Zazen with a Group vs. Alone

For beginners and long-time practitioners alike, the question often arises: Is it better to practice zazen with a group or alone? The truth is that both have unique benefits. Exploring zazen with a group vs. alone helps you find the rhythm that best supports your practice.

The Strength of Group Practice

Sitting with others creates a shared rhythm. The silence feels deeper when surrounded by fellow practitioners. This is the power of collective energy—the sense that you are carried by the presence of the group.

• Accountability: A group provides structure and helps prevent skipping practice.

• Learning: Beginners can receive guidance from experienced teachers.

• Community: Practicing together fosters connection, which can reduce feelings of isolation.

Modern wellness research also shows that social accountability improves consistency in meditation and fitness routines alike.

The Benefits of Sitting Alone

On the other hand, practicing alone allows for flexibility and intimacy with your own mind.

• Freedom: You choose the time, length, and setting.

• Self-reliance: You learn to face distractions without outside support.

• Deeper exploration: Solitary practice encourages honesty—you cannot hide behind the group’s energy.

In today’s busy schedules, solo sitting also fits more easily into daily life, making it sustainable long term.

Hybrid Approaches

Increasingly, practitioners are exploring hybrid practice—sitting alone most days while joining a sangha (community) weekly or monthly. Online meditation groups and wellness communities also make it possible to connect virtually while maintaining private practice.

A Zen Reminder

Zen masters emphasize that the essence of practice is simply sitting. Whether alone or in a group, the key is sincerity. As Dogen wrote: “To study the way is to study the self.” Sometimes that study happens in silence with others, sometimes in the solitude of your own room.

A Simple Invitation

Experiment with both. Try a week of solo practice, then attend a group sitting. Notice the differences in energy, focus, and depth. In the end, zazen with a group vs. alone is not about better or worse—it is about balance.

🌿 For more guidance on meditation practice, visit ZEN for LIFE and discover how to integrate Zen into both community and solitude.