Meditation Hall idea.

RichardH

Hi. I would appreciate some feedback on an idea for a meditation hall. It seems that there are people (in my own town and I'm guessing elsewhere) who have established their Buddhist practise, are not looking for instruction or guidance, but would benefit from more regular structured group sittings. There would be no talk, no library, only the form of sitting and walking, with cushions and a simple Buddha. Anyone who can keep the form is welcome to attend regular group practice. I am considering opening such a place, because I value regular group practice without talk. This could be in addition to whatever other people have going, no questions asked. Any thoughts?
Thank you.

genkaku

Hi Richard -- My take is that your format is what is occasionally called "too pure."

I once heard a Zen teacher describe his role, the role of the meditation hall, the role of the incense and chanting and statues and other temple paraphernalia as "Ketchup on the hamburger." If you didn't give people something tasty, they would be less likely to try out the hamburger.

Obviously, it's a balancing act. No one wants all Ketchup and no burger. But equally obviously they may not be prepared to eat burger alone.

One way to sort out the balancing act is to discuss your ideas with others interested in practice. A perfect, hug-filled democracy is unlikely to work very well, but from the discussion, you can receive clues as to what might work and what might not.

Just some thoughts.

RichardH

Thank you genkaku.

person

Where I live there is a "healing center" that survives on donations and different groups can reserve space there for whatever healing related activity they want. Maybe there's some public place where you could reserve some space for a group meditation meeting. It seems to me that it would be hard to maintain and attract the kind of regular attention needed to maintain a seperate space without the structure of a religious practice, unless you're super rich or something.

RichardH

Thank you person.



.....not even mundane rich I'm afraid.

compassionate_warrior

I've read that your meditation hall idea has been tried in NYC, and did well. I don't know if those places are still there, or how they're funded. But someone created a space, or maybe a small chain of spaces, the size of a small shop, where people could drop in on their lunch hour from work, and sit.

Vincenzi

plant many trees around the hall

RichardH

I've read that your meditation hall idea has been tried in NYC, and did well. I don't know if those places are still there, or how they're funded. But someone created a space, or maybe a small chain of spaces, the size of a small shop, where people could drop in on their lunch hour from work, and sit.

Thank you for this.
It does seem like it could work. There are people who can hold the discipline of practice and are done with the need to talk about it.... though talking about it is always a pleasure.

RichardH

plant many trees around the hall

Trees sound a bit expensive, but fresh flowers would be good. Thanks.

compassionate_warrior

Potted plants inside the hall, then. To provide fresh air, and to absorb the CO2 the meditators exhale. Plants improve the energy of a space.

Vincenzi

@Richard H

baby trees aren't expensive.