HVZC · The Practice

What Is Zazen?

Zazen means "sitting meditation," but it also includes meditation in action. It is a form of silent inner inquiry handed down some 2500 years from the historical Buddha Shakyamuni, also known as Siddhartha Gautama, through the Buddhist masters of India, China, Japan, and now, the West. Sussokukan (a traditional breath practice), the "Questioning Breath," and koan work--all specific zazen practices--are taught at HVZC.

"Zen practice is not clarifying conceptual distinctions, but throwing away one's preconceived views and notions and the sacred texts and all the rest, and piercing through the layers of coverings over the spring of self behind them. All the holy ones have turned within and sought in the self, and by this went beyond all doubt....Whether you are going or staying or sitting or lying down, the whole world is your own self. You must find out whether the mountains, rivers, grass, and forests exist in your own mind or exist outside it."
Daikaku Zenji

The ultimate aim of zazen is to discover our True Nature and then to integrate that deeply liberating experience into our daily life and so live a life of clarity and benefit to all beings.

At the Center we meet Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings and Sunday mornings to "sit" together in pairs of formal, 25-minute periods of zazen interspersed with kinhin, or walking meditation. We also sit Monday through Friday in the early morning as well as mid-afternoon by prior arrangement only. Practice is conducted in silence. During these periods of zazen, which are marked with the traditional bells and clappers, people are asked to sit without moving. Chanting in English and Japanese is also part of the schedule on certain days.

If you are interested in coming to sit zazen with us and have had
experience in the practice of zazen in the Rinzai form, please email
us or call 760-591-9893 for information on sittings. We ask that you
arrange a meeting prior to taking part in a formal sitting in order to
receive instruction in our zendo protocol.

Sufi Master Jelaluddin Rumi spoke:
"There is a way between voice and presence where information flows. In disciplined silence it opens. With wandering talk it closes.

If you have had little or no experience in the practice of zazen, we ask that you attend one of our workshops prior to coming to sit zazen with us. You can find out about our workshops on the "Calendar" page of this website. There you will find workshop dates and can download a mail-in registration form. If you have further questions, please email us at:
info@hvzc.org or call 760-591-9893.