ZENKEI SHINGI

Introduction

Qualifications for Residency

Guest students range from life-long monastics to householders who might choose to take some time out of their otherwise conventional lives to devote to practice in community. Some guest students will remain for many years, some will visit for a day or two from other centers. The qualifications listed here are particularly important for those staying a month or more.

Opportunity. Ideally guest students will be unencumbered by outside affairs (financial, familial, romantic, etc.) during their stay to the extent that they can participate in almost all Zen Center activities, will need to spend little time away from the center and can settle naturally into the practice life of the center with little preoccupation. Nevertheless, it is recognized that outside obligations will exist for some residents, especially around an outside means of support. The following is a rough minimum weekly expectation of commitment (where able guest students are expected almost always to follow the complete schedule):

• Twelve of the fifteen weekday periods of zazen.
• Morning soji at least four times.
• At least four meals.
• Ten hours of housekeeping or other nonpaid work.
• Saturday morning program and most Dharma talks.
• Most sesshins and other events.

Teacher approval. Those who enter the guest student program are in the process of training in Soto Zen practice, normally working with an authorized teacher not necessary at AZC. The teacher is able to assess how residency fits into this training and whether the student is able to handle the level of practice expected of guest students.

Depth of Practice. Guest students, especially those applying for a longer stay, must be solid in their Soto practice, sincere in their aspirations and capable of following a sesshin schedule. Almost always those who become guest students are already well known practitioners either at the Zen Center or at an affiliated group, who have a clear track record. Background in Soto Zen is desirable, because we support each other through our commonalities.

Willingness and ability to support the mission of Austin Zen Center. This can be through offering labor, being a strong presence in the zendo, taking on zendo jobs, supporting preparation for events, helping maintain the Center, being helpful to new visitors, etc.

Ability to live in harmony with others. This is particularly important in a small center, where stress among residents can become easily apparent to the many visitors to the center and color the way they experience our practice.

Suitable financial arrangement. Guest students generally compensate for room and board at the Center, either by direct payment, or through being employed within the Center.

Tangaryo. Ideally before assuming residency but more generally within the first week of residency, the candidate guest student must figuratively spend a day sitting at the temple gate.

Practitioners are accepted on the basis of these criteria and may be asked to leave residency should any of these criteria fail in the future.

Qualifications for Rental

Austin Zen Center generally has two units designated as available for rental in the building West of the main building. These are rented at an affordable rate and reserved for serious Zen students who will benefit from the proximity to a practice and training environment, but whose other obligations may preclude participating in the practice schedule to the extent expected of normal guest students. The qualifications have primarily to do with "Depth of Practice," "Ability to live in harmony with others," and "Suitable financial arrangement" above. Notice that virtually all aspects of residential training are available to the renter to the extent that the opportunity exists to take advantage of them. The renter is not subject to the other obligations described in this text except for those concerned with ensuring harmony and those to which nonresident practitioners are generally subject.

Financial Terms and Work at the Center

Term of Residency.

Ideally a person comes for a week’s trial. Then a month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year. Residency is most often limited to two years. Exceptions are made for someone specifically hired to run program at AZC that is facilitated by residency, for senior (post shuso) people, and for those whose point of training calls for an extention.

Priest training or ordination does not promise residential status or staff status. It is ideal for priests in training to spend considerable time not only in a monastic setting but also at other centers working with other teachers.

Being a guest student at Austin Zen Center is not rental in the secular sense of the word. Residency can be for a term fixed beforehand or end at some point when you and the Guest Students’ Director agree that it is time. Should you and AZC disagree about your time of leaving, AZC has the final word. AZC and will give you ample time to find a room – generally not less than one month.

Room and Board.

The financial terms generally involve payment of rent and payment for board. See the schedule in the appendices below for current rates. These may be offset in some cases through work-exchange depending on skills and financial need. Please pay rent on time or fulfill your work exchange schedule. Checks are due by the 10th of the month in a place designated by the center director.

Staff Jobs.

