The novel coronavirus pandemic has restricted our daily lives in many ways, but it's brought unexpected benefits to a community of people practicing zazen, or seated meditation, expanding it around the world.
Tokozenji temple in Yokohama used to offer regular in-person sessions of zazen, but the pandemic has forced them to be held online, via the Zoom teleconferencing app, from mid-April. The temple currently offers online sessions both in Japanese and English, essentially on a weekly basis.
About 80 to 100 people participate, of whom about one-third are foreign nationals. They include people from Venezuela, Egypt, Luxembourg and Myanmar.
"Initially, I was rather skeptical about the idea of online zazen," Abbot Daigo Ozawa said. "But I wanted to provide people with an opportunity to focus on themselves with peace of mind by practicing zazen at home, especially amid a stressful, uncertain situation."
The bilingual session comprises two 15-minute sets of meditation, a short talk and sutra chanting. During one recent session, Ozawa talked about a Zen story called "Jugyuzu" (10 bull pictures), in which the bulls represent steps toward discovering one's true self.
The 43-year-old abbot began offering zazen opportunities for non-Japanese such as travelers and people living in Japan about six years ago. After studying development studies at the Institute of Social Studies in the Hague, he used to work as a writer and researcher at entities such as the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
Hitomi Casmer is a regular participant who works in Florida as a massage therapist. She practiced zazen for the first time at the temple when she temporarily returned to Japan four years ago. Surrounded by the temple's distinctive atmosphere, Casmer said she felt like time had stopped but felt safe.
"I thought I wouldn't be able to have such a wonderful time unless I returned to Japan. So I'm grateful the sessions are offered online," she said. "Once the zazen practice starts, I enter a state of tranquility under the guidance of Abbot Ozawa. As I breathe calmly, it feels like I become one with other participants from all over the world."
The sessions are free but require reservations through the temple's website. Ozawa said some people have come all the way to the temple to make donations in return for the sessions.
"Online sessions allow people to feel connected by sharing the time and experience of zazen beyond distances," Ozawa said.
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