ZAZEN AT HOME After you have experienced Zazen in formal meditation at Daibutsuji, or in a Zendo nearby your home, We would like to encourage you to begin practicing each day at home. All that is required is a personal resolve to take the first step, that and a desire to come to terms with the ups and downs of this precious daily life. As your practice develops you may find that the concentration sharpens, those little things that kept you on edge are easier to deal with, you will be able to focus more of your energies on the work at hand making it more enjoyable and lastly, you will begin to know yourself. (We know that inside each one of us lurks a really nice, worthwhile entity with love to give, contributions to make and harboring hopes and dreams. There may also be confusion, questions with no answers, hurts and perhaps even anger.) The practice of Zazen is a most effective tool to deal with these problems and most importantly you deserve the benefits derived from sitting. (THE REWARDS ARE MANIFOLD!)

Here then are some suggestions for your practice: Select a Place in your home that will provide few distractions and privacy. It should be tidy, moderate temperature and not too dark or too brightly lit. At this location place a zafu (round meditation cushion) close enough to the wall that when you are seated your knees are a few inches from touching the wall. Select a time (this is the hard part!) to sit. After arising from bed is best but so is after work or before retiring. The important thing is to be as regular as you can. Don't start out with 30 minutes duration unless you are honestly comfortable in seated posture for that time. For the beginner, ten or fifteen minutes of correct posture, breathing and mental tautness is far better than 30 minutes of discomfort. Then, as your practice matures, you can lengthen the sessions to 30-45 minutes.

Wear loose fitting clothes that don't bind at the waist or ankles. (May We point out that sweat shirt and pants are great for Zazen.) Don't sit on a full stomach or until an hour after eating. You may wish to have a small inspirational reminder near where you sit such as a picture or a small image or how about a flower? You may even want to burn a stick of incense but this is a matter of choice. Now you are all set

Here is the ritual of Zazen. (Follow these instructions closely. They may seem strange at first but as you practice each aspect will unfold its meaning to you.) Rinse off your hands and dry them. With reverence and a calm heart stand at your cushion facing the wall. Place your hands together in prayer-like position or gassho and bow slightly to your cushion. Be seated on the front half of the cushion and place your legs in either full or half lotus. Straighten your back and neck, chin tucked in. Look down at about a 45" angle with the eyes slightly open but not focused. The hands are placed in the lap palms up left on right with the thumb tips lightly touching. Rock left and right to settle. Breathe down into the belly or Hara. Breathe naturally, Relax the shoulders, but don't slouch. Clear the mind - think of not thinking. a busy mind can be quieted by counting each in or out-breath. Count to ten and then start over. If you lose count - that's OK; start over. When your Zazen is completed, bow with your hands in gassho, Sit a moment longer and just FEEL - don't rush off your cushion and jump back into the rat- race. Get up slowly and bow again to your cushion. Try to carry this tranquil feeling with you. Can you do this once a day? If you will, you will be giving yourself one of the greatest of all treasures --- and it is free!

There you have it - how to practice at home. Come to the temple as often as you can to receive personal instruction. Establish in your heart the resolve to practice, to grow spiritually and in doing so to know yourself. TO LEARN BUDDHISM IS TO STUDY YOURSELF TO STUDY YOURSELF IS TO FORGET YOURSELF TO FORGET YOURSELF IS TO BE ENLIGHTENED BV ALL THINGS DOGEN ZENJI