Lay Practice

Lay Practice Commitment

Lay  Practice (non-residential)  can be designed around  personal obligations or  for those who must commute. It can be structured by  making a commitment to a schedule of activities or  selected components, living at Great Tree during certain intervals under direction of Rev. Munnich. Individual schedules can be tailored around the practice schedule throughout the year, but generally within the frame of the Temple Practice Periods.

Practice Periods

In Zen monasteries, the practice period is an ancient Zen Buddhist tradition and defined cycle of Temple events devoted to study and practice. It is a time when practitioners make individual and collective commitments to deepen their practice.

Essentially the lay program  asks for sincere commitment to ongoing practice, weaving that practice into the tapestry of your life and joining in group and private practice retreats throughout the year.

This every-day approach might be appropriate for an working adults or students who wishes to engage in serious practice while still in school,  perhaps staying at Great Tree during breaks; or, someone who has family or personal obligations but wishes to assume a long term, ongoing  commitment to a structured course of practice in consort with Great Tree’s offerings and teaching.

Components may include:

  • Participation in one or two sesshin at Great Tree
  • Participation in zazen with a Sangha at least twice a week
  • Participation in Tuesday Study Group, Days of Mindfulness
  • Participation at ZCA Wednesday lecture / discussions
  • Participation in work-practice (service) at Great Tree
  • Meet with Rev. Munnich for Dokusan on a regular basis

Other activities:

  • Engage in directed reading, course of study, journal or writing
  • Enroll in retreats at Great Tree and other Soto Zen Programs
  • Commitment to a regular schedule of zazen at home
  • Supporting mind-body through yoga, t’ai-chi or other modalities
  • Explore, study and practice through  art or craft or performance
  • Community service related to practice

Please read About Practice and Program selections to find out more about how we practice at Great Tree and our Calendar.

Please become a Member of Great Tree, in effect adding your name and contact information to our email update, newsletter and mailing list. You will be asked to vote in board elections; there are no membership fees.

You may sign up at the Membership page or send us the requested information by mail; please indicate that you would like to be a member.  Reduced membership fees are intended to help those who intend to participate in on-going practice.

Create a proposal  and schedule;  send it to Rev. Munnich describing your plan for practice along with application described in detail on the Residency & Internship page.

Include a description of prior practice, training or communal practice , if any, and a resume.

Make arrangement to participate in a schedule of retreats.

Need more information, please contact Great Tree…