Zen Training
The overall style of training at the monastery is primarily in the Soto Zen vein, but incorporates elements from various schools of Buddhism, and from other disciplines relevant to the development of insight and compassion.
The fundamental inheritance from the Japanese Zen tradition—communal living, meditation practice, working with a teacher—is preserved, although the outer trappings have been modified to accommodate a Western sensibility and reflect the teachers' personal style. A resident at the monastery might engage in classic koan study during early morning meditation, work in the monastery's organic garden during the day, participate in a marimba rehearsal on her lunch break, and volunteer at a community center in nearby Clatskanie, Oregon on her day off. All these activities would provide her with an opportunity to express and deepen her spiritual practice.
The daily training schedule, which is followed by all residents, includes a wakeup bell at 3:50 a.m., two hours of meditation, a bowing and chanting service, breakfast, and two periods of work practice. Lunch and dinner are both preceded by a short service. Two hours of meditation in the evening end the day. The schedule may be modified at various times of year, or to accommodate special events or classes.
Read more about this topic: Great Vow Zen Monastery
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