Zoom Virtual Sittings

Virtual Sittings

The Toronto Zen Centre hosts online sittings via Zoom at the following times:

If you are new to Zoom, sign up for a free account, download the application and watch the tutorial.

After installing the application, you may join these online sittings via the  NEW Zoom link below:

For security reasons, do not share this link with anyone outside the Centre (e.g. on social media).

Virtual Sitting Protocol

Please observe the following protocols if attending one of these sittings. The purpose of these rules is to minimize disruption and create an atmosphere conducive to practice, so please observe them carefully:

• Although online, these are the same as formal sittings so YOU MUST BE ON TIME.
• You should be ready and logged into the Zoom sitting ideally 5 minutes before the sitting starts (when the temple bell rings) and at minimum, BEFORE the han begins to play (one minute before the sitting begins).
• You should be wearing your robe and rakusu if you have one. If not, wear clean, solid colour, dark clothing.
• Make sure you are using your full name (not any nicknames or initials) See these instructions on setting up a Zoom profile.
• You should keep your VIDEO ON and your SOUND MUTED.
• DO NOT face directly the camera during the regular sittings, since that can be distracting, however DO face the camera during the chanting services, ceremonies, events, and Teisho.
• DO NOT leave and rejoin the sittings unless you are going to/returning from Dokusan or Private Instruction.
• You should remain for the duration of the sitting and chanting services.

If you have questions about any of the above, please contact Simon Breslav.

Dokusan and Private Instruction

On Tuesday mornings and Thursday evenings, dokusan is offered to Roshi's students as part of the sittings. For more information, refer to the members page.

On Wednesday morning, private instruction is offered to members and trial members who are not students of Roshi. For more information, refer to the dedicated page on private instruction.

Chanting Services

Usually, a chanting service is performed after the sitting. All chants are available on the website chant page. The schedule—which depends on whether there are people available to play instruments—is as follows:

• Monday morning—Sandokai, En Mei Jikku Kannon Gyo, The Lotus Sutra Scripture of Kanzeon Bodhisattva
• Tuesday morning—Sandokai, Ten Verse Kannon Sutra, The Lotus Sutra Scripture of Kanzeon Bodhisattva
• Wednesday morning—Sandokai, En Mei Jikku Kannon Gyo, The Lotus Sutra Scripture of Kanzeon Bodhisattva
• Thursday morning—Sandokai, Ten Verse Kannon Sutra, The Lotus Sutra Scripture of Kanzeon Bodhisattva
• Thursday evening—Sandokai, Prajna Paramita Hridaya, Ten Verse Kannon Sutra, Dai Hi Shin Dharani, The Ancestral Line
• Friday morning—The Metta Sutta, Prajna Paramita Hridaya, En Mei Jikku Kannon Gyo, Sho Sai Myo Kichijyo Dharani, Mantra of Bhaisajyaguru

During the chanting service, you can chant either quietly or loudly (as you prefer) but please keep your microphone muted. Due to technological limitations, group chanting does not work over Zoom.

If you have not yet memorized these chants, you can either print them out from the chanting page or refer to them from your mobile device using the chanting app during the service.