AZC Sunday

I finally made it to the AZC Sunday morning. It was a good experience. I was surprised for a moment when I came in. There was already someone doing zazen and one more taking off her coat and getting ready. I just followed suit. I sat down on my cushion and began. I was probably there about 10 minutes, sitting as a few others came in behind me. Then I heard the bell. I just expected there to be some sort of formal---we are about to meditate, and we will start in one minute---or something like that. A solid beginning. But I guess it's this way every time.

We sat 25 minute. This first period I sat half lotus, knowing that my legs would be asleep if I tried full, and knowing we would walk next. So my legs didn't fall asleep. The bell rang, we got up and started walking meditation. This was a first for me, but I enjoyed it. It felt good for one thing. Also, my proximity to the other folks was never an issue as I thought it might be. We made it about half way around the room, 5-10 minutes maybe, and the bell rang again. We continued at a normal pace back to the cushion.

The second 25 minutes I spent full lotus. I wasn't surprised when my legs were fully asleep when the bell sounded again. I got up and tried to bow and almost fell over. I couldn't feel anything from the knees down. We then did prostrations which were very hard w/ my legs being numb and all. This was another first, and...though I don't really understand the reasoning behind prostrations, it felt pretty normal. Why 5? Or how ever many we did? Why that particular method? I think it's better to not try and figure it out. Why not 5? Why not do it that way? Anyway, we did some prostrations.

Another thing new to me was the chanting. There were a couple very short phrases chanted between meditating, prostrating, and chanting proper. It was something along the lines of, "Great Buddha, wrapped in the teachings that illuminate all beings something something." Then there was some chanting. They chant on a steady beat with a steady tone which is actually sort of soothing. Remember when you were a kid and you would hum a steady note while one of your parents patted your back and made your voice bump? It's sort of like that. We chanted the heart sutra, then another I wasn't familiar with, then the names of everyone in the lineage, then something in Japanese. Or at least, I think it was Japanese. All said (no pun intended) the chanting didn't bother me at all. I still think the Kwan Um school in Fairbanks might be too flaky for me, but now I might be willing to give it a try. I doubt it though. I just feel very comfortable w/ Soto.

Shogen, a monk in training, then gave a dharma "talk." Actually he just read for about 20 minutes from a book called Emptiness Dancing. It was actually very very good. Stuck that one on my wish list. ;) Anyway, that was about it. We all hung out and talked a short time and I headed back.

I was surprised at both the age and personalities of the people in the zendo. They were all older than me, and no one looked the least bit progressive. I am pretty happy about that. I thought it would be full of college students, hippies, and folks like that. Stupid prejudice I guess. They were all really nice and easy to talk to. I think I will go back next Sunday.