What to wear It’s recommended to wear loose, comfortable clothing. Anything that’s too restrictive could become uncomfortable or distracting to you. Please also keep in mind the other people who will be sitting with you, and avoid wearing anything that could be overly distracting to them, as well (including strong fragrances). In cooler weather, a light sweater or similar garment could be helpful if the zendo is chilly, but there are also blankets available to borrow. When you arrive Please try to arrive early (around 15 minutes) before the start of the meditation period, so that someone can greet you and give you a personal introduction to meditation practice. Remove your shoes in the vestibule and place on the shelves there, then enter through the main door. The first doorway on the left is the parlor, where you may hang your coat in the closet. If someone hasn’t already greeted you, they will likely be along shortly. The restroom If you walk past the parlor towards the mirror, on your left just beyond the stairs, you’ll see a door. That’s the first floor restroom. If the door is closed and your needs are urgent, someone can direct you to other available facilities in the building. If you are new to Zen, we recommend you arrive 15 minutes prior to your first practice so that one of our resident teachers or practice leaders can explain basic forms before we go into silence, and answer any questions you may have. Entering the Way There are many ways to begin Zen practice, and Boundless Way offers a number of options for you to explore, at your own pace and in your own time. In Buddhism we speak of three “treasures,†which are traditionally called Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. These Sanskrit words are simply labels, a way of understanding different aspects of the path through particular frames or lenses. The Buddha According to the story, after Gautama Siddhartha had his transformative insight into the nature of the world and himself he decided to find his former companions. On his way he encountered an old sage who saw the re was something special going on and asked, “Who are you? Are you a god or a deva (an angel)?†To which Siddhartha replied, “No, I am awake.†Buddha means “one who is awakened.†In the Zen way we say that everyone (and everything) is already awake to what is true and real, perceptible beyond any filters or constructions of the discriminating mind. As human beings we have the unique capacity to realize our awakened nature. In Boundless Way, we begin to realize our Buddha nature by learning to practice zazen, a Japanese word that means “sitting meditation.