Zen is both a practice that we do and an expression of who we are. At its heart, Zen is the direct experience of reality as it is in each moment. It points us over and over to this moment, inviting us to become intimate with our lives and the world around us. When we empty ourselves of our preferences and our ideas of how things should be, innate wisdom, compassion, joy and creativity simply emerge as our natural response.

In Zen, there is nothing to do or achieve – we are already fundamentally free, whole and interdependent with all things. And yet, as Shunryu Suzuki said, “Each of you is perfect the way you are … and you can use a little improvement.” Through practice, we awaken to who we really are, and we awaken to the desire to serve others and respond to the suffering in the world.

The primary practice in the Zen tradition is zazen or seated meditation. We simply sit down with our spines upright and pay attention to the rhythm of the breath, becoming present, alert and relaxed. It is through returning to our cushions over and over that insights begin to filter through our habitual patterns, thoughts and behaviors. This simple practice of just sitting is a powerful tool of self-inquiry, boundless in its ability to reveal the true nature of being. Slowly, we realign with our inherent luminous nature, and we begin to respond naturally to our lives with wisdom and compassion.

We place a premium on sitting Zazen in community.  The intention to wake up together enhances the efficacy of our individual and collective practice. Please read on for more details about the structure and form of online Zazen with Dragon Lake and Dragon Moon Zen.

As a reminder, Online Sitting is available weekdays, Monday-Friday*: 

6-7am PT | 7-8am MT | 8-9am CT | 9-10am ET |

2-3pm BST | 3-4pm CEST

To find your time zone, click HERE. 

The link to join is:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86841352776?pwd=TXdGaGIweFBobmU4UXJwd0tqTENMUT09

Online Sitting Meeting ID: 868 4135 2776
Your Private Passcode: 852850

• Find a quiet, distraction-free space.  Ideally, use the same space every day.
• If you are sitting on the floor with a cushion, find a low table or box to put your computer (or phone) slightly below eye level.
• If you are sitting on a chair, we recommend that you sit on the edge of the chair, with your feet flat on the floor below the knees.  Your computer or phone can be on a desk or table.
• In all cases, please turn your camera on with enough light so we can see your face.  
• Try to minimize distractions that the camera can “see.”   We love your children and pets, but onscreen movement will draw attention.   

• Arrive 2 to 3 minutes early, sitting periods start at 7:00 and 7:30.
• Bow when you arrive and settle in.
• The bell will be struck 3 times at 7:00, twice at 7:30.
• Please sit still as you can for the 30 minute period
• If you are staying a full hour, you can stretch and re-adjust your posture after the 7:30 bell, please turn off your camera as you stretch and re-adjust.  Turn on the camera when you are settled in.

• When leaving at 7:30, simply exit the Zoom meeting
• The host will recite a brief chant at 8:00.  Exit the meeting after the chant is completed.

If needed, sitting instructions are available on Mondays and Tuesday – send a chat message to Butsudo Sensei if you need instruction.

Dokusan is a Japanese word for a one-on-one meeting with a teacher.  Dokusan is a great opportunity to explore questions about your practice and life.  Our teachers are committed to being available for 10 minute dokusan periods on a regular basis as shown below:

Monday: Genki Sensei

Wednesday: Butsudo Sensei

Thursday: Daishin Sensei

Friday: Teisui Sensei 

The Senseis also support the training of the monks of Two Arrows Zen, the center where we all trained together.  You might see them holding dokusan for these monks at other times than listed above.

• The teacher holding dokusan will type a chat message to everyone that dokusan is available
• If you aren’t interested in dokusan that day, just keep sitting
• If you are interested, please indicate so by responding to that teacher’s chat message.
  • Please remember that chat messages can only be seen if the recipient is in the same room.  If the teacher is in a breakout room, they will not see your message, even when they return into the main room.
• The teacher will determine who they are able to see and invite them into a breakout room

• Make sure your microphone is on
• Make a bow
• Say “My name is _________, and my question is_______________”
• When the dokusan is over, leave the breakout room and rejoin the sit.