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Isthmus Zen Community Organization
Head Dharma Teacher (HDT)
The Head Dharma Teacher is in charge of all matters concerning formal practice
and the Dharma Room. This person is directly responsible for leading formal
practice and setting an example of discipline and right-mindedness. The Head
Dharma Teacher role is assigned for specified periods of one to three months.
Within the Isthmus Zen Community organization, the Head Dharma Teacher:
- Arrives early for evening practice (no later than 6:15
p.m. for 6:30 practice)
- If HDT must miss evening practice, is responsible for
finding alternate or informing co-abbot
- Sets up the Dharma Room and altar, and checks for accurate,
working clock or wrist watch to time
practice periods
- Attends to appropriate temperature and lighting of
the Dharma Room, before and during practice
- Sets up the interview room when evening practice will
include teaching interviews, and arranges for
"white noise" to assure privacy during teaching interviews
- Makes certain that persons assigned for the Moktak
Master, Evening Bell chanter, and Guestmaster
roles are present, or assigns substitutes for the evening
- Generally encourages the use of correct form in the
Dharma Room
- Signals the Moktak Master when to open the altar to
begin evening practice
- Hits the chugpi at the beginning and end of sitting
meditation, and times the 25-minute sitting
period(s)
- Carries the chugpi, times the walking period, and leads
during 10-minute walking meditation
- Introduces and leads reading from the teaching letters
of Zen Master Seung Sahn
- Introduces and leads reading of the Temple Rules during
the first practice of the month
- Makes and/or calls for announcements when reading is
concluded
- Leads recitation of the Four Great Vows
- Closes practice with the IZC's traditional "Thank you
for your practice" and an invitation to tea/juice
and conversation
- Responsible for making sure that all altar supplies,
chanting books, and mats and cushions are put
away, and the lights turned out in the Dharma Room
- Announces need to fill the HDT role when current term
is nearly complete, and asks for volunteers
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