Sitting Schedule

Weekly Introduction to Zen Meditation

For newcomers to Zen meditation, we recommend these opportunities to be introduced to our practice.

In-person:

Tuesdays, 6-7 p.m. “Just Sitting”; A half-hour period of zazen will be followed by walking meditation and then a discussion period led by senior students.

Thursdays, 6-8 p.m. Instruction in Zen meditation techniques (posture and breathing) and zendo etiquette is offered Thursday evenings in the Forman House starting at 6 p.m. Please email admin@hoenji.org if you are coming for the first time, and arrive at the front door of the Forman House (main building) by 5:50 p.m. After the instruction period newcomers will join everyone in the Carriage House Zendo.

Online only:

Wednesdays, 7-8 p.m. ET Online introductory instruction in Zen meditation, followed by meditation and an informal discussion.

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 830 5980 9854
Password: intro2zen

In-Person Meditation Schedule

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If you have symptoms of any contagious illness, please do not come to the Zen Center until you are well. Please review our COVID protocols. We also offer most of our schedule online via Zoom, including an Introduction to Zen Meditation on Wednesday evenings. Scroll down for the Online Meditation Schedule, below.

1st Sunday	9 - 10:45 am	Choka (Morning Service Chanting), kinhin (walking meditation), zazen (meditation)
	10:45 - 11:30 am	Teisho (talk) or Dharma talk
	11:30 - noon	Samu (silent work practice/temple cleaning)
3rd Sunday	9 - 11:30 am	Mandala Day Ceremony, kinhin, zazen
	11:30 - noon	Samu
	noon - 1 pm	Potluck Celebration
Other Sundays	9 - 11:30 am	Choka, kinhin, zazen, plus dokusan (private interview with the teacher) on 2nd and 4th, unless Shinge Roshi is away.
Other Sundays	11:30 - noon	Samu
Monday - Saturday	6-6:40 am and 7-7:40 am	Zazen
Tuesday morning	8:30 am - 9:30 am	Short morning service, Zazen (Volunteer staff meeting after.)
Tuesday evening	6 - 7 pm	“Just Sitting”; A half-hour period of zazen will be followed by walking meditation and then a discussion period led by senior students.
Thursday	6 - 8 pm	Zazen and instruction for first-time visitors and anyone new to meditation. Please email admin@hoenji.org if you are coming for the first time, and arrive at the front door of the Forman House (main building) by 5:50 p.m. On first Thursdays, tea and discussion with Shinge Roshi or an advanced practitioner is offered in the Forman House for the final period. On third Thursdays, Shinge Roshi will offer in-person dokusan.

Online Meditation Schedule

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Please note that all times are in Eastern Time.

Sunday Mornings (except during Zen Center of Syracuse Sesshin)

1^st Sunday: 9 to 10:45 am, Choka (Morning Service Chanting), kinhin (walking meditation), and zazen (meditation), 10:45 to 11:30 am, Teisho (talk) or Dharma talk.

2^nd, 4^th, and 5^th Sundays: 9 to 11:30 am, Choka, kinhin, zazen.

To chant with us at Morning Service, click here for the ZCS Sutra Book.

3^rd Sunday: 9 to 11:30 am, Mandala Day Ceremony, kinhin, zazen. To chant with us, click here for the Lotus Sutra.

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 707 637 406
Password: 242603

Online Introduction to Zen Meditation
Wednesday 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. ET
Online introductory instruction in Zen meditation, followed by meditation and an informal discussion. No experience is necessary.

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 830 5980 9854
Password: intro2zen

Zazen from Hoen-ji (except during Zen Center of Syracuse Sesshin)

Monday through Saturday morning
6 – 6:40 am
7 – 7:40 am
Two 40-minute periods of zazen

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 742 716 369
Password: 444630

Tuesday morning
8:30 – 9:30 am
Short morning service, zazen, ending with Metta Sutta chanting.

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 622 175 686
Password: 049393

Tuesday evening
6 – 7 pm
Zazen

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 622 175 686
Password: 049393

Thursday evening
6 – 8 pm
Three periods of zazen, except first Thursday only two periods

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 742 716 369
Password: 444630

Zendo Procedure

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Welcome! Our zendo is open to all. Please click here if this is your first visit. Below are some brief guidelines.

Before coming to the Zendo

Attire should be clean, dignified, and low-key (leave shorts, tank tops, distracting patterns or colors, and skin-tight clothing at home).
Avoid wearing perfume, aftershave, or other fragrances.
Arrive early, allowing enough time to transition to the dynamic stillness of the zendo.
If you do bring food to the Zen Center at any time, please be sure it's vegetarian.

Once you're there...

Silence your cell phone.
Leave any valuables in the changing room, not in the zendo entryway.
Remove watches and noisy jewelry before entering the zendo.
Observe silence. Moving during zazen not only disturbs others, it hinders your concentration and creates more discomfort.
Participate! You’ll find that the more you give yourself to the practice, the deeper your understanding grows.

Sittings at Syracuse University

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The Zen Center of Syracuse and the Syracuse University Buddhist Meditation Association together offer meditation at Syracuse University. All sittings are held at Hendricks Chapel in the small chapel in the basement unless otherwise noted. Each includes instruction and discussion, with half an hour of meditation.

These sittings are offered daily, except for days when Syracuse University is closed (generally, New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the Friday following, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve).

All are welcome to attend -- you do not need to be affiliated with Syracuse University to join us!

Meditations will be offered live in the Small Chapel in the lower level of Hendricks, The Barnes Center Meditation Room (room 308) and on Zoom as indicated (link provided below). If you would like to attend a meditation on Zoom that does not currently offer a remote option, contact JoAnn at jmcooke@syr.edu and we will add a zoom option.

To join any of the Buddhist Meditation Association's online meditations, follow this Zoom link:

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 953 9890 1378
Passcode: BMASUESF

Co-sponsored by the Buddhist Meditation Association and the Zen Center of Syracuse

For more info or if having difficulty joining, contact the Buddhist Chaplain, JoAnn Cooke, at 315-559-7013 or jmcooke@syr.edu

Please visit the Buddhist Chaplaincy page for the current meditation schedule.

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At the Zen Center of Syracuse, we recognize the profound interconnectedness of all living beings and the delicate balance of the Earth’s ecosystems. We pledge to cultivate awareness and attentiveness in every aspect of our operations. By learning from the land care traditions of our Onondaga neighbors, we commit to actions that reflect our gratitude to Mother Earth.
The Zen Center of Syracuse acknowledges that we are on the territory of the Onondaga Nation, council fire of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. With gratitude and respect, we join in the stewardship of our shared environment.