ZazWhen?

[Snow]

When do you fit Zazen into your daily life that you find best/most skillful?

For example, first thing in the morning after hitting the facilities? Maybe after a shower and breakfast… or before?

If you have an exercise routine, does Zazen workout better for you before or after?

Same questions for the evening.

Of course I understand that there is no bad Zazen (even the bad Zazen, eh Jundo?) but surely there are a variety of times and circumstances that members of the sangha have found to be most conducive/skillful?

I’m working on refining my own practice, and daily Zazen is most definitely a key part of that, but where do you all put your keys?

Gassho

-Snow/Erik

IMG_2648.webp

[Onsho]

I sit most days in the evening, 9:30pm for half an hour. I have picked the easiest time that I can be consistent with, this way its never a struggle to prioritize. I sit with one of our sitting groups and it supports the others that do the same. I “sit” the most while working, samu is a very big part of my practice.

Gassho
Onsho
satlah

[Onkai]

I also usually sit starting at 9-9:30 in the evening for half an hour. Sometimes I do it in the afternoon. On Friday nights I practice with the Zazenkai.

Gassho Onkai
Sat lah

[Shinshi]

I sit to start my day. I find that works best for me. I will sit at other times just kind of depending on the day and what is going on. And I am a big fan of insta-zazen - sitting when you find a spare moment in the day. I have more formal sits on the weekend when I have more time.


Gassho, Shinshi

SaT-LaH

[Guest]

I usually sit for between 20 and 30 minutes shortly after getting up, having a quick wash, a drink of water, and some light exercise/stretching.

Typically that’s between 0430 and 0500 (If I leave it later the chances of being distracted by our 1-year old waking up increases).

if I’m not falling asleep, I sometimes sit for a while before bed, between 2030 and 2200, but usually that’s a shorter sit.

I always liked the early mornings, the quiet and cool suits sitting and I'm generally a lot calmer, but really it’s a matter of what fits my schedule.

I rarely get the chance to sit with the sangha, my schedule just doesn't have spaces at the right times for most of the year, but perhaps that will change over time.

gassho

Myojin
-Sattlah

[Jundo]

I sit for 10, 20 or 30 minutes (depending on how I feel and my schedule) in the morning, usually after dropping off my daughter from school and before starting the days other activities. I sit another 5, 10 or 20 minutes in the evening before bed, the majority of days. And I make it a habit to do many " Insta-Zazen! ©" all through the day ...
.

- Zazen for Beginners (13) - Anywhere, Anytime INSTA-ZAZEN!© (LINK)

Of course, I sit weekly Zazenkai too. And, sometimes, just for no reason, I find a nice bench or tree in the park, and sit there for awhile during the day.

Nishijima Roshi used to say that it helps to get the brain settled for the day to sit in the morning, and good for sleep before bed. This is from his book which I translated:

Sekishin: How much time is appropriate for one sitting?

Gudo: Traditionally, the time was said to be the amount of time required for a long stick of incense to burn down, which required as much as 45 minutes. However, at the start, it is fine to begin with even 5 or 10 minutes, and to extend the time gradually as one becomes more accustomed to the practice. Because Zazen is a lifetime pursuit, one should just extend the time slowly, little by little.

Sekishin: And is it sufficient just to do it once per day, for example, just in the morning?

Gudo: Master Dogen wrote in his Bendoho that monks in a monastery should sit four times per day, in the early and late morning, in the afternoon and the evening. However, most lay people have jobs or school to attend, so I think it good to do it in the morning, as well as in the evening before bed. However, because the latter is a time when we are most tired, it may not go as well as in the morning after rising from a good sleep. Still, if one can manage to do it as the close of one’s day, for even 5 or 10 minutes, it will be a good bridge into a sound sleep, and will have a huge effect to bring stability and rhythm into one’s daily life.

.
A Heart to Heart Chat on Buddhism with Old Master Gudo (Expanded Edition)

https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Chat-Buddhism-Master-Expanded/dp/0692374337

PDF: https://terebess.hu/zen/mesterek/heart-chat.pdf

But no matter how long or when you sit, ALWAYS drop away all concern with measures of time while sitting. Every single moment of Zazen is all time and space.

Gassho, J

stlah

[Bion]

I settled on a quite regimented schedule, partially to support my priest training and partially because it helps me stay disciplined, which I tend not to be. I sit with the sangha, and this is crucial for me as a monk, first thing in the morning (7:30 am), after my coffee. We have a scheduled sit that I picked and joined and made that my commitment. A few days of the week the schedule shifts to fit other needs. I sit later (11:30 am) though still with a group on Fridays and Sundays and my Saturday sit is the sangha Zazenkai live. There will be other sits throughout the day, but the main one is always morning, accompanied by kinhin and a daily service. Some times of the day are more challenging than others for sitting because of distractions or the body being tired etc.. I learned that through the years.

