TZC Holiday Party

Please join us at an open house holiday party at Black Oak Farm on Sunday December 6 from 2 till 7. For directions please email Do'on at karenweik@yahoo.com. It would be lovely if you could bring a dish to pass. Blessings.

TZC Schedule Update

We have finally arranged our retreat schedule for 2010, though still in the works are additional intro to zen practice weekends and the next zen arts series. Below are the firm dates for the zazenkai/afternoon workshop and sesshin retreats.

Coming up this weekend is our last half day zazenkai and afternoon workshop of 2009 which will focus on the teachings of Silent Illumination of Zen Master Hongzhi. The sitting will be from 9-noon and the afternoon workshop will be from 1:30-4:30pm. The suggested donation is $25, but above all just come and participate in whatever you can of the day.

On December 6th, we will be hosting our annual Holiday celebration at Black Oak Farm from 2pm till whenever. Please bring a dish to share!

On December 11-13 we will hold our Rohatsu Sesshin retreat at Lourdes College. Registration forms for this retreat are available at the zen center or by email request.

The year 2010 will start with a big first for the sangha as we will have our Jukai retreat days and the ceremony with Melissa Myozen Blacker Sensei. To receive the precepts is a great step in one's practice, and there will be a full meal of training and preparations offered. Registration forms for those considering receiving the precepts are available at the zen center or by email request.

Here are the Toledo Zen Center retreat dates for 2010:

Jan 10 - Jukai Retreat Day 1 at the Toledo Zen Center

Jan 22-24 - Jukai Retreat Days 2-4 at Lourdes College.

Feb 25-28 - Jukai Retreat Days and Ceremony With Melissa Sensei 5-8 at Lourdes College.

March 7 - Half Day Zazenkai 9-noon and afternoon workshop 1:30-4:30pm.

Apr 22-25 Sesshin at Lourdes College.

May 16 - Half Day Zazenkai 9-noon and afternoon workshop 1:30-4:30pm.

Jun 17-20 - Sesshin at Lourdes College.

Jul 11- Half Day Zazenkai 9-noon and afternoon workshop 1:30-4:40pm.

Aug 26-29 Sesshin at Lourdes College.

Sep 5 - Half Day Zazenkai 9-noon and afternoon workshop 1:30-4:30pm.

Oct 21-24 Sesshin at Lourdes College.

Nov 7 - Half Day Zazenkai 9-noon and afternoon workshop 1:30-4:30pm.

Dec 2-5 - Sesshin at Lourdes College.

In other news, we are working diligently on creating a new website complete with forums, information for beginners and a dharma store. We have the initial version in place and are now shaping the details, so look for the update notification soon!

Palms Together,

- Jay and Karen

Charter for Compassion

Coupon

Please use this link to get a 30% off coupon at the Libbey Glass outlet store. Just go to the site and print it out! Enjoy!

http://toledostore.libbey.com/

Jukai Dates and Reading

The dates for the Jukai retreat and ceremony have been set for February 25-28, 2010. The three texts that James Melissa and David have held up for us to study together are The Mind of Clover by Robert Aitken, Being Upright by Reb Anderson, and Waking Up to What You Do by Diane Rizzetto. For those who are interested in taking the precepts, there will be a form to fill out the next time you are in the zendo for practice, and please bring a somewhat current picture of yourself that can go in your file - it doesn't have to be formal and it will never be shown, but is just for in house reference. If you live at a distance I can email the form to you, just get in touch.

Palms Together,

- Jay

Facing Fear

Jay Rinsen Weik gives a talk and leads discussion at the Toledo Zen Center on December 3, 2008.

"The Supreme Way is not difficult; it just precludes picking and choosing. Without yearning or loathing, The Way is perfectly apparent, while even a hair's breadth difference separates heaven and earth. To see The Way with your own eyes, quit agreeing and disagreeing. The battle of likes and dislikes is the disease of the mind."

--Seng-ts'an, "Relying on Mind"

Listen HERE.

Recent TZC activity

We had a great time at Black Oak Farm when the sangha gathered for a pot luck party on October 17. The following week on Thursday, October 22, Do'on represented TZC at an interfaith convocation on healthcare reform sponsored by the Village Church in Toledo. The following day we entered into a zazenkai at Lourdes College for the weekend. A special thanks to the good sisters of St. Francis for hosting us. After the retreat on Sunday Rinsen and Do'on attended the interfaith harvest festival celebration at the Monroe St church where Rinsen sat on a panel with Congresswomen Marcy Kaptur. Toledo is engaging in a highly successful urban gardening project that brings together at risk youth, gardeners, farmers, gleaners, peace activists and religious groups.