We are a small group of Zen Buddhists who practice in the Sōtō Zen tradition. We meet on campus on Wednesday evening from 5.30pm to meditate together.

We practice two forms of meditation: zazen (sitting meditation) and kinhin (walking meditation).

We ask that you contact us in advance for information about where we meet and so that we can arrange a short, in-person introduction to what we do and how we do it.

Please write to either Rich (richard.mcclelland@newcastle.ac.uk) or Diego (Diego.Garcia-Mejuto@newcastle.ac.uk) for more information!

Zen is a School of Buddhism. The essence of Zen is to experience life directly, free from the stories that we construct, free from hatred, and free from anxiety. Zen teaches that this experience can only be achieved through practice. By meditating, cultivating awareness, and bringing compassion to our experiences and relationships, we can transform our lives.

When Buddhism first reached China roughly 2,000 years ago, it came into contact with Daoism. This mixture of Buddhism and Daoism resulted in Chan, a form of Buddhism that emphasises meditation as the main form of practice ('Chan' is the Chinese pronunciation of the Sanskrit term 'dhyāna', which means meditation). From China, Chan travelled to Korea (where it is known as Soen) and Japan (where it became known as Zen - 'Zen' is the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese 'Chan'). In the twentieth century, Zen was brought to the West by the Japanese diaspora and by teachers who travelled to Europe and North America. We practice in the lineage of Taisen Deshimaru, one of these teachers.

We practice two forms of meditation: shikantaza ('just sitting'), which is also known as zazen (sitting meditation), and kinhin (walking meditation).

When practicing shikantaza, we focus on simply that: just sitting. Without an object in mind or a goal in sight, we simply sit, cultivating what is known as 'serene reflection'. Shikantaza is the heart of Sōtō Zen practice. It is radical and impossible by equal measure.

In kinhin, we bring the focus we develop in just sitting into other activities. We walk in unison with the breath, bringing full awareness to the present moment.

Normally we meditate in the following pattern:

Shikantaza - 25 minutes

Kinhin - 10 minutes

Shikantaza - 25 minutes

Anyone is welcome to join us! We are an inclusive and welcoming group. We do not require that you already practice Zen, that you identify as a Buddhist or as a member of any faith. All we ask is that you bring along a sense of curiosity and respect for the practice.

In Zen we meditate using specific postures and forms that we will introduce to you when you first join us. If you are unable to sit on the floor then you are welcome to use a chair.

The rooms we practice in are fully accessible.

In our practice at Newcastle University we do not use incense or candles. We practice in a room using natural or ambient light. We ring a small bell to signal the start and end of meditation.

The video linked here offers insights into Sōtō Zen practice and what Zazen is.

The Zen Studies Podcast, written and produced by Domyo Burke, a Sōtō priest based in the US, is an excellent resource on all things Zen. Episodes 3 and 4 offer an introduction to Zazen and some common problems that people experience in their practice:

Episodes in Release Order - The Zen Studies Podcast

Here is the text of a short talk about Zazen given by Nancy Nanshin Amphoux:

Zen and zazen - International Zen Association United Kingdom