The Unseen Table: A Zen Dinner in Darkness

The Unseen Table: A Zen Dinner in Darkness

Join us at Chobo-Ji for a unique evening of food, darkness, and shared Zen practice in support of the temple.

We’ll begin the evening by candlelight, allowing time to arrive, become familiar with the space, and settle comfortably. Once everyone is settled, the candles will be extinguished and we will enter the darkness together.

The evening will begin with Zen chanting, followed by a mindful meal eaten together in silence. Without sight, we are invited to encounter the familiar act of sharing a meal in a different way—bringing greater attention to taste, scent, texture, sound, our own experience, and the presence of those gathered around us.

After the meal, we’ll have an opportunity to share and reflect together: What did we notice? What surprised us? What changed when we could no longer see our food—or one another?

No previous Zen or meditation experience is necessary. Come curious, and join us at the unseen table.

A few things to know before joining us:

• The meal: Guests do not need to bring anything. We will serve a fixed menu that is entirely vegan and gluten-free. Because the experience centers around a shared fixed meal, we regret that we are unable to accommodate additional dietary restrictions or substitutions.

• Shoes: As is customary at Chobo-Ji, we ask guests to remove their shoes upon entering the temple.

• Accessibility: The dining space requires ascending two flights of stairs, and most seating is traditional Japanese floor seating. We recognize that these features limit who is able to participate comfortably and regret that our temple space does not currently allow us to offer greater accessibility for this event.

• Parking: There is plenty of street parking available in the surrounding neighborhood.

The Unseen Table is a fundraiser for Chobo-Ji. All proceeds support the temple and its ongoing practice and community.