UPDATE: On July 12, 2022, Scobie Roshi presented her perspective on online Zen training, based on our 2-year experience in the Virtual Dojo – what we know, the benefits and challenges, what we still don’t know, and what a path including online and in-person training looks like. If interested, you can read here or watch here.
A Zen dojo is a place for resolving dualism (mind/body, self/universe, and life/death). In July 2020, Chosei Zen inaugurated a Virtual Dojo, headed by Heather Meikyo Scobie Roshi. The Virtual Dojo is an online space with training events happening in real-time and a website of resources for training at one’s own pace. The Virtual Dojo is a part of Chosei Zen, which includes the physical spaces of Daikozen-ji in Madison and the Spring Green Dojo. Students are welcome to flow between the dojos, as possible.
Historically, Zen training has occurred in-person, as part of a community, in spaces explicitly designed to draw upon the senses. Our style of Zen training emphasizes the physical body and kiai (energy), which has been challenging to conceive of how to recreate online. Until recently, Chosei Zen students have experienced the synergistic benefit of training together in-person (i.e., 1 + 1 is greater than 2). However, lack of proximity to the dojo and teachers limits some students to training in this way only several times per year.
Born out of necessity during COVID-19, the online platform has allowed us to continue training as a group during the pandemic. Real-time training opportunities include Daily Zazen, online sanzen (interviews between a teacher and student), online zazenkai(1-2 days intensive training), andkeishin(4-7 days online intensive training). Many have acknowledged that the Virtual Dojo has provided a lifeline and closer community connections during a very difficult time.
Long-distance students, who have been training for years on their own, may have been the first to acknowledge the benefits of online training. Online training provides opportunities for more frequent interactions with teachers, increased accountability through training with others, and ability to participate in intensive training with reduced travel costs, work missed, and family time sacrificed. Even for those in Wisconsin, the benefits of online training have extended to those at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19, allowing participation without worry.
Several months into the pandemic, we have a group of beginner students who have begun training online. For new students, online training presents a lower barrier to beginning and continuing regular training and can also include those who live outside of Wisconsin. We have expanded our online offerings with consideration for the needs of new students. For these reasons, the Virtual Dojo is envisioned to complement in-person training and broaden outreach beyond the pandemic.
