Welcome to the West Seattle branch
of the Puget Sound Zen Center!
We’re a growing Zen community with members at all levels of experience. While our main location is on Vashon Island, we are one sangha, practicing together across locations, supporting one another on the path – and our West Seattle branch is an integral part of this shared life.
Come find us: a quiet place in a busy world
We sit in the chapel room of the Fauntleroy Church– home also to the local YMCA, and just up the street from the Fauntleroy ferry terminal. Guided by our Zen practice, we find a deeper place of meditation in a friendly neighborhood space.
How to get started
Just stop by on a Monday night from 7 to 8:30 pm. If it’s your first time with us, please come 10 minutes early so we can welcome you, help you get comfortable and orient you to the evening.
We’re at:
The Fauntleroy Church
9140 California Ave SW
4th floor Chapel Room (follow the signs inside)
Seattle, WA 98136-2556
A little bit of our history: how we got started in West Seattle
Although the Puget Sound Zen Center was established on Vashon Island, special events have drawn participants from off the island since the beginning. Over time, a small group periodically came to the Zen Center for day sits, all-night sits and special speakers.
In the Fall of 2019, members of that group met with our Abbot, Koshin Chris Cain, and Jim Hunziker from the Zen Center, to start planning a group on the mainland. We were interested in an area near the Fauntleroy ferry, in order to support the connection between the West Seattle group and the main home of the Puget Sound Zen Center. Jean Spohn researched options and became the first leader of our group.
Services began at the Fauntleroy Church in January 2020, and were supported by Zen Center members who came over from Vashon Island. We were just getting a start, with about 10-15 participants each Monday, when COVID put a pause on our meetings in early March 2020.
On Monday June 20, 2022, we resumed Monday evening sits at the Fauntleroy Church. Most of the year, we meet in the 4th Floor Chapel Room, but when summer heat sets in, we move to the Narthex – a lovely open spot outside the main sanctuary.
Our group is going strong with 15 to 20 participants each Monday evening, many of whom have become members of the Puget Sound Zen Center. We have social gatherings a couple of times a year– first, at a local restaurant, and more recently and at a member’s house.
The “pop up” nature of our space lends an air of casual friendliness; we break the strict lines of the meditation hall to create a circle, after our sit, so we can see and hear each other more easily, and we stay to chat as we put the cushions away at the end of each sit.
A little bit of our history: how we got started in West Seattle
Although the Puget Sound Zen Center was established on Vashon Island, special events have drawn participants from off the island since the beginning. Over time, a small group periodically came to the Zen Center for day sits, all-night sits and special speakers.
In the Fall of 2019, members of that group met with our Abbott, Koshin Chris Cain, and Jim Hunziker from the Zen Center, to start planning a group on the mainland. We were interested in an area near the Fauntleroy ferry, in order to support the connection between the West Seattle group and the main home of the Puget Sound Zen Center. Jean Spohn researched options and has been the leader of our group since those early days.
Services began at the Fauntleroy Church in January 2020, and were supported by Zen Center members who came over from Vashon Island. We were just getting a start, with about 10-15 participants each Monday, when COVID put a pause on our meetings in early March 2020.
On Monday June 20, 2022, we resumed Monday evening sits at the Fauntleroy Church. Most of the year, we meet in the 4th Floor Chapel Room, but when summer heat sets in, we move to the Narthex – a lovely open spot outside the main sanctuary. Our group is going strong with 15 to 20 participants each Monday evening, many of whom have become members of the Puget Sound Zen Center. We have social gatherings a couple of times a year– first, at a local restaurant, and more recently and at a member’s house. The “pop up” nature of our space lends an air of casual friendliness; we break the strict lines of the meditation hall to create a circle, after our sit, so we can see and hear each other more easily, and we stay to chat as we put the cushions away at the end of each sit.
Getting Started: What to Wear, How to Sit, and Zendo Etiquette
How do I know what to do?
Before you enter the zendo, take off your coat and hat, remove your shoes and turn off your phone.
As you enter the room, bow once from the waist, with palms together.
Choose a seat. Cushions and a few chairs will be set up. You can select an additional cushion, or a bench to use instead, as you walk to your seat.
Prior to sitting, turn and bow, from the waist, facing away from your cushion, with palms together. Sit quietly in a position that is relaxed and yet alert.
Sit in silence until the opening ritual gets us started.
Help! I’m not sure I can sit on the floor and meditate.
What should I wear?
How do I know what to do?
Before you enter the zendo, take off your coat and hat, remove your shoes and turn off your phone.
As you enter the room, bow once from the waist, with palms together.
Choose a seat. Cushions and a few chairs will be set up. You can select an additional cushion, or a bench to use instead, as you walk to your seat.
Prior to sitting, turn and bow, from the waist, towards the opposite side of the room, with palms together. Sit quietly in a position that is relaxed and yet alert.
Sit in silence until 7 pm, when the opening ritual gets us started.
Help! I’m not sure I can sit on the floor and meditate.
What should I wear?
Chanting
Chanting is in Sino-Japanese and English. It is accompanied by a drum and bell. Read along and join as best you can. Chanting gives us practice in breathing, and in acting without thought; it’s a form of group meditation, and it prepares us for silent meditation. The chant booklet is under the front of your cushion (usually the left side).
Bowing
There are three bows at the end of chanting to honor our internal Buddha nature, the Dharma (teachings) and the Sangha (community). Please bow in whatever way you are comfortable. Bowing can be from the waist, with palms together, or down on the floor. When we bow from the floor, we put our head on the floor and raise our palms above our heads- symbolically lifting our Buddha nature above our thinking mind.
Sitting Meditation – (Zazen)
There are two meditation periods, separated by walking meditation. The sits are generally 20-25 minutes long. Bells signal the beginning and end of each meditation period. During zazen, we strive to be as quiet as possible with as little movement as possible. Just be present and follow the breath. This is done to support not only our practice, but the practice of the other members of the Sangha.
Walking Meditation (Kinhin)
Depending on the weather, kinhin will be inside or outside. Follow the group. Keep in step with the person in front of you, if possible. Hold your hands, left over right, generally belly high.
This is also a really good time to use the restroom.
If you want to re-join the kinhin line after using the bathroom or other business, wait as the line passes, then bow and join the end of the line.
Dharma Talk
After the second sit, we make a large circle and either listen to a talk from a teacher, or read a short chapter from a book and discuss it. The Dharma talk and discussion period is generally a half hour.
Leaving the Zendo
We all put away our cushions and chat. It’s a chance to catch up with each other, and meet new folks, before we venture off for another week.
