About OMZ Sacramento
Ordinary Mind Zen was founded by dharma successors of Charlotte Joko Beck (1917-2011) to continue evolving a style of Zen that is adapted to Western temperaments and ways of life but maintains the rigor and discipline of its traditional roots. We are primarily concerned with cultivating insight into the whole of life and how this contributes to our whole character and promotes skillful action. We treat practice as working with whatever comes up in our everyday lives, including being in a relationship, family life, the workplace as well as the formal and structured practice of Zen.
Ordinary Mind rests on all beings' fundamental enlightened nature. We meditate not to become enlightened, but to put our basic enlightened nature into play. Zen enlightenment experiences can help us appreciate our interconnectedness with all being, but it’s important that we address individual psychological barriers and emotions rather than avoid them or bypass them. Like the foot before and the foot behind in walking, psychological insight and harmonious behavior complement the vast emptiness of nothing special
The OMZ school is taught by people who have been formally authorized as dharma successors of Joko Beck. All successors acknowledge they are ongoing students committed to a non-hierarchical openness and fluidity in practice. Each dharma successor may apply diverse approaches and structure to facilitate practice..
May the practice of this School manifest wisdom and compassion, benefitting all beings.
Ordinary Mind rests on all beings' fundamental enlightened nature. We meditate not to become enlightened, but to put our basic enlightened nature into play. Zen enlightenment experiences can help us appreciate our interconnectedness with all being, but it’s important that we address individual psychological barriers and emotions rather than avoid them or bypass them. Like the foot before and the foot behind in walking, psychological insight and harmonious behavior complement the vast emptiness of nothing special
The OMZ school is taught by people who have been formally authorized as dharma successors of Joko Beck. All successors acknowledge they are ongoing students committed to a non-hierarchical openness and fluidity in practice. Each dharma successor may apply diverse approaches and structure to facilitate practice..
May the practice of this School manifest wisdom and compassion, benefitting all beings.
Meditation
Our style of meditation is based in shikantaza, "just sitting." We do not try to stop thoughts or feelings or perceptions; we do not try to control them but we also do not let them control us. We just make room for everything. We bring our whole body and mind to each moment not to learn concentration, but to open the gateways of ease and joy.
When we let go of self-centered views and stop worrying about our rights and your wrongs, our set views of good and bad, everything and everyone becomes a teacher re-minding us of our true self. We practice responding to all with a clear heart and a gentle smile.
More information on meditation and practice forms is available on the Zazen page.
Our style of meditation is based in shikantaza, "just sitting." We do not try to stop thoughts or feelings or perceptions; we do not try to control them but we also do not let them control us. We just make room for everything. We bring our whole body and mind to each moment not to learn concentration, but to open the gateways of ease and joy.
When we let go of self-centered views and stop worrying about our rights and your wrongs, our set views of good and bad, everything and everyone becomes a teacher re-minding us of our true self. We practice responding to all with a clear heart and a gentle smile.
More information on meditation and practice forms is available on the Zazen page.
In Muktinath, Hindus and Buddhists share many of the same temples. Outside the temples are rows upon rows of prayer wheels like the ones to the left.
At the end of one such row, a milk container is reincarnated to serve as a prayer wheel, replacing one that was damaged in a storm. Empty of its original contents, completely ordinary, it holds a scripture and turns the wheel of the dharma along with all the traditional prayer wheel - a fitting image for Ordinary Mind Zen.
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Practice Principles
Practice with heart
practice with beyond heart
practice even with half a heart.
You attain the marrow
and are invariably transmitted dharma
through your utmost sincerity
and trusting heart.
- Eihei Dogen
Caught in a self-centered dream
- only suffering
Holding to self-centered thoughts
- exactly the dream
Each moment, life as it is
- the only teacher.
Being just this moment
- compassion's way.
- Joko Beck