We invite you to learn about us, meet others who practice, and explore the resources we make available to beginning and experienced practitioners.  Sanshin is open for regular local practice and we also offer some virtual practice opportunities.

There's plenty of information on our homepage about our style of practice, and you may wish to look over our About Sanshin page as well.  We have answers to frequently asked questions here. 

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Getting Started in Zen Practice

First Tuesdays in person; third Tuesdays online
7:30 - 9 pm Eastern time in the US

If you live in the Bloomington area and are vaccinated, we strongly encourage you to attend the session in person.  Not only is it more effective to learn to sit when you and the facilitator are together and can see each other completely, the in-person version of Getting Started includes information about how to enter and practice in the zendo.

​This free session is a great place to begin your Zen practice in the Sanshin style.  Become familiar with the sitting practice that's at the core of what we do; explore what happens with body, breath and mind; ask your questions and participate in practice discussions; and get a preview of upcoming Sanshin activities and events.  You may attend once or as many times as you like; activities will match the needs of those who attend on any particular evening. Experienced practitioners looking for help with practice questions are also very welcome. 

Please register below so that we can monitor the number of attendees expected in person and so that we can get online participants the Zoom link.  (Look for this information in your email the night before your session.)  

Please note that 7:30 pm in Bloomington is the middle of the night overseas.  If you're outside of North America, we suggest learning to sit with a Sanshin Network member who is geographically closer to you.

Are you a student working on a class project?

We've put together this page especially for you.

Experiencing Zen: An Introduction to the Basics 

Six Monday evenings beginning April 4, 7 pm  

​We'll explore what Zen Buddhism is really all about, beginning with the central ideas of Buddhism itself and moving on to the teachings and practices particular to its Zen form. Class will include instruction in sitting practice (zazen) and walking practice (kinhin), as well as plenty of time for questions and discussion. Enthusiastic participants in this class from previous years went on to form a zazen/book discussion group that is still meeting today.  Class is taught by Doju Layton at Ivy Tech Community College.  Complete information is here.

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Good opportunities to start practicing with us

See our Schedules and calendars page for complete information about our in-person and virtual practice activities.

Zazen
Monday - Friday mornings at 6:10 a.m. 
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 6:30 p.m.
Sunday morning at 9:10 a.m.
Now that you know how to do zazen, there are multiple opportunities throughout the week to join us for practice.

Dharma discussion
Wednesdays, 7:00 - 8 pm following evening zazen
We read together and discuss a chapter of our current dharma book selection; at this time, we're reading The Zen Teachings of Homeless Kodo.  

Dharma talks
Sundays, 10:10 - 11 am
For information about practice forms for Sunday mornings, please see this page. 
Our abbot, vice abbot, or a senior member of the community speaks about a text, teaching or element of practice.  These talks are not aimed at beginners, but they are a great way to get some grounding in Zen teachings and ask your questions about the topic of the day.