Dec 18,2016 Start your day in Kyoto with ZAZEN!
What is “禅(ZEN)”? What does it mean for you? I heard and agreed that, it is a free mind that is not delimited by ideas, desires, and images, being free of the illusory conflicts of the material world.
“座(ZA)” is means to seat, to settle down without interruptions. Together, “座禅(ZAZEN)” is the form of meditation and ascetic practices at the very heart of ZEN practice.
Everyone who comes to Kyoto wants to experience something special and different. In this case, I recommend you to try ZAZEN. There are so many Buddhist temples in Kyoto and you might get tired in sightseeing. It will provide you a unique approach to understand and experience the Buddhist culture here, which would be a totally different from just visiting and photographing.
ZAZEN is a kind of self-denial practice, which means the rules are quite strict in some temples. Although this event is offered throughout the day in many places, it is definitely worthy to try the one in the morning.
To get up super early might be hard, but this meditation is by all means a GREAT chance to get a peaceful refresh in the fresh air with the appearing sun!
I find some places in Kyoto with a free morning ZAZEN program here!
*Admission ticket is required in some cases. Please make sure with staff at the reception place.
- If you stay nearby Kyoto Station,
TOFUKU-JI Sunday Meditation
Date: Every Sunday from 6.30am to 7.30am
Access: 10 minutes walk from Tofukuji Station of JR Nara Line, which is the next stop from Kyoto Station.
Link: http://www.tofukuji.jp/function/index.html - If you stay in the downtown (Shijo-Kawaramachi)
KENNIN-JI Senkou-kai Meditation
Date: The second Sunday in every month from 8am to 10am
Access: 10 minutes walk from Hankyu Kawaramachi Station
7 minutes walk from Keihan Gion-Shijo Station
Link: http://www.kenninji.jp/experience/ - If you stay in Arashiyama area,
TENRYU-JI Yuun-an Meditation
Date: The second Sunday in every month except February, from 9am to 10am
Access: Right from Keifuku Arashiyama Station
13 minutes walk from JR Sagano Line Saga-Arashiyama Station
15 minutes walk Hankyu Arashiyama Station
Link: http://www.tenryuji.com/event/ - If you stay in Higashiyama area,
NANZEN-JI Gyoten Meditation
Date: The second and fourth Sunday in every month, except the second Sunday in January, both in August, and the fourth in December, from 6am to 7am
Access: 10 minutes walk from Subway Tozai Line Keage Station
Link: http://www.nanzen.net/zazen.html - If you stay in nearby Enmachi Station,
HANAZONO UNIVERSITY Mumon-kan Morning Meditation
Date: Almost every weekdays, except long school vacations and national holidays, from 8am to 9am
Access: 8 minutes walk from JR Sagano Line Enmachi Station
12 minutes walk from Subway Tozai Line Nishioji-Oike Station
Points that have come to your attention:
* Please arrive 10 minutes early if you are a beginner
* Please put on loose and confortable clothing
* Please follow the instructions by the staff
* All URL provided are in Japanese.
* Updated in December, 2016. Please re-confirm again before you going.
