Starting a sitting group this morning

[Al]

The ladies who teach my yoga class recently asked if I would be interested in starting a meditation group at the studio. The part of town where I live is lacking a meditation/sangha/Buddhist presence, so I accepted. Jundo had some good advice about basic instruction and reading and listening to MP3 talks. It isn't a Zen sangha per se, because people of all traditions who are interested in meditation are welcome to come and practice their tradition as they like. But I guess it will start with more of a Zenny focus since that's where I'm coming from. This morning is our first sit.

Does anyone else have any advice for starting a meditation group?

[Longdog]

Re: Starting a sitting group this morning

Well done to you for starting the group

I've not got any advice for you but to keep it true to what you feel is right.

In gassho, Kev

[Tb]

Re: Starting a sitting group this morning

Hi.


Hope to hear more about how it goes.

Mtfbwy
Tb

[Al]

Re: Starting a sitting group this morning

To give an update, the sit went well this morning! We had my partner and myself plus 4 additional people show up. Two people brought their own cushions. Everyone seemed to already have their own practice going and no one really needed instruction. We sat for 20 minutes, did 10 minutes of walking meditation, and then did another 20 minutes of sitting.

Very cool experience. We will be holding the sit weekly every Sunday morning from now on. I think I need to get a bell or a bowl or something though, because I really had no way to signal to people that it was time to switch from sitting to walking, or to let them know we were done.

Thanks for your support sangha friends.

[Shohei]

Re: Starting a sitting group this morning

Wonderful Shinkai!
I too want to hear updates!! I have been pondering a similar idea for here as well! I will be after you with questions very soon, of course if you do not mind

Gassho, Shohei

[Jinho]

Re: Starting a sitting group this morning

hI Shinkai,

How wonderful of you to do this!

A few notes on gear. Perhaps this is stating somethign you know, but two pieces of wood ( 1" x 1" x 8" or 2x2x8) make great (and traditional) clappers to signal the beginning and ending of kinhin. One claps them together by impacting the full length of the long sides against each other (sorry for the clumsy sentence).

Also I have sent this special type of timer to several zen groups so that the person doing the timing doesn't have to watch the clock. It is a kitchen-type timer but has three settings - buzz, vibrate and flash (light). The vibrate is not as quiet as I would wish, but one could set it flash and hold it in such a way that the light flash is only visible to oneself, then of course, ring a bell or something. I hate to think of one person having to split their concentration but checking the clock.

http://www.kitchenkapers.com/16489.html

It is made by Polder and if you google for "Polder vibrating timer" you should get it. FYI, I have ordered from Kitchen Kapers (a small mortar and pestle) and they seem a nice company to deal with.

I did splash out on a lovely zen timer that has a recorded three bells at the beginning of the period (you set the time) and a recording of several rings at the end.

http://www.sunandmoonoriginals.com/stor ... ed=froogle

Of course there are many models. I am particularly intrigued by one that is mechanical and uses a stick of incense to trigger the ringing of a bell.

http://www.pranna.com/prannatimer/index.php

anyway, thank you for your time,
gassho,
rowan

[will]

Re: Starting a sitting group this morning

Any advice?

I'd probably say the main factor is that you sit.

Gassho

[Al]

Re: Starting a sitting group this morning

Wonderful Shinkai!
I too want to hear updates!! I have been pondering a similar idea for here as well! I will be after you with questions very soon, of course if you do not mind

Gassho, Shohei

I welcome your questions!

A few notes on gear. Perhaps this is stating somethign you know, but two pieces of wood ( 1" x 1" x 8" or 2x2x8) make great (and traditional) clappers to signal the beginning and ending of kinhin. One claps them together by impacting the full length of the long sides against each other (sorry for the clumsy sentence)...

Rowan, as usual you are a wealth of info. You may be onto something with the simple wood clappers. Thank you for all of the advice and resources.

Any advice?

I'd probably say the main factor is that you sit.

Gassho

And sit we shall! Thanks for checking in, Will.

[Jinho]

Re: Starting a sitting group this morning

You may be onto something with the simple wood clappers.

the wooden clappers really are what is used at the zen centers I have been to (at the japanese style ones). At the Korean style Kwan Um school it is a single stick (thinner and a bit wider) that one slaps in one's palm.

For Clappers, a hardwood works best (of course music stores have claves which will sound nice). And it is good to sand the edges (round them just a bit) so they feel nicer in the hand

cheers,
rowan/jinho

PS- I was thinking of hosting a group and for the "lecture" I thought it would be nice to have people bring in short pieces that they find meaningful (a paragraph max) and then to go round the room and each person could read their chosen saying or short piece.

[Al]

Re: Starting a sitting group this morning

I have been doing the meditation group for about 2 months now and wanted to give an update. We have a regular group of about 5-6 people (in addition to myself, my yoga teachers and my partner) who come to sit every Sunday morning. Most people seem pretty happy with the 20 minute sit, 10 minute walk, 20 minute sit format. My dad sent me a singing bowl to ring to mark the beginning and end of the periods.

We haven't listened to any dharma talks or anything yet. It's mostly just sit sit sit. But everyone is warm and friendly to each other and we have tea afterward.

Thanks to everyone for their support and if you're thinking about starting a sitting group I highly recommend it. It's been a great experience. It's also helped hold me accountable for doing a longer sit once a week.

[Shohei]

Re: Starting a sitting group this morning

Excellent!! Very nice news
What kind of space are you using to do this?

Gassho Mr. Nosey (aka Shohei)

[Jen]

Re: Starting a sitting group this morning

How wonderful, Shinkai!

Excellent!! Very nice news
What kind of space are you using to do this?

Gassho Mr. Nosey (aka Shohei)

We have found finding a practice space to be the most challenging aspect of getting our group off the ground. We were limited to only being allowed to use the local libraries twice a month, and the space was getting to be too small. Also no kinhin, as the library does not allow the rooms to be used for exercise classes and they considered that exercise. We are in the process of renting an office suite to use now that we found an inexpensive one.

Gassho,
Joshin

[Al]

Re: Starting a sitting group this morning

I can definitely see how space would be an issue. We're using the large room in my local yoga studio. The instructors volunteered the space free of charge. I worked with them to pick a time when they wouldn't be using the space for anything else. They were happy to provide the space just to get the energy of meditation going at the studio and to start building a community. Several of the meditators also take classes at the studio.

I would really recommend reaching out to any locally owned yoga or pilates studios and see if they or their students would be interested in having a meditation group.

Here's a picture:

[Taigu]

Re: Starting a sitting group this morning

hi shinkai,

Having a bit of experience in this, i would say only a couple of things: keep it going even if you end up alone and keep it simple, let it grow naturally, organicaly, without adding flavour and style, or using gimmicks, wood something or whatever.Wooden clappers are very noisy, too sharp, they go very well in a big space and with a Japanese style of practice. Sorry, if I somehow disagree with our beloved Rowan ( I am sure we always agree in the most essential way). Be simple. Things unfold as they always do, make just sitting the teacher. Maybe even not a statue. Or, as Jundo did in the past, not just a statue(anything, really). And if possible don't forget bowing. That's all. Bring your rakusu and allow things to happen from that simplicity.

Much ...

Gassho


Taigu

[Tb]

Re: Starting a sitting group this morning

Hi.

I would agree with Taigu, keep it simple.
It seems that people coming to these things expect certain things, such as bells and stuff, maybe an buddha statue.
But keep it simple.
Let it take it's stride.

Mtfbwy
Tb