I found a zen center near me.

[threethirty]

Re: I found a zen center near me.

Do these places take money?

I feel like such a noob...

Is that how you spell noob? I always thought it was newb, but noob is so much better.

Anyway, wonderful. Enjoy and please give us updates!

n0000000bz!

[Hoyu]

Re: I found a zen center near me.

Cool! Keep us posted. I'd love to hear about your experiences there

[Geika]

Re: I found a zen center near me.

Thank you all for your advice. I'll be rereading your posts and perhaps asking more questions in the next couple of days. I know that when I finally go, it will work out more smoothly than I imagine. That's how things are.

[Rich]

Re: I found a zen center near me.

Its good practice. Maybe you'll make some new friends.

[Hans]

Re: I found a zen center near me.

Hello Amelia,

sounds like an interestig opportunity at any rate. Just check it out and take it from there would be my advice. In a lot of ways I think different lineages and/or different teachers all have different styles and a different "scent" to them...if somehting rubs you the wrong way repeatedly and gives you a bad gut feeling, just stay away.

What is wrong for oneself might be very right for others btw., I personally have yet to have a truly pleasant experience with the AZI (the biggest Soto-Zen organisation in Europe) for example, and I don't hide the fact that I find that the (to me) pseudo-strictness combined with a prussian lack of humour is not for me. At the same time I praise their sewing skills and the great commitment of many of their individual members, but I just know that my own Zen future is not very likely to feature the AZI as an organisation. For others it's pure heaven.

All I am trying to say is that we should always be careful not to judge others in an ultimate sense, but at the same time to be honest and open why certain things don't work out for ourselves. I told the few regulars at my local Zen group that I'd never think "Ooh, I lost XYZ to the AZI", should anyone go to their Dojo, but that I'd be happy for them instead if the AZI approach suited them more than the Treeleaf influenced flavour I am offering them once a week.

Just check it out and see what happens

Gassho,

Hans Chudo Mongen

[Kaishin]

Re: I found a zen center near me.

Good luck!