Practice Guidelines for Extended Guest Trainees

at ZCLA Great Dragon Mountain

ZCLA Great Dragon Mountain welcomes guest trainees with an interest in Zen practice and community. “Extended” means that you are staying for one month. Guests may also stay for under one month. Our guidelines are as follows:

• Extended Guest Trainees are required to sit a minimum of five scheduled periods of zazen per week and to see a teacher regularly. We offer weekly face-to-face meetings with a teacher during zazen periods. Meetings for Residents and Extended Guest Trainees are on Wednesday night, Friday morning and Saturday morning.
• Extended Guest Trainees are required to do one hour per week of samu (work practice). If you have limited physical abilities, please inform the Guest Steward.
• Extended Guest Trainees are encouraged to take part in as many of the Zen Center’s programs as possible. Please check the ZCLA website for all activities that are scheduled during the time of your stay.
• Extended Guest Trainees are assigned to a room in one of our guest quarters. Please keep your room neat and tidy. It is possible you will be sharing a bathroom with other guests.
• Extended Guest Trainees must refrain from drug and alcohol use on campus. TVs and radios are not permitted in the guest rooms.
• A vegetarian kitchen in the Sangha House can be used for preparing meals. Please keep in mind this is a Sangha kitchen and you will have to clean up after yourself. You will be given shelf space in the walk-in cooler for your food.
• The fee for a one-month Extended Guest Trainee stay is $605.00 which is due two weeks before arrival. All Extended Guest Trainees are held to financial accountability. The fee does not include meals. There are convenient markets and restaurants in the area.
• The Extended Guest Trainee Program is for one month. Extensions may be granted by the Abbot. Please make a formal request to the Guest Steward at least one week prior to the end of your stay.

We encourage Extended Guest Trainees to regard ZCLA Great Dragon Mountain as you would your home temple. We look forward to practicing with you.

For further information, please contact our Guest Steward.

To download an application form in word format, please click here.

To download an application form in pdf format, please click here.