Fall 2026 Study Group
Living by Vow by Shōhaku Okumura
Interested in learning more about the chants we use in our services? For our Fall Study Group, we’ll be reading from Living by Vow by Shōhaku Okumura, in which he dives deep into the meaning of several chants central to our tradition. The full book is available free online:
Living by Vow, Shōhaku Okumura
The group will meet weekly on Tuesdays from 7:15–8:15 pm, after zazen, starting on Novermber 10, and continuing for four weeks (skipping the week of Thanksgiving). Each week, we will study one chapter, focusing on a particular chant. All are welcome, newcomers and long-time practitioners alike. If you’d like to participate, please complete the sign-up form.
We will study the first four chapters, one chapter each week:
November 10 — Chapter 1. Living by Vow: The Four Bodhisattva Vows (This chapter is a lot longer than the others. We’ll focus on the first few sections, but read the whole thing if you have time.)
November 17 — Chapter 2. Awakening to Incompleteness: The Verse of Repentance
December 1 — Chapter 3. Final Shelter: The Verse of the Three Refuges
December 8 — Chapter 4. Cultivating the Virtuous Field: The Robe Chant
For any questions, please email david.olivier@midcityzen.org.