Practice

Practice With Us

Join our Practice on Zoom.
Meeting ID: 784 274 311
Passcode: 801283

Regular hybrid practice is suspended on days when there are retreats or ceremonies. For dates and times, check here.

In dangerous weather there is no in-person practice. Hybrid practice will move over to Zoom.

Special practice times December 31 to January 11

No regular practice December 31, January 1, January 3, January 4, January 10.

During the retreat you may join us in-person for morning practice 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. January 4 - 10 and evening practice 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. January 3 - 9. You may enter and leave during any break (e.g., walking meditation, after bows, after chanting…) during those times.

During the retreat we will also be holding Zoom practice Tuesday and Thursday morning (January 6 and 8) at 6:30 a.m., Tuesday evening (January 6) at 7 p.m., and Wednesday evening (January 7) at 6:30 p.m..

Because of the annual meeting, we will have a brief practice Sunday January 11 from 10 to 10:30 with no talk or Q&A and no dharma school. There will still be beginners orientation.

Regular practice after January 11

Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. (in person only)

Introduction to our practice forms. For those joining us in person for the first time.

Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (hybrid — in person or over Zoom)

The Four Great Vows, three prostrations, brief and simple chanting for people in distress or who have died, four chants, a half hour of sitting, a talk, Q&A with a teacher. In-person, you will be given a chanting book. On Zoom, the chants can be found in our chanting book p. 6 — 13. Sunday practice is suspended during retreats or ceremonies.

Tuesday and Thursday 6:30 a.m. (hybrid — in person or over Zoom)

The Four Great Vows followed by 108 prostrations, the Morning Bell Chant, sitting, and a short reading. For a demonstration of how to do prostrations, check out this video by Kathy Park JDPSN from 18:16 to 26:32. And if your body doesn’t allow you to do all 108 prostrations, you can do standing bows.

Tuesday 7 p.m (Zoom only)

The Four Great Vows, Evening Bell Chant (done solo by a practice leader), chanting the Heart Sutra and the Great Dharani, sitting, short reading. New to our practice? Come at 6:55 for a quick introduction and orientation.

Wednesday 6:30 p.m. (hybrid — in person or over Zoom)

Special chanting (real page 15 through 27 = screen page 23 through 35). Here are audio links for the first chant (Thousand Eyes and Hands Sutra) and for the second chant (Kwan Se Um Bosal chanting — we also interpolate Ji Jang Bosal chanting in this chant).

Wednesday 7:00 p.m. (hybrid — in person or over Zoom)

Evening Bell Chant (done solo by a practice leader), chanting (for words to the chants, see our chanting book), followed by a half hour of sitting.

You are welcome to join us for just one of the Wednesday practices or for both.

Thursday 7 p.m. (in person only)

Practice at Unity Temple on the Plaza in Kansas City MO, at the corner of 47th and Jefferson. We’ll be in classroom C at the top of the stairway at the end of the east hallway. First Thursday of the month Zen Master Bon Hae (Judy Roitman) answers questions. Fourth Thursday of the month Dennis Duermeier JDPSN gives kong-an interviews.

Saturday 6:30 a.m. (hybrid — in person or over Zoom)

Practice and interviews: the Four Great Vows followed by 108 prostrations, chanting (for words to the chants, see our chanting book), followed by two periods of sitting, and a short reading. During practice, people are called into the interview room (in-person) or a breakout room (Zoom) for kong-an interviews. Regular Saturday practice is suspended on days when we have retreats or ceremonies.

Dharma School

Sundays 9:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

For children who are interested in learning the basics of Buddhism, mindfulness, and Zen practice.

Dharma School is suspended during retreats and ceremonies. For dates and times when it is suspended, check here.

Located on the second floor of the Zen Center, we teach mindfulness, meditation, and introductory elements of the Buddhist path. Our structured program provides children with a language for articulating what they feel, a framework for understanding their experiences, and a method for expanding on their natural spiritual gifts.

Our curriculum has five units: meditation, kindness, ethics, character, and service. Each class contains activities, stories, guided meditations, and games, each focusing on the day’s lessons.

All children must be potty trained and able to sit quietly for five minutes. Recommended for ages 5-12.

If you have any questions or would like to volunteer to help with Dharma School, email us.