Practice Period Guidelines

FOR EVERYONE:

• Write down your planned sitting schedule for the month (how often, how long). This should be your minimal commitment. For Practice Period we ask that you make a sincere effort to maintain this commitment.
• State what you see as your primary gap or difficulty in practice. Write down how, specifically, you will address this during Practice Period.
• State specifically how you plan to make your practice more continuous throughout the day, such as using ‘menu’ items. You can choose from the menu list below or add your own.
• Spend at least one hour a week in formal study (reading, writing, listening to tapes).
• Attend daisan (or call if you live outside San Diego County), focusing on what you wrote down is most difficult for you to practice with.
• If possible, attend the 3 day sesshin in October.
• Complete and turn in the Practice Period Agreement.
  

FOR THOSE LIVING NEAR ZCSD:

• Come to at least 2 sitting blocks a week from start to finish.
• Prioritize coming to Saturday talk and Wednesday night practice group.
• Prioritize attending Sunday morning sittings and Saturday afternoon workshops.
• Prioritize the closing ceremony to end Practice Period.

POSSIBLE ”MENU” PRACTICE SUGGESTIONS

Focus on one for an entire day, changing each day

• Sense-awareness-based menus: Follow the breath, be aware of sounds, posture, etc.
• Emotion-based menus: Non-manifestation of negative emotions, saying yes to fear (criticism, rejection), no blaming/complaining, etc.
• Verbal reminder menus: “What is this?” – to whatever arises ; “What is practice right now?”; “What identity am I maintaining right now?”; “How is it supposed to be?”, etc.
• Moving Meditation menus: practice a form of moving meditation daily, like yoga or chi gung.