Sunday -- Yin Dan (Fajian 402-450-4668 back-up) Monday -- Joyce (Fajian 402-450-4668 back-up, except Aug. 1-15) Tuesday -- Yin Dan (Jesse 315-427-5399 back-up) Wednesday -- Yin Din (Jesse 315-427-5399 back-up) Thursday -- Yin Dan (Joyce 402-525-5407 back-up)
Doans, please give at least a 24-hour notice, if you cannot make it, by calling your back-up. If possible, Doans also may wish to attend on their back-up day. It is a good idea to have two Doans, in case a new meditant needs to be trained. If you cannot meet your back-up availability, please call another Doan to take your place and let the regular Doan know.
For general, non-urgent items, the best way to communicate is via the Doan list server: doans@yahoogroups.com
Contacts
Joyce
(402) 525-5407 Jesse (315) 427-5399 Yin Dan Fashi (402) 486-1869
(home) (973) 219-8086 (cell) Yin Din (402) 419-0161
Upasaka
All Doans (bell ringers) at Lotus Temple are also being certified meditation leaders (Upasaka) as they sometimes are leading meditation without the temple priest being present. Though an Upasaka is not entitled to teach or give Dharma talks and discussions, he or she may lead brief Gatha or Sutra chanting at the end of meditation and present a short reading from an authorized Dharma book.
Logistics Reference
Preparation
Please always arrive at least 30 minutes prior to meditation time. This will allow you to orient someone new to zen meditation according to the guidelines given.
Please refer to the procedures of initial training. An extra hard copy can be found in the Dojo. Initial training for all new meditants takes place in the Dojo.
Move the upstairs divider to the left side, wide enough for a person to comfortably walk through the entry way. Tun hallway lights on.
Turn altar lights on, but light the candle right before meditation. Burn incense, if you like. This makes a nice meditation ambiance.
Always close the Dokusan room curtain completely.
Meditation
Be sure to start exactly at 5 PM weekdays. If, for some reason, you start later, shorten the meditation time, so you always finish the first session at 5:20. As there may be more meditants joining, they can gauge the time better in order to arrive for the second sitting.
Ensure that all meditants follow etiquette and proper meditation postures. Correct them if necessary.
Open the Zendo door during kinhin.
After the second sitting, choose a short Gatha and give a brief Dharma address, if you can. You will find readings near the Doan seat.
After meditation
Extinguish all candles. Incense not finished will burn out safely in the sand box.
Record the number of meditants, including yourself.
Turn off altar lights & all other lights in the Zendo.
If the fan is running, turn it off.
Leave Dokusan curtain open for better ventilation.
Straighten out zabutons & safus as needed.
Always leave Zendo door open (for heating/AC air ventilation purposes), but close divider.
Turn off hallway lights.
As you leave the building (after all meditants have left), please lock the front door, except if there is still a class going on in the building, e. g. yoga.
Robes
Doans, who have taken the Precepts (lay ordination), may wear the Hia-Qing during meditation. However, there are specific procedures for putting it on and taking it off at the end. There are also slight differences in various traditions. You can review the video to the left for practice. If this is not sufficient or confusing, please ask for a short in-person training. If all else fails, you can always wear just a simple a meditation robe.
Doans, who have not taken the Precepts, have the option to wear such a meditation robe. These can be distinguished from the Hia-Qing as they have a long (though still very wide) sleeve and a button in the front of the neck.
All robes are located to the immediate left when entering the Dokusan room. Please always dress in the Dokusan room.
Last Web Site Update: 07-07-2010
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