Meditation Hall Etiquette

• We view our meditation hall with sensitivity and respect. It is a space that is calm, peaceful, quiet, relaxed and safe. We prefer to maintain this environment before, during and after our practice.
• Please remove your shoes and outerwear and leave them in the cloakroom. Personal and valuable items can be brought into the meditation hall and left at the back of the room away from the sitting area.
• As mentioned before, please attempt to arrive by (or before) 6:50. Please remember that we start our sit promptly at 7:00.
• Please place your chair or cushion in one of the Zen rows comfortably near your neighbour. We try not to leave large gaps or spaces between each other.
• If you arrive after the first sitting meditation has started, please wait quietly in the kitchen until walking meditation commences at approximately 7:25. You can easily join the end of the chain.
• If you need to leave early please do so in a sensitive way—preferably after the first sitting meditation, during the walking meditation or after the second sitting meditation.
• In our tradition, bowing is practiced quite often. When we bow, we form what is referred to as “lotus hands”. Our hands resemble the petals of a lotus flower. We join our palms with fingers pointing upwards, touching one another directly. Our thumbs cross each other at the knuckles and this is intended to resemble a lotus bud. When we bow, our hands—our lotus hands—are held over our heart centre, under our chin. Bowing is not done just to be polite or diplomatic; it is done to acknowledge and be present with that other person. “We bow to recognize the miracle of being alive.