Staff positions at Austin Zen Center include office work, building maintenance, house and yard work, and outreach activities that are either too time-intensive, too specialized or too uninteresting for our many generous sangha volunteers to take on fully. Room, board and tuition for events may be offset or partially offset in some cases through work-exchange, i.e., through partial employment at the Center in a staff position. Staff positions at AZC are few and available to non-residents as well. Financial terms may be negotiated depending on financial need, anticipated length of residence, skills and AZC’s staff requirements. If funds are available and an employee is needed, a guest student may receive a small salary, in addition to room, board and tutition, in exchange for work.

Employment Outside of the Center

Guest students who work substantially outside full time are expected to pay full room, board an tuition according to the schedule linked below, to perform house and zendo jobs, and to be available for most and ideally all community and practice events. The Guest Student's practice schedule should be worked out with the Guest Students' Director.

House Jobs.

Each guest student shares in house jobs, which (as distinct from staff jobs) are necessary to the care of the guest students and the cleanliness of the temple, such as cooking, washing dishes, mopping kitchen floor, keeping the resident area clean and keeping tub and shower clean, assisting with garbage and recycling and composting. You should anticipate about ten hours per week. This does not offfset any costs for room, board and tuition, but is simply an obligation of all guest students. Please do house jobs in a timely fashion. The house manager will oversee this area. A schedule of house jobs is found in the appendices.

Much of the work at the Center, including house jobs, are covered by sangha members who volunteer their labor. Each guest student is expected to share with the rest of the sangha in such volunteer activities to keep the center going including during scheduled work days. It is a good idea to choose something that you enjoy:

• Yard and gardening.
• House repair
• Zendo support: cleaning, event set-up, etc.
• Outreach: Prison Project, Austin Area Interreligious Minstries, etc.
• Cooking for events.
• Teaching: Classes, zazen instruction, oryoki instruction, sewing.
  

Personal Use of Zen Center Resources.

Zen Center vehicles may be used by individuals insofar as this does not interfere with their use on Zen Center business. However compensation should be paid to the Zen Center at the rate indicated in the appendices. Likewise computers, the copier and other facilities may be available on a very limited basis, subject to policy set by the director. If you are doing private home-based work, keep it confined to your room and don’t make regular use of Zen Center resources.

Formal Practice as a Guest Student

Guest students practice regularly and solidly, take on the functioning of the zendo and set an example for less experienced practitioners to follow.

Follow the schedule.

Guest students are expected to attend zazen regularly, typical attendance would be 12 of the 15 periods offered in a week, and correspondingly more during practice periods. In general, a guest student is expected to be in attendance in the morning for early periods and on Saturday morning for zazen and lecture, for other lectures, for ceremonies, and for sesshins and retreats held at the Zen Center. One class during times when classes are held is also expected. Guest students should endeavor to attend all sesshins. The Guest Students' Director should have an idea of the schedule you will follow in the zendo, or at least the parameters of your schedule, and should be notified when exceptions are necessary. This is also subject to your teacher’s approval.

Authority

Guest students live in a training environment. Part of this training relies on a hierarchical structure of authority. In particular certain roles carry authority within certain domains, for instance, the ino within the zendo, the tenzo within the kitchen, the work leader during work periods, and the practice leaders and guiding teacher overall. It is our practice to have a yes! attitude rather than to challenge or negotiate the instructions of the person in that role, even when (or especially when) our own preferences are disregarded, and even when this authority falls to an otherwise junior practitioner. This provides another opportunity for observing the reactions of the little self. People in positions of authority are expected to be very aware of the difference between exercising authority for its own sake and exercising authority for the sake of cultivating selflessness.

Practice Uniformly.

The practice will not be tailored to individual preferences. We practice together and as completely as possible. Cases where practice may be individuated may involve health issues, potential conflicts with outside commitments, such as work, or additional requirements felt appropriate by the Guest Student’s teacher. House and staff work inside the Center should not be allowed to interfere with the practice schedule.

Assume Zendo Roles at Austin Zen Center

With time each guest student learns to function as chiden, fukudo, doan, kokyo, jiko and (for ordained clergy only) doshi, generally in that order, and ideally holds at least 4 zendo responsibilities per week. In general filling these roles does not offset any fees. The ino oversees this area, will train guest students and may call upon guest students freely to fill jobs as needed.

If you are assuming a zendo role, be in the zendo area as follows:

• Ino - Twenty minutes before zazen.
• Doan - Twenty minutes before zazen.
• Fukudo - Sixteen minutes before zazen.
• Others - Before second rolldown.

