Precepts: Guidelines for practice in everyday life

Shoken: Becoming a student

Reading Zen: A booklist
 

DOKUSAN: Going Alone to See the Teacher

• Dokusan is meant to be brief (5 - 10 minutes at the most) and to the point. It is not a time for visiting or doing psychotherapy. It is an opportunity to discuss your meditation practice, work with a koan, or simply be with the teacher. 

• If you wish to see one or more of the teachers, place the appropriately colored cards in front of your zabuton when the jishas announce the beginning of dokusan. Be sure that your card or cards are clearly visible. (During kinhin, please place your cards on your cushion.) 

• The jisha for one of the teachers will bow in front of you when it is your turn to go to the dokusan line for that teacher. Follow the jisha to the dokusan line. No bows are needed as you leave your meditation space and the zendo. 

    o There will be a row of chairs outside the dokusan room. 

    o Take the first one available to you, starting from the chair closest to the dokusan room. 

    o As people move forward, do so as well. 

    o Stay in zazen while you are waiting for dokusan. You may stand when you hear the signal in the zendo for kinhin, and then resume sitting when you hear the signal for zazen. 

• When it is your turn to go into the meeting, the door will open and you will hear the teacher ring the dokusan bell. Immediately ring the bell in front of you two times, and then quickly proceed into the room. The student who is leaving will step aside to let you enter. Close the door behind you. 

• Traditionally there are two full bows at the beginning, and one at the end of the meeting. Doing a standing bow is also acceptable. 

    o The first bow is at the threshold of the room. 

    o The second bow is directly in front of the teacher's seat. 

• After bowing, take your seat in front of the teacher. After you are seated, say your name and state your practice. (For example: "my name is Mary and my practice is counting the breath." If you have a koan, state the koan.) Then let the encounter unfold. 

• When the meeting is over, bow to the teacher: 

    o First give a tea bow -- from your seated position, put your hands on your thighs and make a slight bow. 

    o Then stand and make the third full or standing bow in front of the teacher's seat. 

• As you leave, keep the door open for the next person, and move aside if necessary to allow them to enter. Return directly to the zendo and resume zazen or kinhin. (No bows are needed upon returning to the zendo or to your meditation place.)