Zoom Sittings

We hold morning sittings on Zoom every Monday through Saturday from 7:00 to 8:00 and Sunday from 8:30 to 10:30. We hold evening sittings on Zoom from 7:00 to 8:00 on Monday through Friday. (All times are Eastern). Private Instruction is offered on Zoom on Friday evenings. Special events such as ceremonies, extended sittings, and sesshin are also held on Zoom.

If you’d like to sit with us online, below are instructions.  For questions or if you need our Zoom meeting ID and passcode, please email Jissai (jissaip@rzc.org)

  • Download the Zoom app to your phone, tablet, or laptop.
  • Open Zoom and select “Join a Meeting.”
  • Enter our Meeting ID and passcode. These will remain the same for every sitting, but keep them confidential to help us avoid being hacked.
  • Be sure to turn Video on and select “Internet Audio.”
  • To see the others who are sitting, move your cursor or finger to the upper left-hand corner (on an iPad) and click “Gallery View.” (The alternate circle to press is “Reverse View,” which switches you to the camera on the opposite side of your tablet, and you’ll no longer be seen. So don’t do that.)
  • You can check that your audio and video are turned on by checking your screen for the microphone and video icons. On an iPad, you’ll find them at the top of your screen. Tapping them toggles them on and off.   Keep video on, but remain muted during the sitting.
  • We suggest that while sitting, you have your camera positioned at your side (roughly the 3 o’clock or 9 o’clock position while facing “noon”). And be aware that you’ll be seen and identified most easily if your camera is placed 2-3 feet up from the floor as well as that same distance from your side. (Worst is directly in front of you or from the floor.) Also your video will display best if you turn your camera horizontal.
  • Sitting starts at 7:00.  You’ll hear clappers and three bells to start, a bell at the half-way point for posture change, and a final bell introducing the Four Vows just before 8:00.
  • One of our teachers or the Zoom monitor will recite the Four Vows three times running, and you can join in. Do remain muted, though. Experience has shown that lags in Wi-Fi and internet service make group chanting painfully discordant.
  • After the Four Vows, there is a pause to give us all time to turn and face our screens, and at the bell, we bow to one another. You can then turn your mic on for any wrap-up comments, questions, and greetings.
  • If for some reason you need to leave during the sitting, that’s okay. Just select “Leave Meeting.”
  • A special dispensation for Zoom sittings: since it’s inspiring to see others doing zazen together (as our Zoom monitors can confirm), feel free to steal an occasional glance at the screen.

Audio Streaming

We broadcast live streaming audio from the Arnold Park zendo during our schedule of formal sittings.