What to Wear: Wear clothes that are comfortable for sitting and not distracting to others. Loose-fitting clothes in dark or muted solid colors are best. More coverage (e.g., a t-shirt and knee-length shorts) is preferable to less (e.g., a muscle shirt or tank top and running shorts).
Generally hats are not worn in the zendo (meditation hall). Avoid wearing perfume or other strongly scented products.
What to Bring: You don’t need to bring anything at all, just your open mind. Chairs, cushions, and benches are available for your use. If you have special meditation aids you prefer to use, feel free to bring any easily portable items such as a zafu, bench or other aid; be sure and mark it for identification.
Cellphones and other devices should be left at home or in your car, or turned off when you enter the Zen Center.You may bring a water bottle if you’d like, but we don’t bring food or drink into the zendo (meditation hall), except for formal meal practice or on special occasions.
After Sunday services, we generally have coffee, tea and some snacks to eat. If you have special dietary restrictions, feel free to bring a snack that meets your needs. Our offerings are always vegetarian, but not always vegan, gluten-free or nut-free.
Coming to the Zen Center: We are at 3625 Lafayette Avenue in the Bemis Park area of Omaha. We’re in a residential neighborhood, right next-door to Augustana Lutheran Church which is on the corner of 38th and Lafayette. Find a map and directions here.
Please try to arrive in a timely manner, whether you are coming early for orientation or arriving for sitting and service. Our timekeeper begins sounding the han (wooden block) ten minutes before the start of zazen. You should plan to be in the zendo (meditation hall) and getting settled in your seat by around five minutes before the start of zazen.
Parking is available in the driveways on both sides of the Zen Center, or on the street in front. We also have permission from Augustana Lutheran Church next door to use four of their parking spots. Please be considerate of our neighbors when parking.
Our main entryway is at the back of the Zen Center. Walk up the main driveway to the back of the garage, turn left on the sidewalk and take the ramp or stairs to our back door.
As You Enter: In the entryway, remove your shoes and place them in the shoe trays to your right or the shelves to your left. Coats, jackets and hats can be hung on the pegs above the shoe trays. Purses and bags can be placed on the shelves or baskets at the other end of the entryway. Please store your devices (remember to turn them off), water bottles, keys and so forth in these locations.
If no one is there to greet you, just tell the first person you see that you’re coming for the first time, and if you’d like some orientation and instruction. Then relax, we’ll take it from there.