1.General Rules
2.Year Schedule
3.Daily Schedule
4.Samu (Working practice)
5.Toban (Student work)
6.Student Life
7.Zen Juku Necessities
・Be polite and respect Roshi (Master).
・Follow elder students, especially Jikijitu (head student).
・In the Zen world there are many rules which seem not to be logical. Obey these obediently.
(Often there is no explanation of what they mean.)
・Try to be careful and mindful of yourself regarding Zen Juku life.
If these rules are not followed, it is possible to be excommunicated.
Time Period
・8th Dec – 31st Mar Seikan
・1st Apr – 30th Jun Seichu
・1st Jul – 7th Jul Seshin
(subject to change)
・8th Jul – 31st Aug Seikan
・1st Sep – 30th Nov Seichu
・1st Dec – 7th Dec Sesshin
“Seichu”:
・The season of practice with evening Zazen.
・Students have Zazen practice on weekday evenings.
・Students are not allowed to stay out overnight.
“Seikan”:
・The season of practice without evening Zazen.
・Students do evening Zazen voluntarily.
・Students can receive permission for travelling etc., principally, less than 10 days and in consultation with the
Roshi.
“Sesshin”:
・Harder one week practice.
・For one week, students cannot go outside of the Zen Juku.
・Students practice Zazen and Samu (working) all day.
・Communication and reading are not permitted.
・Approximate schedule: 04:00-22:00.
Weekday:
・5:00- 6:00: Zazen in Zendo (practice hall)
・6:00-6:20: Small Samu
・6:30: Shukuza (breakfast)
・6:30-8:30: Daily Samu
・8:30-17:30: Free
・17:30: Yakuseki (dinner)
・17:40-19:40: Free
・19:40- 21.00: Zazen (Seichu) [In Seikan season: Free time]
*Tuesdays: “Teisho” (Lecture) instead of Zazen
Saturday
・5:00- 6:00: Zazen in Zendo
・6:00-6:20: small Samu
・6:30: Shukuza
・6:30-8:30: Daily Samu
・8:30-17:30: Free
・17:30: Yakuseki
・17:40-21:00: Free time
Holiday
・6:00: Wake up
・6:00-6:30: Small Samu
・6:20-6:30: Shukuza
・6:30-12:00: Samu
・12:00-21:00: Free time
**The main entrance is locked at 21:00. In case you cannot come home by 21:00, the Jikijitu is to be informed ahead.
In Zen, Samu is as important as Zazen.
Weekday/Saturday:
Small Samu (6:00-6:20)
・Place: Clean Zendo or Rryosha (student residence)
・Dress: Kimono and Obi (No Hakama)
Daily Samu (6:30-8:30)
・Place: Gate, Shower rooms, Guest Rooms, Roshi’s House, Entrance, Garden
・Dress: Free
Holiday:
Larger Samu (6:30-12:00)
・Students must have time for this Samu.
・Roshi tells students what to do for Samu during the day.
Yakuseki Toban:
・Make dinner for all students.
・Return to the Zen Juku by 15:00, to start work until 17:30
Yakuseki Toban Work :
・Clean Outside
・Clean Floors
・Cook Dinner
・Students will be Yakuseki Toban 1-2 times a week.
・Yakuseki Toban is decided on Sunday mornings.
Toban of the Week:
・Make breakfast, open the doors in the morning and lock at night during the week
・Students rotate weekly
・You do not need to say “Good Morning” and other greetings to Roshis and students
・When speaking to others, say: “Onegaishimasu”. Usual position of the hands is fingers curled and placed on the
breast (Shashutoukyo).
・Don’t interrupt the meditation practices of others (Students are doing concentration practice outside of Zazen too)
・Don’t make loud sounds in the Zen Juku
・Yakuseki is at 17:30 (You do not always have to have Yakuseki in the Zen Juku, but students should have Yakuseki
here as often as possible for cooking practice and preparation for evening Zazen. If you have schoolwork, you
need not have Yakuseki at the Zen Juku or you can have Yakuseki later than 17:30.)
・Food is free, but it is eaten in the Zen manner at Zen Juku
・There is no preparation of Saiza (lunch) at Zen Juku. You can use the kitchen from 12:00 to 13:00.
・Taking a bath:
＊Men: Use the common bathroom (Don’t change water during the evening, as is the Japanese traditional way)
＊Women: Use the shower room. (Men and Women can use both rooms if they want)
＊Students can take a bath until 21:00.
＊After using the shower room, wipe the shower clean
＊It is not very good, but if you use the common bath room after 21:00 we must not use the lights
・Kitchen
＊After using the kitchen, remove all water/food waste in the kitchen
＊When leaving Zen Juku say “Itte mairi masu” loudly in front of “Saian”, Kansei Roshi’s house
＊When returning say “Tadaima kaeri mashita”
＊School life precedes work at the Zen Juku because Nagaoka Zen Juku is for students of Universities or
Colleges, not for a professional monastery. But when you will be absent from Samu or Zazen, you need to tell
Roshi and the Jikijitu beforehand.
If you are not satisfied at the Zen Juku, go to a professional monastery.
Documents:
・Application (this form is provided by the Zen Juku (see example))
・Resume (send your resume to: nagaokazenjuku@hotmail.com)
・Health Certificate
・University or College Diploma or Transcript (copy)
・Copy of the certificate of alien registration
Dress:
・Kimono, Hakama, Obi (dark colors, like blue or black, nothing loud)
・Futon (Japanese mattress and quilt)
・Geta (Japanese traditional wooden shoes)
・Hashi (Chopsticks)
・Samu wear and shoes (Free; your own clothes for work)
