Zendo Etiquette

This is a brief guide to etiquette in the Zendo. With experience we develop familiarity with the forms of practice. No one is expected to remember everything every time. When in doubt, follow the lead of other participants.

Always leave shoes outside the zendo or zendo area. On entering the zendo have hands in gassho, step in left foot first, bow into the zendo toward the Butsudan (Altar) and with hands still in gassho, proceed to a seat. Bow to your cushion before taking your seat. When entering the zendo as part of a group, such as returning from an outside kinhin, the teacher bows for the group. Whenever walking in the zendo either alone or in kinhin, always keep to the perimeter. Don't walk diagonally across the zendo.

Two strikes of the wooden clappers means stand up; either for bowing or for kinhin. Zazen starts on the striking of three bells. Refrain from voluntary movement or sounds during zazen. Zazen ends with a single bell.

Kinhin is the walking meditation between zazen periods. At the start of kinhin, place hands in sasshu. Always turn to your left to start kinhin. Maintain a constant distance from the person you follow. At the sound of the single clapper strike, place hands in gassho, and bow to your seat before getting into position for zazen. During walking kinhin participants may use the rest rooms or leave the zendo for other purposes if necessary. On leaving the kinhin line, step out of line and bow towards the person behind you. On returning to the kinhin line, enter at your "place" in the line, bowing towards the person you step in front of as you re-enter the line.

On leaving the zendo at the end of a sitting, return chant cards to the table by the door. Bow into the room as you leave.

When reciting sutras (Chanting), hands are to be held in gassho for the Homage and Refuge chants, and after that you may either remain in gassho, or place hands in Dhyana mudra. Hands should also be in gassho for the recitation of the Bodhisattva Vows.