Three Stones Zen Group has been meeting since 1997. We practice sitting & walking meditation on a weekly basis and conduct seasonal one-day retreats. We welcome people of all traditions and experience levels.

We are a small group which uses the facilities of the Friends Meeting House.
We usually sit upstairs in the big room, though sometimes we sit in the basement.
Our approach is basic and to the point.

6:30 Newcomer orientation, by appointment
6:45 Setup
7:00 Sitting
7:30 Walking
7:40 Sitting
8:00 Discussion/tape
8:30 Practice principles and final bows

This is a bare bones group — we keep our altar in a tool box.
Please bring your own zafu or seiza bench and zabuton.
There are folding chairs if need be. We don't wear robes, just wear something comfortable.
Sometimes we listen to a tape of a dharma talk, usually by Charlotte Joko Beck.
We do not chant in Japanese, but at the end of our sitting period
we do recite our practice principles, a variation on the Four Noble Truths:

Caught in the self-centered dream, only suffering

Holding to self-centered thoughts, exactly the dream

Each moment life as it is, the only teacher

Being just this moment, compassion’s way

We practice according to the approach of Ordinary Mind Zen School, founded by Charlotte Joko Beck. She is the author of Everyday Zen: Love and Work, Nothing Special: Living Zen, and Now Zen.

hoho seifu
wo okosu
"a fresh breeze
rises up
with every step"

About The Ordinary Mind Zen School

The Ordinary Mind Zen School intends to manifest and support practice of the Awakened Way as expressed in the teachings of Charlotte Joko Beck. The school consists of Joko Beck, her Dharma Successors, and teachers as they, as individuals, have been formally authorized. There is no affiliation with other Zen groups or religious denominations; however, membership in this school does not preclude individual affiliation with other groups. Within the school there is no hierarchy of Dharma Successors

The Awakened Way is universal; the medium and methods to realize it vary according to circumstances. Each Dharma Successor in the school may apply diverse practice approaches and determine the structure of any organization that s/he may develop to facilitate practice. The Dharma Successors acknowledge that they are ongoing students and the quality of their teaching derives from the quality of their practice. As ongoing students, teaches are committed to the openness and fluidity of practice, wherein the wisdom of the absolute may be manifested in life. An important component of this school is the ongoing examination and development of effective teaching approaches to ensure comprehensive practice in all aspects of living.

May the practice of this school manifest wisdom and compassion, benefiting all beings.

December 1, 1995