Membership

Jikishoan Zen Buddhist Community offers different levels of membership for those interested in supporting the practice of Zen Buddhism in Australia with Jikishoan’s main teacher.

There are three membership categories:

• Practice Member (Initial/Full membership)
• Associate Member
• Honorary Member  (Abbot’s appointment, Committee’s endorsement)

The Ordained Member category  is reserved for members of Jikishoan who have taken the sixteen Bodhisattva Precepts, Kesaya and Oryoki, given by Jikishoan’s main teacher or abbot to the novice monk or lay teacher trainee.

The Honorary Member category is reserved for Jikishoan’s main teacher, Abbot.

Members and non-members are all able to attend Jikishoan’s activities and public events. Please contact Jikishoan if you have any questions about becoming a member of Jikishoan.

• Members support Jikishoan’s Aims and Objectives as set out in the Rules of Association. Members have full voting rights and may nominate for election to the Jikishoan Committee.
• Members are encouraged to become part of a ryo group (small practice groups) in the kitchen, meditation hall, reception desk and study hall.
• Members are able to participate in all Jikishoan activities and receive fee reductions for retreats, workshops and courses.
• Members receive Myoju (the quarterly Jikishoan magazine), as well as the teaching program, brochures and other information about community events and activities.

To be eligible for membership:

Prerequisites

1. Common practice base: attend an Integrated Buddhist Studies or participate in Sanzen-kai or/and Zen retreat. The Abbot may also recommend membership.
2. Face to Face Meeting:  with a member of the Jikishoan Committee who will discuss Jikishoan’s Aims and Objectives with you and explain how the community functions.
3. Subscribing to Jikishoan’s vision and purpose.

Next steps:

• Submit a Membership Application Form and give it to a Committee member at the time of your meeting
• The Committee member will forward your application for consideration at the next Committee meeting
• Applicants will be advised of the outcome and, if approved, invited to pay the relevant annual subscription fee.
• On receipt of the annual subscription fee, your name will be entered into the membership register and will also be published in the next issue of the Jikishoan’s quarterly magazine, Myoju.

• Membership Entry Fee: $82 one off
• Practice Member Subscription: $165 per year
• Associate Member Subscription: $70 per year

To maintain membership, subscription must be renewed by 30 June of each year.

For information regarding the membership categories, please refer to Jikishoan Zen Buddhist Community Rules of Incorporation.

Membership Application Form

Jikishoan’s Aims and Objectives

Jikishoan Zen Buddhist Community Rules of Incorporation