Gassho
sat and lah

[Tairin]

My preferred time to sit is in the morning just after I get up. But actually I sit in the evening before bed. I usually sit with Onsho (who responded above). I get up to exercise 6 days a week and just can’t will myself to get up even earlier than I already need to to work out and then make it to work on time

I find it easier to be alert for morning sits and my evening sits are more dozy.


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Houzan]

I sit 2x40 min each day: in the morning before my daughter gets up, and in the evening after my daughter has gone to bed and before watching/ reading something.
Once a week I will switch out one sitting with the zazenkai (two sessions for the 4hrs one).
Sometimes life prevents me from one of the sits and/or shorten the duration, which is fine.
I don't have very specific times I sit, as life happens every day.
We expect another child this autumn so my cushion time will most likely be reduced then.

Gassho, Hōzan
Satlah

[Dainin]

Although as a teacher I have been forced to be a morning person, my biological clock, ever since I was young, has dictated that I really get my energy at night. So, I sit in the evening (generally between 7:00-9:30) for 30 minutes, usually following my daily walk. As summer vacation is starting next week, I plan to add an additional morning sit, or at least when I wake up.

Gassho,
Dainin

SatLah

[Alina]

I sit for 30 minutes in the morning everyday after I drop off my kids at school and before I start working (I work remotely).
On Wednesdays I sit at the Moment to Moment hangout, it's at 4:30 pm for me. And for the past few weeks I've been sitting Zazenkai (only the 90 minute ones, can't fit 4 hours in my schedule yet, but I'd love to) on Fridays, in the afternoon, before I pick up my kids. And Insta-zazen whenever possible.

Gassho
Alina
stlah

[Bion]

I sit for 30 minutes in the morning everyday after I drop off my kids at school and before I start working (I work remotely).
On Wednesdays I sit at the Moment to Moment hangout, it's at 4:30 pm for me. And for the past few weeks I've been sitting Zazenkai (only the 90 minute ones, can't fit 4 hours in my schedule yet, but I'd love to) on Fridays, in the afternoon, before I pick up my kids. And Insta-zazen whenever possible.

Gassho
Alina
stlah

That sounds like a pretty disciplined schedule! How lovely! Speaking of the Long Zazenkai.. I am sure you noticed we time stamp the zazenkai always, so you could absolutely do separate segments in separate days.. Dharma Talks come as individual videos as well in our Dharma Study Series.. The dance is mandatory! Make it fit your schedule, don't think it needs do be done all at once in a block!!!
Thank you for the lovely example you set

Gassho
sat and lah

[Shinshi]

I sit for 10, 20 or 30 minutes (depending on how I feel and my schedule) in the morning, usually after dropping off my daughter from school and before starting the days other activities. I sit another 5, 10 or 20 minutes in the evening before bed, the majority of days. And I make it a habit to do many " Insta-Zazen! ©" all through the day ...
.

- Zazen for Beginners (13) - Anywhere, Anytime INSTA-ZAZEN!© (LINK)

Of course, I sit weekly Zazenkai too. And, sometimes, just for no reason, I find a nice bench or tree in the park, and sit there for awhile during the day.

Nishijima Roshi used to say that it helps to get the brain settled for the day to sit in the morning, and good for sleep before bed. This is from his book which I translated:


.
A Heart to Heart Chat on Buddhism with Old Master Gudo (Expanded Edition)

https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Chat-Buddhism-Master-Expanded/dp/0692374337

PDF: https://terebess.hu/zen/mesterek/heart-chat.pdf

But no matter how long or when you sit, ALWAYS drop away all concern with measures of time while sitting. Every single moment of Zazen is all time and space.

Gassho, J

stlah

[Guest]

One thing that has helped me is to build zazen in to my life rather than fit it in. Fitting it in, to me has always seemed like squeezing it in or finding time to do it. Everyday is different and so we may need to shift. But, I do not fit in time to brush my teeth or fit in time to go to bed, it is already built in to my schedule and so I treat zazen the same. I usually sit every morning and I host zazen at 9am EDT on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I can sometimes show up on the other days, but if not, I sit earlier in the morning because I have clients I see at 9am. So, I build in the time and make sure I do it. Just like brushing my teeth.

Gassho,
Daiman
ST/LAH

[Chikyou]

My daily schedule is the wake up, bathroom/brush teeth/wash face, then sit. I light incense, my (electric) candle, and sit in my PJs. Then I get dressed and go about my day.

Occasionally I have to miss a day because I have to go to work early or have an early appointment, and I feel the lack of sitting for the rest of the day (clearly I should just get up earlier, right?! )

Sorry for running long

Gassho,
SatLah
Chikyō