Frequently Asked Questions

For Sunday and Tuesday evening programs, you may park on the street.  There is also a public lot across the street, right alongside the gym.  There is another public lot next door to us, behind Eat Chow and the Goat Hill Tavern, which is entered via Magnolia, Broadway or 19th St.  

Do not use street parking for two, three or five day intensives:   during the day on week days and Saturdays there is a one hour parking limitation on E. 18th Street between Fullerton and Newport Blvd (commercial zone). 

It is best to leave valuables at home or to put purses and wallets in the trunk of your car.  You may put a sweater and your shoes and in the shoe racks and front closet.  Car keys can be put in your shoes, unless your key ring identifies your car. You may also take your wallet or keys to the Zendo and place them under the rear corner of your mat.  The Zendo should be free of visual clutter, so glasses should be placed behind you, at the corner of your mat.  Please do not leave sweaters and personal items in the lobby or office:  they can be placed in the front closet (but not valuables).

Cellphones and electronic devices should not be brought into the building.  If you cannot be out of  communication for the two hour program due to extenuating circumstances, it might be best not to come that night.  Exceptions are made for doctors regularly on call or involved in critical patient care.

The Zen tradition favors learning by doing, by observation, and by being instructed.  You will gradually pick things up by coming to the Center and reviewing procedures on the website.  You may also ask about procedures during individual instruction or ask a teacher.

We recommend you buy your own zafu for use at home and to bring to the Center.  The Zen Center does have a house supply, but the right size or shape may not be available.  If you plan to use your zafu at the Center, please be sure it is black and either round or wedge shaped.  It should be marked so you can identify it.  (If nothing else, you might temporarily use a piece of white tape with your initials, attach a pin, etc.) If your cushion is some other type, please use one of the house cushions when you are at the Center.  Please let us know if you have special needs. Chairs are also available at the Center.  If you wish to buy a zafu, please talk to Carol.

There is a “Lost and Found” basket in the closet at the front door.  You may pick up your things during the 20 minutes prior to the beginning of regularly scheduled sitting periods.  

Plan to arrive no earlier than 15 minutes before the start of the sitting period.  After taking off your shoes, go to the Zendo and begin sitting.  Do not wait in the front lobby/tea room:  the social time is after the program, not before.  The time before we begin sitting should be quiet and conducive to transitioning from the street to the Zendo, giving priority to Zazen.

The sitting periods begin precisely as scheduled.  Everyone is asked to arrive early enough to be in his or her seat five minutes before the time the period is scheduled to begin.  If you plan to use the restroom before sitting, please also arrive early enough so you are in your seat five minutes before the sitting period begins. If you are late, you may do meditation/zazen in the front lobby/tea room on a chair or on your cushion.   The door will be opened during the walking meditation and you may enter the Zendo for the next period of meditation/zazen.  Those who are waiting should do Zazen, not socialize, read, etc.

1. Go www.paypal.com and login in
2. Click open “account profile” in the upper right area
3. Under “my money,” click open “update”
4. You will see options to edit your card or add a new one

Note: Pay Pal usually sends two or three email notices to you (and the Zen Center) that their efforts to charge you have been unsuccessful. If you do not respond, Pay Pal cancels your Zen Center subscription.  If this happens, you will then need to re-register as a Practitioner at the Zen Center website after you have updated your card.  Talk to Tad or email him for  help (zencenter@zcoc.org)

ZCOC does not have staff to attend to bookkeeping, and Pay Pal has proven to be an efficient, safe solution. An additional benefit is that the Zen Center does not receive credit card numbers or personal financial data.  Pay Pal has been the dominant online payment program for many years.  You may choose to have funds withdrawn from your checking account or credit card.

Log in to your Pay Pal account.   At the My Account page,  go to the “history” subtab.  Choose “Subscriptions” from the pull-down “Show” menu and press the “Submit” button.  Click on the subscription’s  “Details” link.  You will be taken to a Transaction Details page from which you may cancel your subscription.  Cancelling will immediately stop all future payments, and the Zen Center will receive an email notifying us that the subscription has been cancelled.  

Alternatively, you may let us know and we can cancel your subscription through the Zen Center’s Vendor Pay Pal account (which reveals the subscription and email, but no other information).

By coming regularly, practitioners have ample opportunity for communication and asking questions.  This includes discussions and  questions in the Zendo after talks or readings, informal discussions over tea, as well as individual instruction.  Zen practice is best learned gradually at the Zen Center, asking a few questions and learning at each visit. We use email primarily for responding to inquiries from the public.  

The Zen Center asks for donations once a year at our annual fundraiser.  Fees do not cover Zen Center expenses and needs, and we depend upon the generosity of our practitioners and donors.  Each year we set a target amount and indicate how the funds which are raised will be spent.  All donations are fully tax deductible.  Fundraising letters are sent in November.  

Please cancel your Pay Pal subscription at your Pay Pal account (see above) or let the Zen Center know so we can cancel it through our Zen Center account.