Practice and enlightenment, the masters have long said, are both solitary and social endeavors. We need each other for reflection, encouragement and inspiration. Though some may have a strong capacity for seclusion, sangha is one of the three precious gems for a very good reason. We depend on each other to wake up.

At this time, we are pleased to offer the following opportunities to sit with others online (not available during sesshin week).

Firstly, the Monastery itself is livestreaming its morning and evening zazen as follows:

Evening Zazen —  Tuesday through Saturday — 7:30-9pm (Mar-Dec), 6:30-8pm (Jan-Feb)

Morning Zazen — Wednesday through Saturday — 5:30–6:30 (Summer/Winter), 5:00–6:30 (Spring/Fall) (liturgy service begins at 6:30)

Sunday Morning Program
9:00–9:30               Liturgy service
9:30–11:05             Zazen (2 periods with approximately 10 minutes between for kinhin walking meditation)
11:05–11:50           Dharma talk by a teacher or senior

All of the above can be joined via Livestream.com/MRO

We also offer online Beginning Instruction in Zazen monthly (see our programs page to register)

Meditation Over Zoom with Others at Home

Early Morning Zazen with Lay Seniors (via Zoom) 
Each Monday and Tuesday, 5:30–6:30 (no time change for ango)
Additionally, Wednesday through Friday during Monastery sesshin weeks.
Click here to sign up.

Morning Zazen with Lay Seniors (via Zoom)
Mondays through Saturdays, 7–8
Click here to sign up.

Guidelines and Schedules for Zazen Over Zoom

• Please join sittings a few minutes before the scheduled time, so as to be seated and settled in place before the period of zazen begins.
• Please keep your microphone muted until the very end.
• The group leader will ring three bells to begin zazen.
• The group leader will ring two bells to signal the end of zazen.
• Click on the above link(s) to join. You will be prompted to sign up through Zoom, after which you will receive an access link through email. (This provides us with extra online security.) That link will be good for any meditation session at that time of day. If you misplace the access email or link, you can always return to this webpage and re-register.
• We encourage people to add their pronouns during Zoom events in order to promote gender inclusion and here’s a link on why that’s important: zmm.org/pronouns

Schedule for Early Morning Zazen over Zoom (Mondays and Tuesdays + sesshin week)
5:30 am  Zazen
6:05  Break, Kinhin, Movement 
6:15  Zazen
6:50  Chant the Four Immeasurables, Verse of the Kesa (words below) and then a brief good morning/check in. 

Schedule for Morning Zazen (Mondays through Saturdays)
7:00  Zazen
7:30  Chant Verse of the Kesa (words below), Brief break
7:35  Zazen
8:05  Chant the Four Immeasurables (words below) and then a brief good morning/check in.

Schedule for Evening Zazen
7:30  Zazen
8:05  Break, Kinhin, Movement
8:10  Zazen
8:45  Chanting the Four Bodhisattva Vows (words below)

Verse of the Kesa
Vast is the robe of liberation, a formless field of benefaction. I wear the Tathagatha’s teachings, saving all sentient beings.

The Four Immeasurables
May all beings be free from suffering and the root of suffering. 
May all beings know happiness and the root of happiness. 
May all beings live in sympathetic joy, rejoicing in the happiness of others.
May all beings live in equanimity, free from passion, aggression, and delusion.

The Four Bodhisattva Vows
Sentient beings are numberless, I vow to save them.
Desires are inexhaustible, I vow to put an end to them.
The dharmas are boundless, I vow to master them.
The Buddha Way is unattainable, I vow to attain it.

Being Present for a Dharma Teaching

Dharma Discourse (Teisho) and Dharma talks are sometimes said to be dark to the mind and radiant to the heart. They require a certain kind of listening that is open and receptive.
To help yourself receive the talk fully, allow yourself to settle into a zazen posture and remain still. You can engage the speaker with your eyes, as you would if you were present with them in person. Allow the talk to flow in, releasing any narratives, comments or internal dialogues. Received in this spirit of openness, Dharma talks can speak directly to our awakened mind.

Please email mroweb@dharma.net with any technical issues.