Guidelines

For newcomers and as a reminder to all

This document has been created to help you better integrate into the Montreal Zen Center community and to keep it running smoothly.

A lot of information is provided in this text. However, please be aware that most participants are familiar with these guidelines. You are therefore invited to participate by remaining attentive and by following the actions of each person within its context.

Throughout the document, we’ll refer to the following Japanese terms and their meaning as follows:

Zendo	The building and also the upper floor where the meditation takes place
Zazen	Sitting Zen
Kinhin	Meditative walk
Hinkin	Timer’s bell
Han	A piece of wood which one strikes with a wooden hammer
Kyosaku	Stick used to strike the participants trapezoids to relieve tensions

Arriving on the ground floor of the zendo

Maintain silence and lowered eyes

From the moment you arrive, in gestures and words, your full attention and silence are required. This guideline applies until the end of the activity.
On the second floor, silence and lowered eyes guidelines are even more emphasized.

Once in the vestibule, remove your shoes conscientiously over the floor grid to keep the carpet clean. Place your shoes on the shelves.

Then open the sliding door, close it behind you, and proceed to the locker room. If there is a kinhin already in progress, join in until you reach the entrance to the locker room.

When you arrive at the locker room, place your belongings on a hook and, as needed, take one or more of the support cushions that are located behind the small doors at the back of the entrance door. There are also wooden benches on the floor in the closets.
It is preferable to leave all your personal belongings (watch, necklaces, rings, etc.) at home or in the locker room. Be sure to turn off your cell phone.

Then join the kinhin and go to the zendo to choose your place. Be aware that there is already a round cushion on each mat that is placed in an upright position when the space is available. If you have no other cushions to add, lay the round cushion flat to indicate that the space is taken. If you have cushions that you will not be using for the next period of zazen, place them on the floor under your seat. If you want to put down your glasses, put them under the front of your mat (wall side).

Entering into the zendo upstairs (meditation room)

A standing bow, with hands palm-to-palm, is performed each time you enter and exit the zendo. The bow is done near the altar. You may then move discreetly to a seat, avoiding walking in the center of the room.

Once you have selected your place, you can sit in the zendo or join the kinhin in progress on the ground floor. This walk continues until the gong is heard, inviting you to go upstairs for zazen.

The course of a zazen period

Five minutes before the start of the zazen period, the gong will ring three times to invite you to go upstairs and take your place. Be sure to wait until the timer is no longer in front of the gong before heading upstairs.

Once you are seated at your place, the timer will sound the clapper and the hinkin bell three times. Then the first 30-minute period of zazen begins. You must remain still during this period until the bell rings again, 30 minutes later.

After 30 minutes, the hinkin bell will ring once. At this time, bow with your hands together facing the wall. Quickly stand up, turn to face the center of the room and wait with your hands together. The hinkin bell will ring again to invite you to bow facing the other participants.
Then turn around to carefully reposition your cushions on the mat and immediately begin the kinhin, which is done at a moderate and quiet pace in a clockwise direction.

Position of the hands during kinhin

The thumb of the right hand is folded inward and the other fingers close over the thumb. The left hand wraps around the right hand and both hands rest gently on the solar plexus. The elbows are relaxed and supported on each side of the body.
Kinhin lasts five minutes between periods of zazen.

The use of the restroom

Kinhin is the right time to go to the restroom. It is located at the end of the small corridor just before the staircase that goes upstairs. There is a small light on the wall to the left of the altar on the ground floor. When it is on, it means that the door is open and the restroom is free. It is therefore important to always leave the door open when you leave the restroom.
In order not to interfere with the kinhin, it is important not to stop at the entrance of the corridor to wait for your turn. You must continue the kinhin until the light is on as you pass by it.
You can also use the two restrooms located on the ground floor of the house. They are accessible through the balcony door.

How to return to the kinhin on the 2nd floor

After using the restroom, you can continue the kinhin on the first floor or on the second floor. When re-entering the kinhin on the second floor, take care to place yourself in line between the two people sitting on either side of you when you are on the mat. This way, when the kinhin ends, you will find yourself back in front of your seat.

Here's how to proceed:

• We arrive at the floor, bow, and move slightly forward into the available space.
• Stand still while waiting to identify your place in the kinhin.
• We bow with a lowered arm to indicate our intention to enter the kinhin and we enter behind the person sitting to the right of our mat.
• If you can't remember your place in the kinhin, stay on the first floor to continue the kinhin. At the sound of the first hinkin bell, proceed upstairs and wait for the second bell to enter the zendo so you can go directly to your seat.

The bells at the end of the kinhin

Three hinkin bells will be heard:

• The first bell indicates that you should stand still facing the center of the room when you arrive at your seat.
• The second bell invites you to sit down without bowing.
• Next the clapper is heard and the hinkin bell rings three times indicating the beginning of the zazen period. Following the third bell, you must refrain from moving.

The kyosaku

If you wish to receive the kyosaku at the halfway point of the zazen period, you should join your hands palm-to-palm in front of you at shoulder height so that the gesture will be clearly visible when the monitor approaches you. When he touches your shoulder, drop your forearms on your legs. When the kyosaku is finished, you bow with your hands palm-to-palm.

Particulars

Special features of the end of evening zazen

At the end of the last period of zazen, the monitor invites the participants to take the sheet for the Chant in Praise of Zazen which is under the mat.
At the end of this chant, the Four Vows are recited.

We then move on to the prostrations:

• three prostrations before the altar,
• a bow facing the altar,
• a bow facing the center of the room,
• the sound of the clapper follows, and it is only at this sound that the hands are untied.

Afterwards, the mat is cleaned, the round cushion is repositioned vertically and the additional cushions are collected.
We then leave the zendo without delay and in silence.

Special features of zazen on Sundays

On Sunday, a teisho is offered. The duration of this activity is approximately 55 minutes. You are invited to assume a posture that, as far as possible, will allow you to remain still throughout the activity. If necessary, you may adjust your posture. It is recommended that you do this only once during the hour and that you remain discreet.
Throughout the activity, keep your eyes open and downcast to encourage quality listening.

The teisho period is announced by the sound of the han at the end of the kinhin. Participants then sit facing the center of the room and prepare for the Chant in Praise of Zazen.

At the end of the teisho, the monitor joins his hands palm to palm and the participants are invited to do the same to chant the Four Vows.
This is followed by three prostrations as described above.
The clapper signals the end of this period and the kinhin follows shortly after.

One-on-one meetings and their functioning

Note: This service is offered by Louis or Jean-Luc. The name of whoever is present is displayed above the registration book for the One on One.

These meetings are offered on Tuesdays and Sundays. We strongly recommend that new members attend at least three times during the first three months of their membership. To register for an individual meeting, write your name upon arrival in the black notebook located on the table in the zendo entrance hall. These interviews take place on the first floor of the house, in the room facing the dining room’s double glass doors.

When the time comes, the monitor will touch your shoulder to invite you to come to the one-on-one meeting. Stand up quietly and head straight for the house. When the meeting is over, return to the zendo in the same manner, directly and quietly. To familiarize yourself with the various aspects surrounding this meeting, we invite you to watch carefully the video below by selecting the hyperlink that follows : CZDM - One-on-one

Procedure for payment by Interac

The email address is: don.czdm@gmail.com

The security answer should always be: zazen8

For your payment description, please use the space usually reserved for the security question.

Examples of payment descriptions:

• Introductory workshop + your name
• Membership + your name + period
• Donation + your name
• Retreat + your name + month
• Book + your name + title

For more information, call Francis at 514-609-4454.