What is the etiquette around clothing and dress in the zendo? Who are the people wearing robes?
Please help us to keep distractions to a minimum.
To this end, refrain from bringing extraneous personal items into the zendo, such as purses, bags, keys, cell phones, wallets or water bottles (eyeglasses are okay). Please silence your cell phone if you bring it into the building.
Please do not wear bright colors or garments bearing large images or large printed words, which can be a distraction to others. Do wear loose fitting clothing in dark or subdued colors, with skirts and/or pants long enough to reach below the knees, and shirts with sleeves over the shoulders. Some find it helpful to designate particular clothes to wear only in the zendo. In cold weather, neutral colored socks may be worn in the zendo, and then removed for zazen.
Please do not wear hats or gloves in the zendo. Long hair should be worn up and off the neck.
Please be sensitive to those with chemical allergies by not wearing scented lotions, perfume, or other fragrances.
Remove noisy jewelry and silence watches and phones before entering the zendo.
Traditional zen robes are worn by priests, although laypeople sometimes wear sitting robes. If you wear robes, always wear at least one layer of clothing underneath them, and change into and out of robes and sitting attire in private.