Guest students also help with setting up for events, ceremonies etc.

Silence and Containment.

Silence is observed until after morning soji. Reading and computer use is discouraged outside of private rooms before morning zazen. During a practice period breakfast and lunch are silent, except on days off.

Practices outside of the Zendo.

We gassho toward the altar whenever we pass the open kaisando (founder’s hall) during the day. It is also customary to bow to the altar nearest a bathroom before entering and after exiting the bathroom. We generally chant and offer incense before common meals (please be on time for this). Other available Soto Zen rituals and chants for daily life are encouraged; ask around for references.

Deportment

Many guest students are seasoned practitioners and as such have a powerful presence, especially for those new to practice. Guest students---along with ordained lay and clergy---often become role models, and often become objects of others’ projections and/or expectations. While guest students may not experience themselves in this way, they need to understand that others do. Dress appropriately in zendo (black or muted colors, clean and loose for sitting), and place your footwear neatly.

Outside of the zendo it is important to recognize that displays of anger, boisterous behavior, rudeness, lack of mindfulness, etc. may have consequences for the spirit of the Center and for the attitudes of others who come to practice with us. Please be orderly and mindful in your demeanor and habits. be courteous and helpful to outside visitors. Letting go of the sense of personal ownership and taking on the responsibility of cooperative ownership is an aspect of training.

Daily Life.

Our daily life practice might be summarized as “Have a light footstep and leave no trace.”

Security.

There have been a number of thefts at the Zen Center. Doors to the annex and particularly to the house in back should always be locked when no one is present. The main building doors should be locked when no one is downstairs.

Kitchen and Food.

Zen Center is alcohol and drug free, except for medicinal purposes, and meat free, except for the cat’s bowl.

Typically breakfast and lunch are prepared each weekday. Those who don’t cook are expected to clean up after meals. For remaining meals guest students can use the kitchen as required, but subject to the tenzo’s restrictions.

Laundry

Laundry should not be left in the washer, dryer or on the clothes lines longer than necessary. Clothes should not be left in any other public places. In fact, please don’t leave any personal possessions in public spaces, if at all avoidable, and don’t leave sandals outside no-shoes areas when you are absent.

Practice is Most Important.

Don’t overwork or take on so many tasks that your practice or personal well-being suffers. Follow your schedule and complete tasks. Tasks are completed when the area is cleaned up and tools are put away. Leave no trace, but if others do, clean up after them too. Offer help freely. In general, zendo practice should be regarded as taking precedence over work practice and should rarely give way to anticipated work deadlines.

Quiet

The Zen Center temple is nearly distraction-free. There should be no use of videos, TV, video games, music, radio, etc. in public areas or where these things are audible in public areas. Singing, frivolous conversation, loud, boisterous or flirtatious behavior should not be a regular occurrence. Guest students are encouraged to consider limiting their private use of electronic entertainment, particularly during practice periods.

The Zen Center does to some extent function as a community center for sangha members, and as a place where public events, weddings, etc. are occasionally held. Some of these activities may violate the stillness of the atmosphere, but these are exceptional in that regard.

Quiet time starts officially at 9 pm. There should be no audible conversations or noise activities such as cleaning or doing laundry after that time. It is not necessary that one turns the lights out and sleeps at that time, but many do. Also noisy activities, such as running the washing machine, should be avoided during zendo events.

Ecological Standards.

It is AZC policy and implicit in our Precepts to always consider the health of the planet.

Please recycle everything possible and compost organic matter and avoid use of toxic products.

Please use the clothesline for drying whenever possible to save energy. Non- or low phosphate detergent is environmentally sounder. Chlorine is very toxic.

Use the AC and Heat sparingly. The house manager will set the AC to 78 degrees and the heat to 62 degrees when no one is using the space for a few hours, and otherwise set the AC to 73 and the heat to 68.

Smoking is not allowed within Zen Center buildings.

Harmony in the Sangha

Working with Thoughts and Emotions.

