¥ Arrive early for each event.
¥ No watches (unless you need one as an officer) or noisy jewelry in the zendo.
¥ Wear clean, loose, non-distracting dark clothing, no socks, no hats; no strong fragrances.
¥ When entering the zendo, please bow at the threshold with your hands in gassho (palms together) and keep your hands in gassho until you reach your cushion. (Pick a seat along the back, i.e. south, wall; if none are available, fill in along the sides as necessary.)
¥ Bow to your cushion and then turn around facing the Sangha (Community) and bow to the Sangha. After zazen, straighten your cushions and bow to them before leaving.
¥ When leaving the zendo, have your hands clasped (overlapped and folded) in front of you then turn and gassho (bow with palms together) to the Sangha/zendo at the door.
¥ If you leave or return to the zendo at any time other than an announced break, please gassho to the jikijitsu (time keeper with the bell) upon leaving and returning.
¥ Don't move during zazen. If you must move, gassho first, move as silently as possible to a new position, and gassho before resuming meditation.
¥ Keep your cushions and the area around them neat and clean. Line up the front of your zabuton (flat bottom cushion) with those next to it. Keep your tea cup, sutra book, and meal bowls arranged in the same manner as your neighbors. During Sesshin water bottles are allowed at your cushion, if using them does not become a distraction. If during Sesshin you keep tissues at your cushion, place them under your zabuton.
¥ Respect and help to maintain a silent zendo atmosphere; be aware of your movements and the sounds you make. Don't audibly clear your throat, sniff or sigh during zazen, and breathe silently. Don't have a conversation in the zendo or near the zendo at all. During Sesshin verbal communication should be limited to the minimum necessary to accomplish any assigned asks. If you must have an extended conversation during Sesshin, please take it as far as is practicable from the zendo.
¥ All effort should be given to burning through or combusting any distractions and attachments. Respect for zendo atmosphere means giving your all to this purpose; this is not an easy task; therefore, all our activities strive to be simple, clear, and quiet. Please refrain from any behavior, such as public displays of affection, that may attract attention to you and complicate our collective endeavor. If for some reason you feel your personal space has been violated or intruded upon, you may wish to speak to a member of Chobo-Ji's reconciliation committee.
¥ The bows for Dokusan (Dharma Interview) are as follows: full bow at the threshold of the Dokusan room, full bow at the cushion, thank you bow after interview (hands together on floor, left over right), full bow at the threshold of the room when leaving.