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Trial Period
If you live in the Rochester area you may participate in most
activities at the Center for a trial period of up to three months,
without becoming a member. The only prerequisite is attendance at an
Introductory Workshop given by the Center or one of its affiliates.
To initiate this trial period you need to:
- Make an appointment for a 30-minute orientation.
- Agree to make a monetary donation each time you come to a sitting or other activity.
The suggested minimum donation is $3, which may be put in the donations box inside the
back door. If you are a student, unemployed, or otherwise unable to contribute the
suggested minimum, please give what you can afford.
People in their trial period are especially encouraged to come to
Tuesday evening sittings (our Beginners' Night), and Sundays when there
is a Teisho (a talk by a teacher) or Dharma Talk (a talk by a senior
student). Going to daisan, a private meeting with a member advanced
in practice, is also strongly encouraged. Daisan is offered during most
Tuesday evening sittings. Dokusan, the private meeting with Bodhin-sensei,
is only available to members. People in their trial period will receive
the Zen Center's local newsletter, Zen Arrow.
If you live outside the Rochester area, your main contact with the Zen Center
will probably be through mailings, so we suggest you sign up as a Friend or member
right away, and whenever possible visit the Center for training, ceremonies,
or other events.
Membership
To become a member of the Center you need to do the following:
- Complete a membership application form.
- Submit a photograph.
- Fill out a pledge form and make your first pledge payment. You determine
the amount you can afford to contribute, and pledge accordingly. Suggested
minimums for membership contributions are indicated on the pledge
card. These amounts are how much the Center needs to average across
the whole membership to balance its budget. Naturally, some people
contribute less, and others more.
Membership categories are as follows:
- Local members are people living within 50 miles of the Zen Center.
- Out-of-town members are those living more than 50 miles from the Center.
Members may attend all the Center's sittings, talks, daisan, dokusan,
ceremonies and other activities. If you live close to the Center,
an affiliate or sitting group, you are encouraged to attend sittings
as regularly as you can, as this will really benefit your own practice
and the Sangha as well. You may also apply to participate in a live-in
training program of one or more weeks, or, if you live in Rochester,
come and work alongside the residents during the work day, as your
schedule permits. For more information about these options, talk
to the Head of Zendo.
When the Center receives your membership application, pledge card,
first payment, and photograph, you will be sent current calendars,
other information about the Center's programs, and your first copy
of the Center's journal, Zen Bow (as a privilege of membership,
you will subsequently receive Zen Bow at no subscription
cost). The Head of Zendo will also arrange a membership interview
with you. The membership interview offers you the opportunity to
talk with a senior member about your aspirations and concerns in
regard to entering the Way.
After being interviewed and accepted as a member, you may start going to dokusan
(see the Head of Zendo for instructions), and may later ask to become a student of
Bodhin-sensei.
Upon taking up membership you enter into a closer relationship
with the Sangha. Everyone's life circumstances are different, so
this closeness comes in many forms. Jukai, or the Taking-the-Precepts
Ceremony, is another, more profound, entrance into the Way. It is
offered at the Center every fall to anyone who wishes to participate,
and is something of a formal initiation as a Buddhist.
Membership also gives you voting rights in the trustee elections held each May,
and entitles you to reduced rates for sesshins, training programs and books.
Regular membership contributions are the Center's primary source of income, and
are essential in maintaining operations. Please send in your contribution at the
beginning of each quarter: January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 (or feel
free to pay annually or semi-annually). If you have any questions about membership
pledges, please contact the financial office.
Friend of the Center
If, due to distance from the Center or for other reasons, you
would like to receive the Center's mailings without the benefits
of membership, you may become a Friend of the Center. As a Friend
you may also attend the occasional sitting, ceremony, or teisho,
and apply to training programs and sesshin (paying non-member rates).
The Center requests a minimum contribution of $50 per year from
Friends.
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