about becoming a member

You must first attend an Introductory Workshop. This gives a basic introduction to practice and enables you to start sitting at home. After this you can attend a Beginners' Course, which is only open to those who have attended a workshop.

You will then be invited to come to one or two regular evening zazen periods as a visitor. If you like what you see you may become a member. Although the Center is a nonprofit organization, a monthly fee is charged to defray the costs of running it. No one in particular benefits from these contributions; they are used for the community as a whole.

In Zen practice you are faced with two basic problems: the first is to get to the meditation cushion, and the second is to stay there. By maintaining a regular schedule of practice at home and by coming to the Center on a regular basis, the first is resolved;   by working with others, and adopting the discipline of the group, the second can be overcome. This, in turn, will enable you to get much deeper into the practice. Few of us are able to commit ourselves totally to anything; some part of ourselves is always left out that nags, criticizes, or looks desperately around for alternatives. When one practices with a group, there is less likelihood of this problem becoming serious enough to interrupt the practice.

The only reason for the existence of the Montreal Zen Center is to help people to practice Zen. Zen, which is a sect of Buddhism, is essentially a living practice and not a theory or dogma. Zen adheres to no philosophy or theology. There are a number of books by Albert Low giving different aspects of Zen.

Reservations for the workshops can be made by contacting Janine Levesque at 514-334-1048. (if Janine is not there please leave a message and she will get back to you as soon as possible) or email us at info@zenmontreal.ca

If you are a first time visitor and would like directions to the Center then please go to the directions page.   If you are a visitor coming from out of town and need a hotel at which to stay you will also find information about this on the directions page as well.

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