The Chico Serene Reflection Meditation Group meets at the Sky Creek Dharma Center at 120 Three Oaks Ct., Chico, CA 95973. We meet on Wednesday evening from 6:00 to 7:30 PM. If you are new to the practice of Soto Zen meditation, please arrive by 5:45 PM for a brief orientation and meditation instruction.

The bell rings promptly at 6 PM, at which time everyone should be on their seat. Please arrive a few minutes before the bell rings so that you have time to get settled. We usually have two periods of seated meditation with a brief period of walking meditation in between: 20 minutes sitting-5minutes walking-15 minutes sitting. Meditation cushions (zafus), benches, and chairs are all available to use.

After the meditation period ends, we have tea and a discussion period. Usually we discuss a short reading that we have decided upon. You are welcome to participate in the discussion even if you haven’t had the opportunity to read the piece, as this period provides an opportunity for discussion about Buddhist training in daily life.

Once a month, except for December and January, a monk from Shasta Abbey visits our group and the format of the meeting is a bit different. We usually have potluck at 6 PM before meditation and after the monk may offer a Dharma talk in addition to the opportunity for discussion. The visiting monk may offer spiritual counseling, affording group members the opportunity to discuss privately issues that may have come up in meditation.

We do not charge a fee for attending, but we do appreciate offerings in the donation bowl to help our group cover rent and other costs, including donations to Shasta Abbey in gratitude for their support.