Hi spider, I am not working with a teacher at this time, but I have worked a bit with Maezumi Roshi before he passed, Egyoku Nakao Roshi, Tenshin Fletcher Sensei, and other teachers at ZCLA over the years. My Pasadena sitting group is not affiliated with ZCLA, but our format is a loose casual adaptation of the sitting style there (Soto Zen). I kept my teachers at ZCLA informed about our group, and they never saw a need to offer support, or tell me not to do it, so we just keep sitting together.
How to start a sitting group? Hmmm....we found some like minded folks in town that wanted the support of some group zazen, through the old alt.zen newsgroup. I posted flyers in the local health food stores, book stores, metaphysical shops, and in the local free paper. I got use of a free meeting room from the local libraries, so there were little start up costs. I used my own altar set up for the meetings. We started with about 3 regulars, and have seen up to 25 folks at one meeting. Usually we have 7 to 12 people show up. As we have grown, I only take donations to buy sitting cushions, and the occasional altar supplies. My commitment is to be there and sit every week, regardless of who else shows up. We use books, like "Appreciating Your Life" by Maezumi Roshi, as a reading text. We read about a chapter, and then have some open discussion, then sit a couple of periods with some walking meditation inbetween. If people want to learn the basics of sitting zazen, I have them show up a half hour early, and show them the ropes. In Gassho, Jeff >From: "spider" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Reply-To: [email protected] >To: <[email protected]> >Subject: Re: [Zen] New kid >Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2005 15:31:31 -0400 > >From: "jeff" <I have been sitting zazen for about 17 years, > > and I have practiced off and on at the Zen Center of Los Angeles> > >Who is your teacher right now? Are you affiliated with ZCLA? How does one >start a meditation group? > >Enquiring minds want to know, and I only hit the first part of your >posting! > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> What would our lives be like without music, dance, and theater? Donate or volunteer in the arts today at Network for Good! http://us.click.yahoo.com/WwRTUD/SOnJAA/i1hLAA/S27xlB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Current Book Discussion: Appreciate Your Life by Taizan Maezumi Roshi Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZenForum/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
