Our Schedule

Regular Activities

Zen Practice Schedule

Zen practice consists of zazen or Zen meditation, regular interviews with the Zen teacher and study of Zen teachings. At retreats, it also includes participation in samu/work practice.

When we take up the practice of Zen, it is important to establish a daily zazen practice, meditating once or twice a day as we can. BMZG holds weekly zazen meetings, monthly zazenkai and annual retreats, where there is an opportunity to experience a more sustained practice of Zen. Over the centuries, attending retreats has been the heart of Zen practice.

Regular interviews with a Zen teacher is another important aspect of Zen practice. In these interviews, known in Japanese as dokusan, there is the opportunity initially to receive guidance in zazen, and once we are established in our zazen practice, we can inquire into our inmost question concerning the great matter of life and death. Such interviews are a mutual inquiry into the deep longings and questions we have deep in our hearts and that animate the timeless spiritual search.

Weekday online morning zazen (zen meditation)

BMZG hosts zazen each weekday morning from 6.30 am to 7.30 am. Practitioners from other groups around the country also join in these morning sessions. The Zoom link is available on request. 

Weekly zazen (zen meditation)

BMZG holds weekly zen practice evenings each Wednesday from 7.30 to 9.00 pm.

​

Monthly zazenkai (zen practice days)

On the first Saturday of each month, BMZG holds zazenkai/zen practice days. These alternate between half- and full-days. The usual schedule for a full day is 9.30 am – 4.30 pm, and for a half day 1.30 – 4.30 pm and usually includes zazen, a Dharma talk and dokusan/private interviews.

Sesshin/Zen retreats

BMZG currently holds two sesshin/Zen retreats each year, one in spring and one in autumn. Check the events page for more information.