(Health experts are beginning to acknowledge the physical and mental health benefits of us literally touching dirt!) Our bodies are eventually buried in the dirt. Getting your hands dirty means to fully engage in something, without worrying too much about keeping yourself pure and clean. I think of dirt in terms of rich, black soil in which plants can grow. He also participates in-person with other groups, and when speaking of his intention to go sit in a physical Zendo, he calls it a “dirt Zendo.” I’m not sure if he made the term up or borrowed it, but I’ve always liked it.Ī few people have told me that the term “dirt” conjures up negative connotations for them, but I’ve chosen to use it for two reasons. I got the term “Dirt Zendo” from one of my Cloud Zendo Sangha members who lives in Iowa. Cloud are beautiful, and the word speaks to the expansive, permeable, and ethereal nature of the virtual space (and, of course, “the cloud” is a common term these days for the online world). The Cloud Zendo is our virtual Zendo space. The word “dirt” speaks to the gritty and tangible reality of being together in-the-flesh. The Dirt Zendo is our physical Zendo space on the westside of Portland, Oregon. I’ll end that episode by talking about how, at least at Bright Way Zen, we are attempting to create a sense of Sangha that connects and includes anyone who practices with us, regardless of whether they participate in-the-flesh, online, or both.Ī Zendo means “meditation hall” – Zen meaning meditation, Do meaning hall. In my next episode, I’ll talk about the merits of practicing in a physical practice space, in-the-flesh. Then I’ll discuss the merits and benefits of the virtual practice space. In this episode I will describe the physical and virtual practice spaces at Bright Way Zen – how we think of them, and how we use them. Now we face the challenge of meeting people’s needs in a virtual space, and of integrating in-person and virtual activities. Most communities, however, are realizing that online participation is going to remain at least part of their reality. Some groups, able to meet in-person once again, are phasing out or de-emphasizing their online offerings. Each Buddhist community – and actually each church, synagogue or temple of any religion – is responding to this situation differently but given the rapid expansion of the use of virtual connection over the last couple of years because of the pandemic, every spiritual community has to respond in one way or another.

I’m calling it, “Dirt Zendo, Cloud Zendo, One Sangha: Buddhist Community in the Digital Age – Part 1.” I want to share with you how my Zen community, Bright Way Zen, is responding to the relatively new phenomenon of being able to share practice together online.

This episode belongs in my “Buddhism Today” category. How Hybrid Cloud-and-Dirt Zendo Meetings Look at Bright Way Zen Then I talk about the merits of what we call the “Cloud Zendo.” In my next episode, I’ll discuss the merits of a good old-fashioned physical practice space, which we call the “Dirt Zendo,” and the ways my Zen center is trying to integrate and care for both of our Zendos and create a sense of being one Sangha. I discuss how the virtual and physical practice spaces look at my Zen center, and how we structure hybrid meetings. Many Buddhist and Zen centers are now facing the prospect of permanently including options for virtual participation, which brings many opportunities but also many challenges. Virtual spaces are surprisingly effective for practice and building a sense of Sangha. Since COVID lockdown, Buddhist communities have greatly expanded their online practice opportunities. 206 – Zendo Tierra, Zendo Nube, Una Sangha: La Comunidad Budista en la Era Digital – Parte 1

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