The Zazen Dojo was a large three story building with many rooms. In the kitchen we shared all the food and the money for buying the food and necessities. Every month we put in about $200 dollars each towards the collective food costs. We also received fresh produce and other food items each week from a delivery service. The library was a common space where we could read, talk, have tea, play chess and occasionally get into arguments regarding philosophy or translations. The Zendo was a very nice space where we could meditate anytime, day or night (it even had AC!). The first formal sitting was at 5:30am and the last formal sitting was at 8:30pm. Sensei Nishijima would sit on the platform in the foreground (picture above) while the rest of us would all sit facing the wall. He would stand occasionally and shuffle over to correct your neck posture. I often took the position of Doan or “Bell Ringer” signaling the beginning and ending of a Zazen period.