Zen course

Lesson 1 • Major Zen Schools and Traditions

Compares Rinzai, Soto, and other lineages by method and emphasis. Students identify which approaches align with their learning goals.

Lesson 2 • Core Philosophical Principles

Introduces impermanence, non-self, and interdependence as Zen's foundational ideas. These principles underpin every practice introduced later in the course.

Lesson 3 • Origins and Historical Development

Traces Zen from Indian Buddhism through Chinese Chan to Japanese Zen. Provides the historical context needed to understand why practices take their current forms.

Lesson 1 • Preparing Body and Environment

Covers physical setup, clothing, and space arrangement for seated meditation. A well-prepared environment reduces distraction and supports posture.

Lesson 2 • Posture and Physical Alignment

Teaches full lotus, half lotus, seiza, and chair variations with anatomical rationale. Correct alignment prevents injury and sustains long sitting periods.

Lesson 3 • Breath as the Primary Anchor

Introduces breath counting and natural breath observation as entry-level concentration tools. Breath awareness forms the foundation for deeper states of stillness.

Lesson 1 • Non-Attachment to Meditation States

Teaches students to release preference for pleasant states and aversion to difficult ones. Equanimity toward all arising experience is central to Zen practice.

Lesson 2 • Understanding Thought Patterns

Maps common mental phenomena—discursive thought, fantasy, and rumination—as they arise in zazen. Recognizing patterns is the first step toward non-reactive awareness.

Lesson 3 • Dealing with Sleepiness and Restlessness

Addresses the two most common obstacles in sitting practice with practical countermeasures. Resolving these obstacles allows practice to deepen naturally.

Lesson 1 • Presenting Koan Responses

Covers the dokusan interview format and how students demonstrate understanding to a teacher. Authentic response arises from direct experience, not memorised answers.

Lesson 2 • Entry-Level Koans for Beginners

Introduces accessible koans such as Mu and the sound of one hand. Students learn to carry a koan into daily sitting without forcing resolution.

Lesson 3 • Integrating Koan Inquiry into Daily Life

Extends koan practice beyond the cushion into work, conversation, and routine tasks. Continuous inquiry accelerates insight and prevents compartmentalisation of practice.

Lesson 1 • Precept Ceremony and Formal Commitment

Explains the jukai ceremony, its preparation, and its significance as a formal commitment. Taking precepts publicly deepens personal accountability and community bonds.

Lesson 2 • The Three Pure Precepts

Introduces the foundational vows to cease harm, do good, and benefit all beings. These broad precepts frame all specific ethical guidelines that follow.

Lesson 3 • The Ten Grave Precepts

Examines each of the ten precepts in depth with practical modern applications. Students learn to interpret precepts contextually rather than literally.

Lesson 1 • Samu: Mindful Work Practice

Introduces samu as the practice of bringing full attention to physical labour. Work becomes a vehicle for practice rather than an interruption of it.

Lesson 2 • Bowing and Ritual Gesture

Explains the meaning and technique of full prostrations and standing bows. Ritual gesture dissolves ego-separation and expresses gratitude and respect.

Lesson 3 • Kinhin: Walking Meditation

Teaches slow and fast kinhin as a bridge between sitting periods and active life. Precise footwork and breath coordination maintain meditative continuity.

Lesson 1 • Post-Sesshin Integration

Guides students in carrying sesshin insights back into ordinary life without losing them. Integration is the true measure of retreat's value.

Lesson 2 • Deepening Practice During Sesshin

Explains how extended silence and schedule create conditions for breakthrough experiences. Students learn to use each period as a fresh start rather than a continuation.

Lesson 3 • Structure and Schedule of Sesshin

Details the daily timetable, roles, and rules of a typical five- or seven-day sesshin. Knowing the structure reduces anxiety and allows full engagement from day one.

Lesson 1 • Dokusan and Sanzen Interviews

Deepens understanding of private interview formats and how to use them effectively. Students learn to bring their actual practice state rather than prepared answers.

Lesson 2 • The Role of the Zen Teacher

Examines what a qualified Zen teacher offers that self-study cannot provide. The teacher mirrors the student's blind spots and confirms genuine insight.

Lesson 3 • Kensho, Satori, and Ongoing Realisation

Clarifies the nature of insight experiences and their place in a long-term practice arc. Kensho is a beginning, not an endpoint, in Zen development.