Zazenkai

A zazenkai (座禅会), literally meaning "to come together for meditation" is a Zen Buddhist retreat that is usually less intensive and of shorter duration than sesshin. It may comprise a short meeting, without liturgical service, headed by a monastic, or by a group of practitioners without the presence of a teacher.[1][2] It is also sometimes used to refer to a meeting of lay practitioners [3] who practice together regularly without a resident teacher. It can also denote a period of zazen in a temple schedule.

The meeting itself is punctuated and guided through the use of bells – usually the kinhin bell and the wooden clapper known as a taku. Zazenkai may include a short period of rest or kinhin (walking meditation). A tea ceremony may also follow.

At some Zen centers or temples, zazenkai may be followed by social activities or a dharma talk.

References

  1. ↑ "Zazenkai". Diamond Sangha. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  2. ↑ Reader, Ian (1991). Religion in Contemporary Japan. University of Hawaii Press. p. 103. ISBN 9780824813543.
  3. ↑ Jørn Borup "Japanese Rinzai Zen Buddhism: Myōshinji, a living religion" (Brill NV: Leiden, The Netherlands), 2008


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