Dealing with anger is part of the mental cultivation of Buddhist practice. No matter what external trigger is at work, acting out our anger, even in our heads, is always something we add; blame is a delusive and forgiveness happens when we see past that delusion. The danger of anger is that it can easily become a condition for unskillful acts and speech that then increase the potential for conflict. This danger is long-lived if anger becomes grudge. Our Precepts say, “Do not harbor ill will.”

Dealing with jealousy, competitiveness, greed, arrogance, and so on, are also part of mental cultivation. When these lead to unskillful acts and speech they incite others’ anger, increasing the potential for conflict.

Avoiding Actions that Lead to Conflict.

Anger is a condition of many actions. Don’t hit anyone or put anyone in danger. Do not refuse to perform responsibilities or to cooperate out of anger.

Many actions evoke others’ anger: stealing, scheming, lying, misuse of sexuality, not following standards, leaving messes, procrastinating, etc. can evoke anger in others. They never justify another’s anger, but nevertheless give condition it.

Producing Right Speech.

People tend to take forceful negative expressions very personally. These easily escalate the level of anger in a situation. You should avoid overt expressions of anger such as raising your voice, “leaking,” or “acting out.” Threatening or cajoling is particularly unskillful.

We often use speech not to express anger but out of retribution as a means of undermining someone else’s reputation. This usually creates fear and chaos in sangha relations. Speech of this nature becomes so casual that even with no anger present we speak poorly of others just to be funny or to build camaraderie. We work not to gossip or spread rumors, and not to encourage disdain for others, talk about the faults of others or exaggerate their mistakes or opinions. The limits of such behavior are often subtle. For instance, A may, out of kindness to C, give B advice of how to interact skillfully with C, but have to mention the kinds of things that push C’s buttons. Is this speaking ill of C? Intention is important: if there is anger underlying your speech or actions, it is best to back off.
Avoiding Divisions in the Sangha.

Discord or disagreement quickly spreads from two people to four to the whole sangha as people seek allies or as others ally themselves, sometimes on the basis of inadequate information. In general, don’t cause disharmony or discord in others through speech or actions. Don’t seek allies, or become an ally. Don’t take sides in others’ disputes. Instead, always seek to heal, first and foremost. Don’t form splinter groups or conflicting groups. Don’t broadcast news of disputes indiscriminately, since doing so almost invariably results in unskillful projections among the most imaginative.

Reconciling Conflict.

Reconciliation is everyone’s job. Never refuse an apology or offer of reconciliation and never refuse to restore communication. Our Ethics Statement in the appendices spells our policies reconciliation and for formal grievances when all else fails.

Not Isolating Oneself.

A common means of avoiding conflict in the outside world is to isolate oneself in various ways. This is not our practice; we learn through our mutual support.

You should not reside a significant part of the time outside of the Zen Center, except on weekends, AZC holidays or other times when there is not much scheduled activity or meals at the Zen Center. You should in general not eat meals apart from the community, and should be present for the meal chant.

Likewise, a primary function of living in community is that the sangha, like your teacher, serves as a mirror that reflects much about us we would otherwise overlook. Please listen to the advice of others and learn to hear criticism, especially when your initial reaction is to defend yourself.

Periodic Meetings.

There will be a house meeting for guest students about once a month, or when an important issue comes up that any guest student feels should be discussed in a group.

Personal Affairs

Residency is a heavy commitment and requires a restructuring of your lives. In the early days as you experiment with this you should meet regularly with a teacher to see how it is going. Aside from the way we behave in the zendo, in our work and in our interactions with one another, we adopt a certain lifestyle as individuals within certain parameters..

Frugality

Be mindful of how much stuff you accumulate or ways you might seek luxury, how you might stash food and other items for private use (sometimes this is, however, necessary for reasons of health) or even collect too many books. We tend to acquire possessions as a means of distraction or of reinforcing a personal sense of self. Practicing simplicity we own the bare minimum. Also, be very careful not to waste resources, such as electricity, paper and water.

Sexual Relations.

Sexuality, a powerful and difficult aspect of being human, intersects with practice in very complex ways. For this reason, sexual behavior is bounded within the Center and the residential community in certain ways. These bounds should not be understood as representing a moralistic view; on the contrary, sexuality is accepted as a natural and healthy expression of human existence. It is rather the recognition that sexuality can be disruptive of the practice environment; that authority and power in the Center, as in other institutions, has the potential for abuse of sexual relations; and that sexuality as a locus of much human suffering is itself something we practice with in productive ways.

