Activities and Practice
The basis of spiritual practice at the Vermont Zen Center is zazen, or meditation. In addition to daily zazen, the Zen Center offers private instruction in Zen Buddhism, chanting services, study groups, ceremonies, all-day sittings, Zen talks by the teacher (teisho), and talks by senior members of the community (Sangha).
All-day Sittings •
Ceremonies •
Chanting •
Dharma Talks •
Dokusan & Private Instruction •
Entering the Way Talks •
Glossary •
Outreach Activities •
Sesshins •
Study Groups •
Teishos •
Term Student Programs • Training Programs
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Teishos
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Teishos are formal Zen commentaries on a Buddhist text, koan, or other topic presented by Sensei. They are usually held during Sunday morning sittings. [Top]
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Study Groups
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Study Groups give members a chance to engage in informal discussion, ask questions, and share understanding of various topics related to Buddhism. For example, How can I live the practice of Buddhism? What is right livelihood? How can I balance the demands of family life, work, and Zen practice? [Top]
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Dharma Talks
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Talks presented by senior members of the Center dealing with different aspects of Zen practice and training. [Top]
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Entering the Way Talks
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The speaker talks about what led him or her to the practice of Zen—a spiritual autobiography. [Top]
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All-Day Sittings
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One-day sitting retreats beginning at 8 a.m. and ending at 4:30 p.m. Non-members are welcome to come to all-day sittings. The contribution is $15. The schedule of events has dates of all-day sittings. [Top]
Sesshins
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Sesshins are retreats for intensive silent meditation lasting from two to seven days. They are held regularly in Vermont as well as in Costa Rica at the Casa Zen in Santo Tomas. [Top]
Term Student Programs
Once or twice a year members participate in an intensified practice schedule lasting from two to six weeks. During this time participants decide for themselves how to make an increased commitment to sitting, chanting, precept practice, community work and other Dharma-related activities. There is a meeting each week for Term Students to discuss their weekly progress and support each other. During the Term period there is additional dokusan in the mornings. The Term Student Application Form is a pdf which can be downloaded and mailed to the Center.[Top]
Training Programs
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Training Programs offer the discipline of Zen training through total immersion. During the Training Program there is an enhanced daily schedule of sittings, private instruction, and talks. [Top]
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Chanting Services
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Chanting services are held every morning, and either Tuesday or Thursday evenings. [Top]
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Dokusan/Private Instruction
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Dokusan is a private meeting with Sensei to discuss spiritual practice. It is only for her students. Dokusan is offered three times a week at evening and Sunday sittings when Sensei is in town. During sesshins, dokusan is offered three times a day. Non students may also attend dokusan during sesshin. Private Instruction, for non-student members and trial members, is offered once or twice a week by senior student Bob Rice. [Top]
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Prison Outreach: For many years members of the Zen Center have sat zazen with inmates once a week at the Northwest State Correctional Facility in Swanton/St. Albans, a long-term facility for men. Sometime this year, the facility will be changed into a women's prison, and at that time we will reassess whether the sittings will continue. Currently, we correspond with prisoners throughout the country.We also prepare a meal for the residents of Dismas House in Burlington about once a month.
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Famine Relief Ceremonies: Every quarter we conduct a ceremony to help those who are suffering from hunger. During the ceremony, members donate food for local emergency food shelves and money, which is sent to Oxfam.
Hunger Banquet: Once a year we conduct an Oxfam Hunger Banquet to aid Oxfam and the Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger. [Top]
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Ceremonies
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A full listing and short description of the ceremonies regularly observed at our Center. The photo gallery has two sections with ceremony pictures. [Top]
Training Program
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Metta Course
General Resources
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