Ordinary Mind Zen Melbourne offers a Zen Buddhist approach to cultivating mindful awareness and presence in the activities of daily life.
It is open to beginners and experienced practitioners, and people of all traditions. The group is evolving a style of Zen Buddhism that is adapted to Western temperaments and ways of life, but maintains the rigour and discipline of its traditional roots.
Everyone is welcome to join us for our activities. We offer monthly meditation meetings, zazenkai (one-day sittings), and sesshin (multi-day meditation intensives).
The monthly meditation meetings are suitable for anyone with little or no meditation experience. If you are coming for the first time, please Contact Us to arrange an introduction for newcomers.
Ordinary Mind Zen Melbourne is holding meditation meetings at Kangaroo Ground (with limited places available), and also is continuing with online meetings. Please see Upcoming Calendar and Covid Guidelines for more information.
Recent Talks
Dharma Talks by our teacher, Geoff Dawson
Reflective Talks by Ordinary Mind Zen Melbourne
Recent Student Writings
Student Writings by Ordinary Mind Zen Melbourne
Household Practice
Contribution by Richard
Our last intensive Sesshin retreat brought the Sangha together online over four days, in between mindful walking and work practice at home. An unexpected outcome of this, was the emphasis on holding intensive practice within a household setting amongst the noise of family, rather than the usual simplified and quiet structure of Sesshin. … More Household Practice
Sesshin 2020 Experience
We held the Ordinary Mind Zen Melbourne 2020 Sesshin. This year, the retreat was entirely “online”. … More Sesshin 2020 Experience
Life Lessons from the Japanese Tea Ceremony
Contribution by Penny
This is a reflection inspired by a book I have read called: The Wisdom of Tea: Life Lessons from the Japanese Tea Ceremony. It was written by Noriko Morishita who studied Tea Ceremony for 25 years and she describes her gradual discovery of deep insights into life within the very rules that once seemed so constricting. It becomes a celebration of perseverance with spiritual practices even though we feel as though we are making no progress…..practice is all there is … More Life Lessons from the Japanese Tea Ceremony
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation, and pay respect to them and to their Elders past, present and emerging. We give thanks for their wisdom and for their care of country since ancient times, and acknowledge their resilience, their continuing culture, and the ongoing contribution they make to the life of this region.
