Shikantaza, as cultivated in the Sōtō Zen tradition, is indeed practiced in a group setting and is in fact commonly carried out in a meditation hall, or zendō. Practitioners sit silently together, usually facing a wall or in a shared direction, sometimes arranged in a circle, each engaging in “just sitting” without an object of focus, counting, or kōan work. The formality of the setting—shared posture, common direction, and a quiet hall—creates a container in which the simplicity of shikantaza can be maintained with fewer distractions. In this way, the group environment does not alter the essential nature of the practice; it remains upright, alert, open awareness, unadorned by techniques or mental strategies.

In such group practice, often referred to as formal sitting periods or zazenkai, the schedule is typically synchronized and marked by bells or other signals that begin and end the periods of sitting. The shared silence and collective discipline offer a stabilizing influence, supporting continuity and depth of attention. The presence of a teacher or senior practitioner may further assist by offering guidance or gentle correction of posture, helping practitioners to embody the form more precisely. Through mutual support, shared commitment, and the structured environment of the zendō, group shikantaza becomes a powerful aid to sustaining “just sitting,” not by turning it into a collective exercise, but by quietly reinforcing each person’s solitary, inward-facing practice.