Zen Meditation

Kuan Yin Meditation Centre Zen and Insight Meditation Teachers 2023

We are a small friendly group of meditators who welcome beginners anytime. Led by ‘Myokai’ Rachel Whiting, our focus is on assisting you to feel comfortable and supported to experience the benefits of meditation and mindfulness in a way that works for you in your current life situation. No expectations, no pressure, no judgment, all welcome. Youth-friendly, queer friendly, neuro-divergent friendly, all ages 16+.

Contact Myokai An
Phone: 0427 778 837

See Myokai’s ‘Teachers’ bio for more info.

LISMORE ZEN GROUP

Mondays 6-8pm
$5 Hall Hire + $10 recommended donation to teacher/ dojo build (Dana)

6pm: Guided Meditation ('zazengi')
6.25: Walking meditation (‘kinhin’)
6.35: Silent meditation (‘zazen’)         Optional 1-1 guidance with the Teacher ('dokusan')
7:00: Walking meditation (kinhin’)
7.10: Talk by Myokai An ('teisho')
7.30pm: Optional Tea and Discussion

ZAZENKAI (Flexible full day of meditation)

Zazenkai dates are flexible and will be confirmed each month.
Most should be as planned, but we aim to be responsive to causes and conditions. Attendance is flexible.

Mar 16th (Newcomers friendly)
April 13th
May 18th
June 14th
July 6th
Aug 10th
October Sesshin 4th -11th
Nov 2nd
Dec 6th (Newcomers friendly)
Morning Session 9:00am-12:30pm - Lunch - Afternoon Session 1:30-4:00pm

ZAZENKAI SCHEDULE
Sunday November 2nd 2025
Option to attend post-chanting at 9.35am, Morning sessions only, All day.

9am                Welcome & Guidance
9.10                Chanting (sound meditation)
9.30                Kinhin (walking meditation)
9.35                Guided zazen (seated meditation)
10am             Kinhin
10.05             Semi-guided zazen
10.30             Morning Tea
11am             Zazen (silent)                      
11.25             Outdoor Kinhin/ Indoor Stretching
11.35             Zazen (silent)      Optional Dokusan (1-1 Guidance with teacher)
12pm             Kinhin
12.30             Zazen (silent)      Dokusan continued
LUNCH (BYO)

AFTERNOON INTENSIVE SESSION 

1.30               Zazen (seated meditation)
1.55                Kinhin (walking meditation)
2pm               Dharma Talk by Myokai An                                
2.30                Outdoor Kinhin/ Indoor Stretching
2.40                Zazen         Dokusan continued
3.05                Kinhin
3.10                Reading and Zazen         Dokusan continued
3.35                Stretch                                 
3.40                Closing Chanting (sound meditation)
4pm               Bow out

Day of Meditation 2025-12-06

2026 Beginners' Courses

Dates for Term 1 and Term 2 to be announced

NON-RESIDENTIAL ANNUAL SESSHIN (7 Day ‘retreat’)  3rd - 9th October, 2026

Venue: Kuan Yin Meditation Centre; $15/day + Dana for Teacher; BYO Lunch; Flexible attendance options: call Myokai on 0427 778 837 to discuss

Zen Meditation - Sesshin - Retreat

Guided Meditations and Talks

FOUNDATIONAL GUIDED MEDITATION

Core guidance for newcomers just starting a meditation practice. Compassionate, gentle, considered guidance to help you get going each day, or whenever you find 20 minutes to “just sit”.

SUN FACE MOON FACE

Sun Face Moon Face is a deep dive into our sense of ‘time’ and timelessness, offering spiritual remedies for relieving suffering amidst ageing, sickness and death. It encourages us to discover a whole life in just this one precious bright clear moment fully lived.

BREATH - BODY - GREATER BODY Part l

This beginners 25 minute guided meditation guides you through posture, ‘being’ at ease, entering into breath awareness and breath counting, releasing our grasp on any ‘thing’, returning ‘home’ to the present, and settling finally into relaxed full body awareness. 
It is recorded from a 6am morning group Zoom meditation, and leads into ‘Pt II’ (see below) if you wish to attempt a second sitting.

BREATH - BODY - GREATER BODY Part ll

This 25 minute guided meditation is recorded from a 6.30am morning group Zoom meditation, following on and making sense if listened to after the above 6am meditation. It contains reduced guidance, with more silence, and pointers to ‘return home’ to the present moment every 3-5 minutes or so. It contains some assistance with working with thoughts.

1. Introduction to The 7 Factors of Awakening and Mindfulness

This is an introductory talk to provide familiarity to the Buddha’s teachings on the 7 Factors of Awakening, exploring Mindfulness of attention as the First Factor. The following 7 talks follow on from one to another, and were recorded during the Oct 2025 intensive 7 day zen ‘sesshin’, or meditation intensive, held in Lismore.

2. The 7 Factors of Awakening and Mindfulness

Following on from the introduction to Bodhiangga and Mindfulness, this talk guides you into a state of ease in your meditation practice, based on mindful non-judgmental attention. This talk leads into the Third talk in this series, Energy/ Virya.

Zen Meditation