Zoom Etiquette

General Principles

Practicing in our S2M Zoom Meditation Hall together is not that different from how we might practice in person. As much as possible, we try to bring the same spirit of in-person practice to our on-line practice. What does that mean? 

We are encouraged to keep our camera on if possible and within reason. This is because seeing real people show up for practice is inspiring! If we were just a bunch of names in boxes we would not feel the encouraging momentum of the community. So, within reason, if you are able, please consider keeping your camera on, as a gift to the palpable stream of our collective practice. And if you can’t, then no shame, and no questions asked! We trust you are doing what is right for you.

We sit still and steady, to the best of our ability. Just like when we are in person, we don’t eat in the Meditation Hall, nor do we talk on phone, or text someone, or get up and feed the dog, etc. Taking your practice seriously is a gift to yourself and to the community. Overall, we are trying to create a certain atmosphere of stillness and spaciousness – and we help each other with our body language to create that. PS. We love our animal friends! And, let’s try to keep their movements to a minimum. 

Minimizing distraction: If something comes up you feel you need to tend to, please ask yourself if it can wait. If it can’t wait, then as a courtesy to your fellow meditators, please turn off your camera, so others are not distracted while you move around.

Please avoid using the chat feature during meditation. Just like in the Meditation Hall we would not suddenly speak out loud in the middle of a practice, please wait till the end of the meditation if you need to use the chat feature of Zoom. Of course it is ok to address something urgent, like the sound not working, etc.

Creating an atmosphere of safety on-line: If your camera is on, please try to have it actually angled on you in a way that we can see you. We like to know that you are a real person, not a lurker or potential Zoom bomber. Avoiding angling your camera to just a body part or some object in your space. If the camera cannot face you for whatever reason, it’s probably best to shut it off for now.

A note for eyes-open meditators: Some people meditate with their eyes closed, others with eyes open. We are agnostic. When in a Meditation Hall, it is usually advised to eye-open meditators not to rest their gaze on other people. It’s actually the same with Zoom. To allow your eyes to be soft and rest on an object that is not moving, we suggest not gazing towards the screen, but looking away from your computer. Some people angle the computer to the side so we can see them practicing, but they are in fact facing an altar or the wall. It's fine to flutter eyes open from time to time to take in the community as a way to anchor back into the practice when we drift. What’s tricky is body language that might make people feel like they are being stared at.

Please stay muted during the practice to optimize the quality of the sound for all. When you join the gathering you will already be muted. 

If you are dialing in: please find out how to identify yourself, so your name is showing up and not just your phone number – It’s always nice for us to know who is there. This is also for security purposes.

A note for those hard of hearing: make sure your volume is high so you can hear us when we guide meditation. It might help to use a headset. If you still can’t hear, let us know in the Zoom chat, and we can also check our settings.

Please do not share the meeting link with others. If you know someone interested in joining our sangha, please refer them to the website for more information about how to join Space2Meditate.

Some Extra Tips

Consider showing up a minute (or two!) early. This is to help you settle and transition. It’s not so easy to just plop down and meditate in the middle of our day. Some preparation and easing into our posture and intention can be helpful.

Consider setting up a home altar. A home altar brings a sense of respect and reverence to your practice. Whatever is inspiring and beautiful to you could be placed on the altar. This might include images of ancestors, flowers, objects of significance to you. When starting and ending your meditation you might see if it helps to bow to your altar.  

Consider the option to “Hide Self-View.” In an actual Meditation Hall, you would not be meditating in front of a mirror, looking at yourself! Find the three dots over your image (upper right corner when you mouse over the image): you can choose “Hide Self View” if you don’t want to see yourself. (It is restored by a button that appears at the top of the screen: Restore Self View). If only it were so easy to see through the self!

A request

Our meditation instructors are also serving as “Zoom monitors.” This means that in order to preserve a conducive space for practice, they will on occasion mute someone or even turn off someone’s video. This is not intended to exclude you. Try not to take it personally! They are helping you abide by the etiquette that helps all of us. They are simply caring for the quality and safety of the space. Please have compassion and patience with them, as it’s not so easy to both teach and monitor Zoom at the same time. Sometimes they might make mistakes. 

Concerns? Suggestions? Comments about these guidelines can be sent to info@space2meditate.com