The Dharma
The Buddha
taught meditation as a path to freedom. Zen calls it zazen.
Getting Started
Getting started is easy. We meet in Chandler, AZ, and offer thirty minutes of introductory meditation instruction at 9:30 AM on the first Saturday of each month. We also encourage you to attend our Monday evening meditation and sutra service. On the first and third Mondays of each month we have a 25-minute sitting session followed by the discussion of the dharma. It's a good time to listen and a good time to ask questions. Usually the discussion focuses on a koan, a poem, or some other piece of writing and how it relates to the Buddha's teaching. All other Monday evening services include two 25-minute sitting sessions broken up by 10 minutes of walking meditation. Sitting is followed by a short sutra service.
If you are interested in orientation or meditation instruction, please contact Deb Saint at (480) 759-7610 or email her at deb@desert-lotus-zen.org.
Attention, the Heart of Zen
A man asked Zen master Ikkyu to write down some of the maxims of the highest wisdom. Ikkyu immediately wrote the word "attention."
"Is that it?" said the man, and Ikkyu responded by writing "attention, attention." Annoyed, the man said he did not see any depth in Ikkyu's statement, to which Ikkyu wrote "attention, attention, attention." Half-angry, the man demanded Ikkyu define attention. Ikkyu gently said, "Attention means attention."