Practices in a zendō

To follow the customs of a place of practice (zendō) is to harmonize with others and forget one's ego for a while.

In places of practice, such as temples, a room is reserved for zazen. At home, you'll find a place where you can practice zazen peacefully and fully. Zazen is done facing a wall. In silence. Start preparing 5 to 10 minutes before the start of the session indicated by the sound of the bell.

Moving in the zendō

• Move slowly, carefully, with hands at sternum level, in shashu (left hand closed into a fist, thumb tucked in, and right hand wrapping around the fist).
• Always turn to the right: for example, sit on the round seat cushion (zafu) by going around it to the left (so that the body turns to the right), stand up by going around the zafu to the right.

Prepare the seat

• Place the zafu in front of a wall.
• Palms together in front of the chin, forearms form a straight horizontal line, bow slightly (make gasshō) facing the zafu, turn around to the right, and make gasshō facing the congregation, whether visible or not. These greetings of gratitude are addressed to the herself (symbolized by the zafu), and to all those who practice.

Sitting

• Sit in zazen, and don't move until the bell rings to stand up: 2 strokes indicate walking meditation (kinhin). 1 single strike indicates the end of the session.
• Do gasshō, move and stand gently, go around the zafu to the right, reshape it, do gasshō facing the wall, turn to the right and do gasshō facing the assembly.
• Begin the kinhin.
• At the sound of the bell at the end of kinhin, with hands in shashu, bow slightly, and walk fairly quickly to the zafu. Sit in zazen in the same way as at the beginning.
• At the sound of the end of zazen, gently stand up, do gasshō facing the zafu and then facing the others, put the zafu away and leave the session in a line. In a temple, the rules are more numerous and may differ slightly from place to place. Just listen and follow the instructions given.