A Practice Period offers the possibility to go deeper in your practice, do longer zazen periods, visit more events, and have a closer connection with other sangha members.

The theme for this SPRING Practice Period is ZEN PRACTICE IN DAILY LIFE. We are going to learn from our ancestors how to live our lives fully. Zazen, ritual, study and work are all part of Zen practice. It gives us the context of an enlightened life in service of all beings.

Traditionally, a Soto Zen Practice Period is 90 days, ango in Japanese (ours will be only 85 days). It is held in a monastery or secluded retreat center, where all the participants reside for the whole duration, being led by a Senior Dharma teacher, at times also by a Head Monk (shuso), and the doan ryo, a group of trained monks who keep the zendo activities running smoothly.

In our situation at MZC as a lay center, practitioners would normally not stay overnight, and this ideal cannot be kept up. However, I would like to encourage Zen students who want to go further in their practice and eventually receive ordination, to make an effort to take part in most activities.

There are no absolute requirements, but I expect that participants state their commitment and hold to it.

If you are interested, please contact me by email, and I will send you the schedule and commitment form. You may also make an appointment for a private meeting with me.

MZC Resident Priest Reirin Alheidis Gumbel, 414-399-3498
info@mkzen.org