“The darkness is inside the bright,
but don’t look only with the eyes of the dark.
The brightness is inside the dark,
but don’t look only through the eyes of the bright.
Bright and dark are a pair,
like front foot and back foot walking.”

Shitou Xiqian, trans. John Tarrant

Bright & Dark is a Zen practice group that meets every Friday at the Buddhist Library. We are a practice group that is part of Zen Open Circle (www.zenopencircle.org.au). Zen Open Circle has members around Australia and is lead by Roshi Susan Murphy. This practice group was formed to provide a welcoming, informal, safe, and creative space for people to explore contemporary Zen practice.

Our practice is all about integrating the wisdom of meditation into our (astonishing) ordinary lives. We live in changing times, and we are curious about how Zen practice can be part of our response to the challenges of these times. In the midst of this busy world, we invite you to join us for this adventure into attention, stillness, community, and play.

In the Bright & Dark practice group we recognise that we all bring different bodies, histories, cultures, and lived experiences to these practice spaces. Everything is optional here, and we encourage everyone to do what is appropriate for them, to tend to their bodies, and to tend to the community.

Each week we gather and follow a simple form designed to provide a safe space for our exploration together:

7:00: Arrive, Settle, Stretch,
7:15-8:45: Sitting and Walking Meditation
8:45: Tea, Snacks, Social time
9:00: Finish.

Newcomers are always welcome. If you are visiting for the first time, please let us know so that we can show you around and help you to get you started with this practice.

Please note that while we work hard to provide a space that is accessible to as many people as possible, this venue does include a flight of stairs for access. Please feel welcome to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Contribution: Recommended donation $10 to help sustain the space. No one will be turned away due to lack of funds.

FAQ:

Q: Do I need to have previous experience in Zen?
A: Nope. If anything, that will probably be helpful! We can offer an orientation with basic instruction from 7:00pm.

Q: Do I need to be able to sit on the floor?
A: No, simple chairs can be provided. We prefer that you can be comfortable in your sitting.

Q: Do I need to bring a cushion?
A: No, we have a whole universe of cushions, chairs, and benches to choose from.

Q: How long does a round of zazen (sitting meditation) last?
A: We sit for 25 mins. This is followed by walking practice (about 5mins).