Spring 2026 Term Student Program

An Intensified Practice Period

The Term Student program is designed to provide an opportunity to intensify practice and sangha connections for a specific period of time.  Terms are approximately two to three months long, which mirrors a traditional period of practice during which monks trained together intensively during the rainy seasons.  Committing to a term provides a clear beginning and end to a period when Zen practice and involvement with Wy’east Zen Center take a higher priority in your life.  Because you are not making a long-term commitment, and because you are joining others in the term, the chances of following through on your intention to intensify practice can be greatly improved. 

The Term Student program consists of three basic elements: 

  • your own daily practice at home and/or work;

  • regular involvement with Wy’east Zen Center 

  • attendance at 3 term student retreats (March 7, April 11. May 23, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m)

These are tied together with a Vow of Practice, which often includes

  • a statement of purpose - Why are you participating in this term student program?

  • a description of your basic daily practice.  This includes things like your daily zazen, any service you do, verses you incorporate in daily life, reading and study.  Flexibility is encouraged, with a “bottom line” description, i.e. “I will try to do morning zazen five days a week, but will always do it at least two days a week.”  The idea is to make a vow that will cause you to stretch, but is doable over the whole period of time. 

  • a list of the weekly, monthly or other special events you plan to attend beyond the 3 term student retreat days: e.g. Wednesday night sitting, participation at other sanghas (such as Dharma Rain or Brightway) or any sesshin you will do. 

During the opening retreat each term, students summarize their vows during the term dedication ceremony..  This ceremony is taken from the monastic term dedication ceremony in which monks agree to spend the term in training together.  Sharing our vows at this time permits the group to witness each person’s commitment, and we also have the opportunity to share something of what it is that brings us together to practice.

One major purpose of the Term Student program is to create a venue in which a group of lay people can go through a practice period together.  Because we are not a monastery, it can be difficult to meet each other in the intimate way that develops when people live in close proximity for an extended period of time.  Much of the first retreat each term is spent connecting with each other.  To do this, people are asked to prepare by taking the time to write out three personal outlines. 

  1. chronological outline: a chronological outline of your life events.

  2. karmic outline:  a list of events or circumstances that have shaped who you are today.  These can be specific things like alcoholic parents, or more general ones, like growing up in the country, or near a lake. 

  3. spiritual outline:  similar to the karmic outline, but specifically about events that have formed your spiritual point of view. 

This exercise is to prepare you to make a five or ten minute presentation at the first retreat of the term. Each person will say something about who they are, what has brought them to this practice, and what they bring to the practice and to the group.  After each person speaks, the others will ask questions.  

Other elements often included in the Term Student program

  • a text that is studied for the term with Dharma Talks during meditation

  • mondo practice, which is an exercise that brings the way we meet each other into the realm of Dharma

The Dharma is not something that is grasped in the mind, but something that is realized in our lives. Deep and intimate Sangha connections are vitally important in helping us bring the Dharma to fruition in a real way. That is what we hope to accomplish in the Term Student program.

Requirements:  For those who have not participated in the term student program previously, a brief meeting with Shintai or Jyoshin prior to the March retreat and a commitment to attend all three retreats.  To schedule a meeting, email Shintai at shintai@wyeastzencenter.org or Jyoshin at jyoshin@wyeastzencenter.org  and put “term student” somewhere in the subject line.  

Cost: There is no charge for the program or the retreats. Dana for our teachers is welcome and can be offered at each retreat.