Our Everyday Practices
Our main practice is silent, seated meditation, or just sitting. There’s nothing to achieve and nothing to attain. We sit with light posture, return to ease in the body and ease in the breathing, and ease towards whatever is on our hearts. Practicing together this way, without words, is a practice of cooperation, mutual support, and love that, when coupled with living by vows, leads to clarity, the digestion of bitterness (khổ, 苦, suffering) in our lives, and getting to know who you are when you’re not trying to be anyone.
Also integral to our practice is Group Study of Buddhist texts and frameworks, the meaning of words, history, cultural norms, and how we live our everyday lives aware of our location in these contexts. We incorporate this into our 8:00 a.m. weekday practices and Sunday Practices. We take our time to chew on complicated things together.
Sunday Practice also includes:
Qi gong based on the Eight Section Brocade
Mindful Dialogue, facilitated active listening in four different flavors
Nature Walk(ing Meditation), extended silent walking meditation in nature the last Sunday of every month, May – October. (link to Eventbrite for walks)
Schedule
7:00 a.m. Weekday Zen Meditation
on Zoom
7:00 – 7:50 a.m. (Eastern) every Monday – Friday
Just sitting with a bit of time for greeting and sharing. While sitting for the whole 50 minutes is great, it is ok to arrive when you can and leave when you have to. There is one bell at 7:25 a.m. for those who can only stay for half.
8:00 a.m. Weekday Zen Meditation and Slow Book Club
on Zoom
8:00 – 9:00 a.m. (Eastern) every Monday – Friday
25 minutes of sitting. After a period of greeting and sharing, we listen to 10 – 15 minutes of an audiobook, then discuss.
Our current book is An Indigenous Peoples’ History of The United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz (IndyPL link), which we began on Indigenous People’s Day, October 12, 2026.
Sunday Practice: Qigong, Zen Meditation, and Mindful Dialogue
In-Person at the 100 Acres and on Zoom
9:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m (Eastern) every Sunday, except retreat days.
A quiet Sunday morning practice of light movement, silent seated and walking meditation, and facilitated dialogue under a circle of trees, dappled sunlight, and birdsong.
Come as you are. Wear comfortable clothing. Bring something to sit on, like a blanket, mat, chair, or cushion.
Silent Retreats at The Turn of Every Season
Next Retreat:
New Year Retreat: Sunday, January 3, 2027 at Jameson Camp, Indianapolis
Registration is not yet open.
Our retreats are gatherings at the turn of each season where we practice in continuous silence, usually about 6 hours at 1-day retreats and up to 40 hours at 3-day retreats. We practice seated and walking meditation, qigong, eating and preparing meals, and just existing without speaking or using language. We’ve held retreats annually since New Year 2018 and quarterly since 2021.
Who We Are
Little Forest Zen Sangha is a lay Buddhist group based in Indianapolis, IN, USA. We are a place where people can practice sincerely without trouble and actualize Buddhism by studying, experimenting with, and applying Buddhism in everyday life. We emphasize the Sixteen Bodhisattva Vows, meditation practice, and community care. Our practices and traditions come from Vietnamese and Zen Buddhist traditions. We believe that Buddha Nature is inherent in all living beings, human and non-human.
