Doan Book With Post-Its

Kyosho Valerie Beer led a Rohatsu zazenkai (one-day retreat) last Sunday at Empty Hand Zen Center. The service was a little different than usual, e.g. we chanted the Maka Hannya Haramita Shingyo (Heart Sutra in Japanese), and there were several bell changes in the doan script.  Hence, the Post-Its. Couple of other key items for the person hitting the bells during zazenkai are also visible in the image: 1) a clock, 2) the sitting schedule, and 3) a bell (shokei, or small bell, is shown). [NOTE: Bows to Valerie (thx) for a wonderful eighth-day celebration]. 

Doan

Doan's corner at the Empty Hand Zen Center. The doan is the one who rings the bells during service and before and after zazen, or seated meditation. The big bell to the left is called a "keisu"; the smaller one to the right is a "shokei". Each bell has its own striker. To the far right is the "inkin", or small, handheld bell. The wooden clappers shown to the right of the inkin are used during kinhin, or walking meditation. And then there's the clock. Used to time periods of zazen. Tells the doan when to hit the shokei. At times, this clock can move very, very slowly.  

Catherine's Hands

Catherine acts as doan during most of the morning sittings at EHZC, and I frequently sit on the cushion right across from her. Have spent hours with a soft gaze toward the floor right in front of the hands shown above. [NOTE: The doan is the person who rings the bell to mark the beginning and end of zazen. The beautiful bronze kesu (temple bell) that is rung is shown on the lower left].