We are so happy to be offering free online zazen meditation sessions every week during the winter months!
We hope that by making meditation more accessible - you can join from the comfort of your home, office, car or even during a walk - you can create a weekly routine that supports your overall wellbeing. Beginners are always welcome and special preparations are not necessary at all. We invite you to join us just as you are, whether that is sleepy, stressed out or distracted. Meditation is about meeting the present moment with awareness and acceptance. You don’t have to show up already in a zen state of mind. And while we hope you may leave more relaxed, there is no goal in zazen beyond being present with yourself. Zen is simply about fully experiencing our lives in each moment.
Sessions last for 30 minutes and will be held in Japanese and English. Keno, who is the head priest of Dairyuji, will first introduce the correct posture and breathe work to help you get settled. After that, he will guide you through the the concept of Shikantaza which is letting thoughts, emotions, images and even sensations arise and fall away naturally during the meditation. We are not trying to stop our minds from thinking, but rather allow them to flow without attachment. We complete the meditation with easy stretching reminding us that our minds, bodies and spirit are connected. We then finish the session with a gasho - holding our hands together and bowing - as a sign of respect for the practice.
A few guidelines to make the session benefitial for all participants:
Please keep microphone on mute during meditation.
You can leave video on or turn it off during meditation.
There is no requirement to talk, but you are welcome to say hello before meditation starts and ask questions at the end of the session. You can also use the chat as a way to share comments or ask questions.
Thank you!
We will offer these weekly meditations online from November 2026 through end of March 2027.
SCHEDULE: Please note that for locations outside of Asia-Pacific, sessions will fall on Wednesdays - please check converter for your local timezone.
Thursdays, 6:30am JST (Tokyo)
November 5, 12, 19, 26
December 3, 10, 17, 24 (31 is off)
January is a rest month.
February 4, 11, 18, 25,
March 4, 11, 18, 25