Meetings
To live by Zen is the same as to live an ordinary daily life… All activity is permeated with pure meditation. The means of training are thousandfold but pure meditation must be done.
We start our weekly evening of practice together by setting up the altar and meditation room. Then we offer incense, make bows of gratitude and recite one of the central scriptures of our tradition, Rules for Meditation — written by Great Master Dogen in thirteenth century Japan.
After the scripture recitation we usually have two periods of seated meditation – usually these are about twenty-five minutes each – with a period of walking meditation in between. Chairs, meditation benches and zafus (meditation cushions) are all available to use.
We end the formal part of the meeting by singing the Evening Office together.
The second part of the meeting takes different forms. If a monk from the Priory in Reading is visiting the group then there will often be a talk on the teaching and the opportunity for members of the group to ask questions about Buddhist training in daily life. Sometimes we’ll listen to a taped talk by one of the monks of the Order and sometimes we’ll have a discussion amongst ourselves. Always there’s the chance for a cup of tea, a biscuit and a chat.
To see notices of upcoming events, such as a visit from a monk or a trip to Reading Buddhist Priory, please check our News and events section.
Donations
We don’t make any charge to attend the group meetings or for meditation instruction. There is a donation bowl if you wish to make an offering to help cover room hire and other costs.