This page describes a few terms used elsewhere in
this site to describe our practice.
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Dana
Giving (dana) is the practice of cultivating generosity. Giving with pure motivation is called dana paramita, or "perfection of giving." When we give to others, we give without expectation of reward. We give without attaching to either the gift or the recipient. We practice giving to release greed and self-clinging.
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Kinhin
Walking meditation, or kinhin in Japanese, is usually performed
in between periods of zazen. During kinhin practitioners walk clockwise around a room in a slow series of half-steps, each step taken after a
full breath. Hands are held close to the body with one hand closed in a fist, while the other hand grasps or
covers the fist. The beginning of kinhin is announced by ringing the bell
twice; the end by ringing once.
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Sangha
The community of Buddhist practitioners. More narrowly, the immediate
community, in this case Stillpoint. More broadly, the larger human community,
or the community of all living beings.
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Sesshin
Translated as "Gathering of the mind," sesshin is an
extended period of sitting meditation lasting many days. Periods of zazen
and kinhin may be interspersed with work practice, lectures, and discussion.
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Zazen
Seated meditation, or zazen in Japanese, forms the heart of our
practice. We urge newcomers without prior experience to seek introductory instruction in zazen from
a senior Stillpoint member before sitting in the zendo.
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Zazenkai
All day sitting, or zazenkai
in Japanese, provides one with the opportunity for intensifying and
deepening one's practice through the experience of longer periods of
uninterrupted zazen. Generally of shorter duration than sesshin, zazenkai, which is translated as "Coming together for meditation," is typically characterized as a group of lay practitioners practicing together without the presence of a teacher.
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Zendo
A Japanese term roughly translated as "meditation hall", zendo refers to a space reserved for meditation. See the Zendo Etiquette page for additional information.
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