First time at local Zen group last night!

[Taigu]

Re: First time at local Zen group last night!

Wonderful Chet. It's also great to sit in that kind of flesh with others.
Gassho

Taigu

[lorax]

Re: First time at local Zen group last night!

Hi Chet, great to hear you found a local group to sit with. Hope you are still running, sure glad you got me going again. Still just plodding along, a few pains here and there but more enjoyable and a bit further each day!

Take care

Jim

Re: First time at local Zen group last night!

Good stuff
Did you bring your own cushion or did they supply?

Gassho
Shohei

They would have supplied, but I use a bench instead of a cushion (a really cool one with folding legs for easy travel)...so I rolled...er...brought my own.

Chet

[Shohei]

Re: First time at local Zen group last night!

Good stuff
Did you bring your own cushion or did they supply?

Gassho
Shohei

[will]

Re: First time at local Zen group last night!

Sounds good Chet. Have fun.

Gassho

W

[Jundo]

Re: First time at local Zen group last night!

Awesome Chet. Sounds like nice folks.

[Bansho]

Re: First time at local Zen group last night!

Hi Chet,

That sounds quite good - glad to hear about it.

Gassho
Bansho

[Shonin]

Re: First time at local Zen group last night!

Awesome, Chet. Hope your move went well btw.

Dave _/_

[Eika]

Re: First time at local Zen group last night!

Cool!

I have found that sitting with others makes it easier to sit for longer periods than when I'm alone.

Glad you have a local group to attend.

Peace,
Eika

Hey all,

Last night was my first visit to the local Zen group that's hosted at the local Episcopalian Church very close to my house (conceivably within walking distance, actually). We sat for 40 minutes and it was not all that difficult - which surprises me, as 20-25 minutes has been the upper limit of my sitting practice lately.

I was probably the most conservative looking guy there (it was all guys, which bummed me out - I was hoping there might be a cute 20-something Buddhist girl there..). Three aging hippies, one neo-hippy, and one student athlete looking guy. There was very little formal ritual (Heart Sutra in Japanese - which is actually fun to chant), and the Bodhisattva Vow. Three full bows at the beginning, three at the end....and a little bit of reading from Dogen.

All in all, an interesting experience. The group meets twice a week (Sat AM and Wed PM). I plan on making as many PM sittings as I can (Sat AM is a challenge because my schedule is so nights-oriented).

Chet