The Healing Practice of Still Sitting In this time when our usual freedom of movement continues to be abridged, we can arouse the mind and spirit that is not dependent on movement. Please join us for this gentle day of sitting together virtually, which will include a Dharma talk by Practice Leader So-On Jim Hare. […]
Rohatsu sesshin is a time for bringing light into the dark time of the year and celebrating Buddha’s awakening, which is our awakening too. Our Rohatsu is on Zoom this year and has a very different format. It will last a full week, but we’ll be sitting just the morning and evening periods, Sunday through […]
"Kind speech" means that when you see sentient beings you arouse the mind of compassion and offer words of loving care. - Eihei Dogen With a morning Dharma talk and afternoon discussion, we will explore the Bodhisattva's practice of kind and compassionate speech. Our speaking will be bracketed by periods of sitting meditation. A detailed […]
Rev. Kokyo Henkel will offer a teaching on Buddha Nature with inspiration from the Book of Serenity, Case 93: Luzu's Not Meeting Luzu asked Nanquan, " 'People don't recognize the wish-fulfilling jewel which is intimately obtained from the tathagata-garbha (heart/womb of buddha)'. What is the garbha?" Nanquan said, "It is that in me which comes and […]
This half-day sitting (9 am - noon) will be followed by a Jizo Ceremony to celebrate the arrival of McKinsey Shrader, Joshua and Laura Shrader's soon-to-be-born second daughter. Rev. Doralee Grindler Katonah will offer the dharma talk and lead this special ceremony. Jizo, known as the 'Earth Store' or 'Earth Womb' Bodhisattva, embodies and transmits […]
This is a day-long meditation retreat with a Dharma talk by practice leader Rev. So On Jim Hare. "Riding the ox" or "riding a donkey" are phrases used in Zen stories to describe our responsive encounter with mind-consciousness during sitting meditation practice and in our daily lives. We will look at a couple of these stories […]
This workshop will be dedicated to writing practices that honor the Buddhist path. We will practice techniques that illustrate the overlap between mindfulness training and expressive writing. Using material from the Abhidharma, Mahayana sutras and writings of Eihei Dogen, we will demonstrate how personal writing can enrich our study of the dharma and provide a […]
In Buddhism, the four unlimited mental attitudes are loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity. These attiudes are unlimited because the benefits thay bring to self and other can't be quantified; they are immeasurable. In this day of in-person sitting meditation practice, we will focus on these four immeasurables that teach all sentient beings and […]
Zen master Dogen speaks of "raising an aspiration to escalade the very sky." What is the place for such audacity in our practice? Many of us begin Zen practice with the hope that it will relieve the pain and grief we feel much of the time. Later, we learn that relieving suffering is just […]
Yogacara: Integrating Personal and Social Healing and Liberation (online retreat) How can we heal ourselves and our communities? How does our personal conduct, wellness, suffering, and trauma, relate to interpersonal and transpersonal systems? How can we give our lives to universal liberation without sacrificing our own well-being? These are the questions at the heart of […]
One-Day Sitting - ONLINE - 6 am - 8:45 pm The Zoom link and schedule will be sent to those who have registered at Eventbrite.com. Full Rohatsu Sesshin Schedule This traditional week of intensified practice celebrates the enlightenment of our original teacher in India, Shakyamuni Buddha. Rohatsu sesshin is a time for bringing light into the dark time […]
One-Day Sitting - in person - 9 am - 5 pm This sitting will be in person at the Dharma Center and will not be offered on Zoom. The schedule will be sent to all who have registered at Eventbrite.com • Please remember to bring a lunch. Full Rohatsu Sesshin Schedule This traditional week of intensified […]