judgmental compassionate heart, and gratitude for what each day brings.

Gradually, through dedicated practice, one becomes more and more free, so that with clarity of mind and eye and unfettered hands, one can respond ever more appropriately to one’s karma and contribute benevolently to the world. Authentic Zen has nothing to do with China, Japan, India, Korea or any cultural trappings, but rather with the human heart and mind, with the sources of suffering and inner bondage, and the Way of liberation from this suffering and bondage into the lasting inner happiness and freedom that is the birthright of every human being. The basis of this practice is a form of sitting meditation called zazen. A zazen meeting is held on Tuesday evenings in Amherst, MA starting at 7:30 PM and on Wednesday evenings in Coventry, CT starting at 7 PM. At these meetings, there are three periods of zazen of 35 minutes each. Between each period is 7 minutes of kinhin (walking meditation).

In the last period, our teacher gives a teisho (Dharma talk), a dokusan (private interview on practice), or a darshan (open question and answer period), or, in our teacher's absence, an audiotape of a previous teisho is heard. Several intensive meditation retreats (sesshin), mostly of one week duration, are held each year in a monastery. Introductory workshops on Zen practice are given periodically. Our teacher is willing to meet with sincere persons at other times to discuss the practice. He also teaches in Europe. Please call one of the phone numbers below for directions or further information.

^{This page was last modified on September 3, 2002.}

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