Exactly! There are some things about Zen practice that are a little clearer when visiting a brick-and-mortar Zen monastery. One thing I did not anticipate when I first attended one that is very difficult to convey here (although Treeleaf comes pretty close!) is what I think is a Japanese learning style, which is quite different from the West. Basically, very few "rules" are laid out for you either verbally or in writing, other than the schedule and some chants. Everything else you figure out from watching what everyone else does! It is unsettling and provokes no small anxiety for those of us used to the Western way. At any given time their might be doctors, students, recovering addicts, former prison inmates, folks from all "classes" and walks of life wandering around, sharing the same kitchen, dormitories, cushions in the Zendo, watching each other quietly and courteously following much the same routines which have been followed for hundreds of years in Zen Monasteries.
We can debate about this ad nauseaum, and whether it excludes some or is particularly difficult for others, but boy when you see it in action you really understand why it works to tame the ego. Most people have ended up at a monastery because they realized somewhere along the way that chasing comfort, safety and control was not working for them. But in order to learn what does work, they need to put the mental chatter aside and be very quiet and attentive at all times, because lessons are constantly unfolding around them, and they can't see or learn them when they are thinking about what the ego feels it must say about it next.
Many apologies in going over 3 sentences while advocating silent learning
Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday