Zendo is the name of the room that Zen Buddhists use for Zazen (meditation), Services, chanting and other religious activities. The Zendo lays at the center of many a Zen Buddhist Priest’s life with daily Zazen and Sangha (spiritual community) at the heart.

I am preparing for Tokudo, ordination as a Zen Buddhist Priest and I needed a place to practice, in both senses of the word. First I needed a place to sit Zazen, Zen Buddhist Meditation. Buddhists commonly refer to meditation as practice. I also needed a place to learn by doing and ‘find’ my priesthood, as well as a group of people that might be willing to learn with me. I work part-time as a tech in the plant biochemistry lab, so it made sense to check out the Interfaith Center (IFC) right here to find such a place.

There was a special space when I first started sitting at the IFC, a wonderful meditation room on the first floor. We happily shared that room with the Muslims for quite awhile. But as I began to want to add some of the formal aspects of Zen practice, we began to outgrow that lovely space. I was so grateful to be here that I felt a little unsure about asking for more. I discovered that the Nave, a large church style space upstairs, was free on the evenings we met. There was room near the front to set up our one-evening Zendo with the stuff we’d had, zafus and zabutons (mats and cushions), bell, and clock. To this we could add an altar with the requisite Buddha, and offerings of flame, water and incense. Additionally, there was a great bit space for Kinhin. Kinhin is walking meditation and extremely important in Zen practice. We discovered a closet upstairs that relieved us of the ‘big move’ of our supplies from the first floor each time we met. This closet was through an office space and up a long hallway. I think we sat in the Nave for about a year.

Each week, as I carried mats through that office space, I would daydream about turning it into a Zendo. Oh how wonderful that would be. It had wooden floors (a traditional material), plain white walls, and it was small. The Nave is designed for lots of people sitting in pews; we are a tiny group sitting on mats. The comfort level of a more appropriately sized room was very compelling. The biggest attraction was the possibility of offering daily Zazen. That was a dream that seemed just too good. I kept trying to get up the nerve to ask, when one day, all of a sudden, there were two new chairs and a new rug in the office. My heart fell, I’d waited too long. I’d pretty much given up on that idea, or so I thought. A few months later I was in a planning meeting with Sharon (the University Chaplain) and Tony Tran, who had been the President of the Buddhist Student Association. Suddenly, as we were discussing possible future plans, I just spat it out. "There is this office, it would be perfect, and we could have sitting everyday." I held my breath, surprised that I had just blurted it out. Sharon said she had some concerns, including that we would have to change it back each weekend so that the Catholics could continue to use it for Confession.

We went up to take a tour and the next thing I knew we had a Zendo. Too much furniture and a badly dried out flood were all that seemed problematic, everything else should fall into place. Sharon was very patient as I asked permission, week after week, to make small changes. First, we cleaned out the unused closet knowing more storage room would be needed once we really set-up shop and were packing away for the weekend. Then we really set to work, we scrubbed the floor and started oiling it. We found altar clothes, bought a new Buddha, Altar Screen, set-up our Ancestors’ Altar, printed-up chanting sheets, and got a few plants. Through the whole re-do we were able to sit everyday, and we still do. Some days I sit alone, other’s schedules being what they are, and that is part of Sangha, too.

This room is beautiful, both during its life as a Zendo and as a Confessional.  Ð