Weekly schedule
Note: Due to COVID-19 restrictions, our normal in-person schedule is suspended.
We are offering weekly Saturday morning and Monday evening sits via Zoom.
Given the stresses of social distancing, we want to to support everyone in maintaining practice as much as we can. We urge you to continue zazen practice at home, and we have group zazen and discussion via Zoom on Saturday mornings at 8:30 a.m. and Mondays at 6:30 p.m. The virtual meeting space can be accessed here.
Online sitting schedule
Saturdays (two 35-minute sits and reading/discussion)
8:30 – 9:05 a.m.: zazen
9:05 – 9:15 a.m.: break/kinhin
9:15 – 9:50 a.m.: zazen
9:50 – 10 a.m.: recitations/break
10 – 10:30 a.m.: discussion
Mondays (two 40-minute sits)
6:30 – 7:10 p.m.: zazen
7:10 – 7:20 p.m.: break
7:20 – 8 p.m.: zazen
You are welcome to sign up for Zoom but do not need an account to participate. Please try to observe regular zendo rules – leave enough time to join and be in a seated posture before sitting begins, and wait until a break to leave.
Please position your laptop camera, phone, or tablet so that it captures some of your sitting posture, not just your face. You may want to place it to the side or otherwise out of your direct field of vision during zazen.
Try to remain still during the sit. Please mute your microphone during zazen periods and brief vows/chants (found on this page, or download them here) to avoid background noise and feedback. The layout of the Zoom meeting page can be arranged however you like by clicking on an icon in the upper right of the meeting screen.
Normal schedule (suspended)
SATURDAYS
Two periods of zazen, followed by tea/discussion (note: on orientation days, zazen periods are 30 minutes)
8:30 – 9:05 a.m.: zazen
9:05 – 9:15 a.m.: kinhin
9:15 – 9:50 a.m.: zazen
9:50 – 10:30 a.m. chants, tea/discussion
MONDAYS
Three periods of zazen
6:30 – 7:10 p.m.: zazen
7:10 – 7:20 p.m.: kinhin
7:20 – 8 p.m.: zazen
8 – 8:10 p.m.: kinhin
8:10 – 8:50 p.m.: zazen, closing
Newcomers
The zendo is open to those to anyone with prior experience at a Zen or Buddhist practice center, and/or to those who have attended an orientation session (please see this page for details). When you come, please wear comfortable, neutral-colored clothing; no shorts or tank tops. Try to arrive at least 10 minutes before the first sitting. If you arrive while zazen is in progress, you will have to wait until the next kinhin period. As a general guideline, Saturday sits are 30-35 minutes, followed by a reading and discussion, which can cover practice issues or anything else on people's minds. Monday sits are 40 minutes and the atmosphere is a bit quieter and more intensive.
Donations
Recommended donations: $5 per visit, or $25 (or more!) per month for people attending regularly. Your donations are important to us and help pay our rent and fund our activities. If you're unable to contribute the suggested amount, please donate whatever you feel comfortable with; money should not be an obstacle to participating. We accept electronic donations via Venmo. Cash or check donations (please make checks payable to the "Zen Buddhist Center of Washington, DC") can be left in our dana box after sitting. Ka Shin Zendo is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit and donations are tax-deductible.
Other activities
We also have periodic daylong and weekend retreats and workshops, and sometimes host visiting Zen teachers. For more information, see the events page. The zendo Facebook page can be found here. To join our email list (occasional updates on our events and other area Buddhist activities), click here. If you have questions not answered on this site, please email us.
Online sitting schedule
Saturdays (two 35-minute sits and reading/discussion)
8:30 – 9:05 a.m.: zazen
9:05 – 9:15 a.m.: break/kinhin
9:15 – 9:50 a.m.: zazen
9:50 – 10 a.m.: recitations/break
10 – 10:30 a.m.: discussion
Mondays (two 40-minute sits)
6:30 – 7:10 p.m.: zazen
7:10 – 7:20 p.m.: break
7:20 – 8 p.m.: zazen
You are welcome to sign up for Zoom but do not need an account to participate. Please try to observe regular zendo rules – leave enough time to join and be in a seated posture before sitting begins, and wait until a break to leave.
Please position your laptop camera, phone, or tablet so that it captures some of your sitting posture, not just your face. You may want to place it to the side or otherwise out of your direct field of vision during zazen.
Try to remain still during the sit. Please mute your microphone during zazen periods and brief vows/chants (found on this page, or download them here) to avoid background noise and feedback. The layout of the Zoom meeting page can be arranged however you like by clicking on an icon in the upper right of the meeting screen.
Normal schedule (suspended)
SATURDAYS
Two periods of zazen, followed by tea/discussion (note: on orientation days, zazen periods are 30 minutes)
8:30 – 9:05 a.m.: zazen
9:05 – 9:15 a.m.: kinhin
9:15 – 9:50 a.m.: zazen
9:50 – 10:30 a.m. chants, tea/discussion
MONDAYS
Three periods of zazen
6:30 – 7:10 p.m.: zazen
7:10 – 7:20 p.m.: kinhin
7:20 – 8 p.m.: zazen
8 – 8:10 p.m.: kinhin
8:10 – 8:50 p.m.: zazen, closing
Newcomers
The zendo is open to those to anyone with prior experience at a Zen or Buddhist practice center, and/or to those who have attended an orientation session (please see this page for details). When you come, please wear comfortable, neutral-colored clothing; no shorts or tank tops. Try to arrive at least 10 minutes before the first sitting. If you arrive while zazen is in progress, you will have to wait until the next kinhin period. As a general guideline, Saturday sits are 30-35 minutes, followed by a reading and discussion, which can cover practice issues or anything else on people's minds. Monday sits are 40 minutes and the atmosphere is a bit quieter and more intensive.
Donations
Recommended donations: $5 per visit, or $25 (or more!) per month for people attending regularly. Your donations are important to us and help pay our rent and fund our activities. If you're unable to contribute the suggested amount, please donate whatever you feel comfortable with; money should not be an obstacle to participating. We accept electronic donations via Venmo. Cash or check donations (please make checks payable to the "Zen Buddhist Center of Washington, DC") can be left in our dana box after sitting. Ka Shin Zendo is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit and donations are tax-deductible.
Other activities
We also have periodic daylong and weekend retreats and workshops, and sometimes host visiting Zen teachers. For more information, see the events page. The zendo Facebook page can be found here. To join our email list (occasional updates on our events and other area Buddhist activities), click here. If you have questions not answered on this site, please email us.