Hakone Zendo

Zazen Meditation Community in Saratoga, California

How We Meditate

Silence

To keep the zendo peaceful for everyone:

  • Keep a quiet presence. Come into a settled, mindful state.
  • Stay still during zazen. Try not to move. If you really need to adjust, wait for the keisaku or the break between sittings, and move slowly and quietly.
  • Be mindful of sounds. Avoid shifting, sighing, or rustling, and keep coughs or sneezes as quiet as you can.
  • Turn off or silence your phone. Notifications and calls disturb both you and others.
  • Please don’t talk until after the final five bells and closing bow.

Finding a comfortable seat

A comfortable posture makes it much easier to focus. Here are some tips.

Your zafu (meditation cushion)

Zafu meditation cushions

We have cushions in different sizes and firmness levels. Try round and square ones to see which supports your posture best. You want to feel supported without sinking in too deeply. You can also stack a square cushion to raise your hips.

Don’t worry if it takes a few sessions to find the right setup. Be patient and see what works for your body.

Chairs (limited)

If sitting on a cushion is uncomfortable, we have a few chairs. Please let us know you need one when you make your reservation.

Sitting down

  1. Bow, then step in. Put your hands together and bow at the entrance. Then step onto the tatami with your left foot.
  2. Don’t step on the black edges. Step over the black trim on the tatami. It’s delicate and costly to repair.
  3. Take your seat as shown below.
Moving the cushions to the back of the big cushion and bowing

a. Move the round and small cushions to the back of the big cushion. Bow.

Turning around and bowing to the others

b. Turn around and bow to the others.

Stepping back onto the big cushion and sitting down

c. Step back onto the big cushion and sit down.

Sitting positions

There are several ways to sit. We’ll go over them during new student orientation.

Full lotus

Full lotus position

Half lotus

Half lotus position

Burmese (legs folded, not crossed)

Burmese position

Seiza (kneeling)

Seiza kneeling position

Hands

Hokkai-jouin (cosmic mudra) 法界定印

Rest your hands on your lap, left hand on top of the right, with your thumbs lightly touching to form an oval.

Hands in the cosmic mudra

Ketsu-shu 結手

Gently hold your left thumb in your right hand, without squeezing. Then wrap your other left fingers around your right fist. Relax your arms and rest your hands on your lap, close to your belly.

Hands in ketsu-shu

Eyes

Keep your eyes  half-closed  and let your gaze rest softly on the tip of your nose. Your eyes will draw slightly inward. That’s fine, just don’t strain.

Close-up of half-closed eyes with the gaze resting softly downward toward the nose

Breathing

Deep breathing is at the heart of zazen. We count our breaths to stay in the present moment.

  1. Breathe in slowly through your nose.
  2. Breathe out even more slowly through your nose, and count “1.”
  3. Keep counting each breath, “2,” “3,” up to “10.” Then start again at “1.”

Lost count? That’s normal. When a thought pulls you away, just go back to “1.”

Tip: Notice your belly rising and falling as you breathe.

Zazen-kai from beginning to end

8:00 session

  1. Begin: bells and chanting
  2. Sit: 40 minutes of continuous zazen
  3. Halfway: everyone receives a gentle tap on the shoulders with the keisaku (a flat wooden stick). It’s a chance to stretch or adjust your legs, and a reminder to “wake up to this moment.”
  4. End: sharing. A volunteer speaker shares their thoughts with the sangha.

9:00 session

  1. Begin: bells and chanting
  2. Sit: 40 minutes of zazen, in two 20-minute sittings
  3. Halfway: a short silent break, a chance to stretch or adjust your legs