The practice of Zen meditation fosters an ability to live in the present and experience reality fully. The practice is not complicated but it is subtle, and we learn the form by doing it again and again; it is through the repetition of simple actions that we go through the process of clarification, insight and development.
Meetings
Our weekly meetings involve two hours of formal meditation practice. Members arrive at 6:00pm, and the formal meditation period lasts from 6:15pm-8:15pm. This begins with bowing and chanting, followed by three 25 minute periods of sitting meditation. Between each sit is a 5 minute period of walking meditation. The evening ends with a short chant and usually a short discussion period.
The last Tuesday of each month has a slightly different format, where we recite (in English) four well-known Zen texts (about 20 minutes) followed by two 30 minute sits with walking in between.
Walking meditation between the sits is done in the Greek Orthodox Church basement hall next to the sitting room. Most participants bring some type of slippers to slip on and off when leaving the sitting room and walking in the hall (which can be a bit cool much of the year).
Resources
The nearest Zen organization is the Mountain Rain Zen Community in Vancouver, which holds several weekly sits and occasional retreats – all of which can be attended from Prince George by Zoom.
There are a number of Zen centres in North America that provide podcasts, and online Zoom attendance such as the San Francisco Zen Center. Google “Prominent Zen Centers in the US” for an extensive listing.
Buddhist Meditation Society of Northern BC 