Spiritual Direction

Traditional Zen study and spiritual direction is available privately. Students and newcomers are invited to meet in dokusan with the teacher each Tuesday from 7:15 until everyone who has asked to be seen is seen and on Sunday from 10:45 until noon. These meetings are brief and offered free of charge. Donations are of course welcome. To see the teacher, simply place the 3X5 card found in the left pocket of the chant book found beneath your mat (zabuton) in front of you.


Formal Study


Dokusan:

The key to Zen study is the teacher - student relationship and this begins with dokusan. Each time our teacher is present, anyone may ask to speak with the teacher individually. This is done by placing a small 3x5 card (found under your sitting cushion) in front of your mat. Questions are encouraged and the opportunity to deepen one’s practice is ever present with the availability of this traditional Zen practice. 

If you have never attended dokusan, please feel encouraged to do so. Just see the Jisha (assistant to the teacher) and they will show you how.

Formal Student:

Anyone is welcome to ask the teacher to become a formal student. This is a commitment to calling Salem Zen Center and Miao Chung one’s temple home, studying the Dharma and taking care of the temple buildings and grounds. Each person discusses the ways in which they can do this (with respect to their individual circumstances and obligations) with the teacher. Usually, a monthly pledge of support is made and for formal students all retreat fees and meals are included in the cost of their regular donations, making it possible for the whole community to practice longer retreats together without it being a financial burden. The usual donation is $50 monthly (on a sliding scale with those earning higher incomes contributing more to support those who have less). These contributions also provide free lunch for Thursday work crews and covers basic needs of Zen Center operations. 


Jukai:

When a student feels ready to become a Buddhist, it can be discussed with their teacher. Traditionally there is a period of studying the 16 Bodhisattva Precepts together along with selecting a Buddhist name. This culminates in a ceremony called “Jukai” in which the student shares their precepts within a chanting ceremony attended by the Sangha and where the teacher provides a lineage chart and rakusu which the student has sewn along with help from their Dharma brothers and sisters. This is often attended by friends and family and concludes with a small reception to celebrate.

Additional Temple Roles and Ways to Support

Officers

There are many formal roles that help keep the temple going. If you are willing to help, simply email the temple or ask the Tanto (coordinator) when you attend. Most gatherings include members preforming roles like densho (the bell that calls us to meditation), time keeper (bell ringer that makes sure we sit just the right amount), kinhin leader (the one who leads walking meditation), Ino (chant leader), mokugyo (tempo setter for chanting), Jisha (teacher’s assistant who coordinates dokusan), Tenzo (the cook), and tea server (anyone who stands up to serve tea when “tea” is announced we typically need three or four).


Dana (Donations)

Donors give monthly to help cover operational costs and those who are able volunteer to provide supplies, food, and caretaking in roles from gardener to cook, to those who offer our beginner’s lecture and ring the bells for our chanting service. If you’d like to help, just drop us an email or ask the Tanto (coordinator) any time you visit the temple. We have donors who are kind enough to donate even during times when they cannot attend to simply insure the buildings and grounds are maintained. 


If you can give monthly, just follow this link & thank you for tapping “monthly” to support ongoing offerings.