Louisville Zen Center
Louisville Zen Center offers meditation instruction: private and public, individual and group, formal and informal, in-person and online. Zen has always been a mentor-based tradition. We suggest seeking instruction periodically to stay on track in your practice.
Introduction to Zen Meditation
For those beginning Zen meditation, wanting a refresher, or new to practicing in the Rochester Zen Center lineage of Zen. The Introduction to Zen Meditation workshop covers meditation posture, types and use of meditation equipment, breathing, concentration, walking meditation, integrating Zen practice with everyday life, establishing a daily practice, and finding and working with a teacher. A $10–$30 by cash, check, or Paypal to the hosting Zen Center (either Louisville ZC or Rochester ZC) is suggested.
Louisville Zen Center offers in-person Introduction to Zen on occasional Sundays at 5:30 - 8:20 p.m. (Eastern). See our calendar for dates. Contact us to sign up. Space is limited.
For our in-person workshops, instruction starts promptly at 5:30 p.m. so please arrive early. Out of respect for participants' time and the evening schedule, latecomers may be turned away. We take a short break around 6:20, practice what we've learned at 6:30 ~ 8:00, then wrap up with tea and final questions until around 8:20 p.m.
We often partner with Rochester Zen Center when they host their online Introduction to Zen on occasional Saturdays at 10am~ 2:30pm (Eastern). To attend a Rochester Zen Center-hosted online workshop, click here to register and for more information.
Finding Your Seat
Finding Your Seat (FYS) is offered on most Saturdays at 11am to noon in one of Rochester Zen Center's Zoom rooms. Louisville Zen Center's group leader often facilitates FYS. Email receptionist@rzc.org for Zoom access.
FYS is a friendly, informal, group discussion of matters like posture, breath and first-koan practices, Center procedures, maintaining a habit of daily sitting, and keeping your Zen practice moving along. FYS facilitators answer questions, offer advice and encouragement, and lead a short round of sitting.
Group Instruction
Group Instruction is individualized instruction and guidance in a group setting, and is offered monthly at 5:45 - 6:15 p.m. on Sunday evenings. See our calendar for dates. Those who have attended the Introduction to Zen Meditation workshop (or equivalent) are welcome to attend.
Unlike Finding Your Seat, Group Instruction isn't a group discussion period; attendees are not talking to each other. Discussion occurs between the individual questioner and the group instructor. Because it can be so helpful to hear others' questions and responses, participants are encouraged to maintain confidentiality.
Daisan (Private Instruction)
Our group leader regularly offers daisan during Rochester Zen Center Zoom sittings at 7-8 p.m. most Fridays. See our calendar for dates and instructions. Email receptionist@rzc.org for Zoom access.
Daisan is a one-to-one teaching encounter in private. Parameters for what is discussed in Private Instruction are quite broad. It may cover points about posture, breathing, and other instruction in Zen practice, or it may get into counseling-like territory.
Advising
Advising is a one-to-one interaction with our group leader to address matters that may be too complex, time-consuming, or personal for formal sittings or for group settings. You may bring up anything at all during advising, and confidentiality shall be respected unless required to do otherwise by law. Because, this type of individualized instruction and guidance is informal and unstructured – sometimes simply a check-in over tea - it is scheduled outside of sittings.
Advising may be conducted in-person, on Zoom, or by phone. Those who have attended the Introduction to Zen (or equivalent), Group Instruction, and Private Instruction may participate. Contact us to schedule an appointment.