Contempletive practice includes Buddhist practice, but also meditation practice in a secular context.
Meditation Instruction. AZC provides support for outlying Zen groups and meditation instruction on site at nonprofit organizations. Group meditation instruction can be arranged for commercial and nonprofit organizations. We have conducted meditation classes for Caritas of Austin and for Austin Recovery.
The Zen Prison Project. This project has brought volunteers into the Travis State Jail, Travis County Correction Facility and Lockhart prison, where we teach serveral classes in meditation and Buddhism every week. This project started at AZC but has expanded to include members of sister Austin sanghas, particularly Plum Blossom Sangha. We also arrange mail correspondence with prisoners who have expressed an interest in Buddhism, and arrange for them to receive books. For more information on this project click here.
Support for Buddhist Groups. AZC supports smaller Buddhist and meditation groups in various ways, including providing practice leadership for sesshins and other events at the places these groups meet, and providing practice opportunities for individuals at our larger center. For instance, Seirin Sensei and other priests have frequently led sesshins and shorter sittings and given talks in San Antonio and Atlanta, GA.We are available to provide training in zazen and forms for other groups on request, either at your site or at ours. Overnight facilities are generally available at AZC any time for visitors from other groups and centers, at a nominal fee if you can afford it. AZC provides a place for other Buddhist groups to meet insofar as there is no conflict with AZC's daily schedule or calendar events.
We find that many people in outlying areas of Texas have trouble finding a local group or other individuals to practice with. We maintain a registry of people and groups outlying areas and when we discover a match put them in touch with one another. If you would like to seek a group or register yourself, please click here.
Informative Talks at Schools and Universities. Practitioners from AZC are frequently asked to give frequent presentations to high school and college classes. We make ourselves available to come to talk about any aspect of Buddhism. Classes also come to us to get a feel for our practice environment.