New relationships within the residential community. We should be very careful when considering beginning any special/sexual/romantic relationship with anyone in the residential program, or within in the sangha at large. A rule of thumb is to let a practitioner be active and establish a practice for at least six months before attempting to have a singular relationship with him/her. Remember the new member came to practice Zen, not to get involved in a relationship. If you find yourself attracted to someone in the sangha, talk with the teacher. It is sometimes helpful to do so before sharing your feelings with the other person. Ideally one should be fully focused on practice during one’s residency to the extent that existing relationships be put on the back burner with the full consent and understanding of one’s partner. This is very difficult to do in the case of a new relationship, which will generally demand a lot of attention and energy. We recommend that a guest student not begin a new relationship during residency, particularly during the first six months when one has not fully settled in to the daily practice routine, nor that one begin residency shortly after entering into a new relationship. In any case the status of existing relationships should be thoroughly discussed with a practice leader prior to beginning residency. This distraction from practice can render your time as a guest student fruitless. The added potential for emotional expression, can in a small residential program also have an adverse impact on the atmosphere of the center. If you begin a new relationship there is a strong possibility that you will be asked to leave because of this impact, not as a punishment, but because of the need to protect the practice environment.

Relations for those in positions of authority. Over the years Zen centers have come to realize that great harm, both psychological and spiritual, can result from teachers becoming sexually involved with their students, both for the teacher and student involved and for the community as a whole. Therefore, when people come to AZC they can be assured that the teacher(s) have made a commitment not to be sexual with the students at AZC. Likewise guest students and ordained people are in a strong power position and should consider their involvement with a newer student/practitioner with care and attention to the power imbalance. Any existing relationship of practice discussant, pastoral councilor or therapist to student should be terminated before a sexual relationship is contemplated. Of course, no adult should become involved with a minor at AZC.

Sensual restraint. In our human lives, passions often overwhelm our wisdom. Sexual passion, in particular, quickly turns to greed, hate and delusion, and thereby become the source of much suffering. Buddhist practice is to become mindful of our passions, and some members of the residential community may be practicing celibacy (often for a limited period) along with other forms of sensual restraint, in the monastic tradition. In general the Zen Center is an environment where sensual triggers are controlled. We do not engage in overt sexual or flirtatious behavior, and we dress modestly. This helps us learn to bring mindfulness into our expressions of sexuality.

Livelihood.

Those in a teaching or counseling capacity should not use their relationships to recruit professional clients. Sangha resources should not be used for professional or money-making enterprises except with prior agreement of the Zen Center. Usually this agreement will involve some kind of compensation to the Zen Center and can in no sense be considered exploitive of Zen Center sangha members.

If you have a home-based business conducted from your room this must be almost invisible to the rest of the guest students and should be Right Livelihood by Buddhist standards.

Privacy

AZC provides a room for you to live in. However, you probably will occassionally be asked on short notice to relocate or share your room in order to accommodate guests during sesshins or other events. While privacy and therefore closed doors are otherwise expected, your space should be kept so that an open door reveals a mindfully kept space.

Private dinners etc. should only happen with the prior consent of the other residents. As our common space is limited, it is difficult to have the available space used for a dinner event etc. that doesn’t include all of the residents.

If you listen to TV or radio in your room, please use headphones.

Visitors and Guest Students

Vistors are those coming to the Center but not staying overnight. If you are a former guest student returning as a visitor, don’t assume you can use the facilities as freely as when you were a resident. It is easy to pick up where you left off as regards use of space and buildings.

Visitors should plan to be off the premises by 9:00 pm (10:00 on weekends, or when there is no early zazen the next day).

References.

Thich Nhat Hahn, Joyfully Together: The Art of Building a Harmonious Community. 2003. Parallax Press.

Daniel Leighton, Shohaku Okumura (trans.), Dogen’s Pure Standards for the Zen Community: A Translation of Eihei Shingi. 1996, SUNY Press.

Further Information.

Guest Students' Program

Application as a Guest Student at Austin Zen Center.

Schedule of Fees.

House Jobs.

Ethics Statement for Austin Zen Center.