Zendo Etiquette
From the alt.zen FAQ (where some of the Japanese terms below are also explained):
Zendo Manners
- In a zendo the altar is placed in either the sodo or hondo position.
- Enter the zendo on the left side of the entry, left foot first.
- Gassho and bow to the altar.
- Walk forward across the room past the altar and go to a seat turning corners squarely (cross in front of the altar only during kinhin).
- Gassho and bow toward the seat, greeting the people to both sides.
- The people on both sides respond to greeting.
- Turn clockwise and face front.
- Gassho and bow to those directly across room, greeting them.
- They respond with a gassho-bow in greeting.
- Sit down on the zafu.
- Turn clockwise toward the wall. (If in a Soto style zendo, Rinzai style is to sit facing in from the wall.)
- Always turn or move clockwise as viewed from above the zendo.
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