Zazen Meditation

Zazen Meditation is practiced during the class to calm the mind and to encourage breathing control.
Before entering meditation the Seiku (creed) and Segan (Pledge) sections of the Dokun are recited. Following meditation the Shinjo section is recited.

Dokun

Seiku

Rely on yourself and not on others.  
No one is as reliable as your own well disciplined self.
By committing evil you defile your self.
By avoiding evil you attain purity.

Segan

In acquiring this art, we pledge to honour our founder and not betray our masters, to respect our elders and not slight the young.
As comrades, we pledge to help each other and to co-operate for the accomplishment of these teachings.
We pledge to leave our past aside and to devote ourselves to mastering the art as plainly and naively as infants.
We pledge never to perform our art for selfish reasons, but for the benefit of all mankind.

Shinjo

We are grateful that we are endowed with our souls from Dharma and our bodies from our parents. We determine to make every effort to return their blessings.
We love our country and determine to better the welfare of our people.
We love justice, respect humanity, observe courtesy, keep the peace and determine to be true and brave.
We strive to master the art and discipline the body and soul. We love our comrades and help each other. We co-operate and endeavour to establish an ideal world.