His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Thanks to Dale-san for bringing this to our attention:
Jewel Heart is recruiting volunteers to help with the many arrangements involved with His Holiness the Dalai Lama's April 19-20 visit and would greatly appreciate any time, talent, and energy you can donate toward this effort for pre-event activities as well as help during that weekend.Please fill out the Volunteer Registration Formlocated on Jewel Heart's website at the link below:http://www.cabrennan.com/cgi-bin/VolunteerForm.pl [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0017nIZjpWUZZvgjGUgCRXKsn7uAhV_tuN1RAfRDbcEuncKL7AnCyVEKUN-Xsbvf9G6kdl_APCZzEn8DCWGKblumPq_KS96dl8ob6IiOjMg01laXMMVc66nM9gkCSQ5kBXfpQpzzpZp6idAEdlJkSzoFw==](If you have already been contacted regarding volunteering for a specific committee or task we ask that you also fill out this official form and make a note of it inthe 'Skills' section)You do not need to be a Jewel Heart member to volunteer.*Free attendance for ushers to His Holiness the Dalai Lama's April Talks If you're willing to stand & work as a general usher all day on either Sat April19th and/or Sun April 20th (including the Wege lecture) you may attend the event that day for free. Attendance at Saturday morning training session is required. Usher volunteers are recruited and trained by University of Michigan staff. Pleasefill out the Volunteer Registration Form located on the U of M website at the linkbelow:http://sitemaker.umich.edu/dlvolunteering [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0017nIZjpWUZZt0XpqWUL2Ay9xk19LHUxxT5gUYi5XSgd10trAFSzOsN0feLFUGWN7ShMHY5Q_eusW5dPeWKAlLylv9wZczuyBuzyBHn3pSiCFS4akNY2kdnsFxvCvXI4PEJsZezEfT3N8=]Hope to see you!Volunteer CommitteeJewel HeartOn Saturday and Sunday, April 19 and 20, 2008, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama will visit Ann Arbor where over the course of three sessions in two days he willteach on "Engaging Wisdom and Compassion" at the Crisler Arena of the Universityof Michigan. The teaching is being co-sponsored by Jewel Heart, The Tibet Fund, and the Garrison Institute.The two-day educational program will be held in conjunction with a public talk, the Peter M. Wege Lecture on Sustainability, on environmental issues presented onApril 20th by the University of Michigan at the Crisler Arena in celebration of Earth Day.H. H. the Dalai Lama "Engaging Wisdom and Compassion"Crisler Arena, University of Michigan Campushttp://www.dalailamaannarbor.comSaturday, April 1910 AM - 12 PM2 PM - 4 PMSunday, April 2010 AM - 12 PM"Peter M. Wege Lecture on Sustainability"Crisler Arena, University of Michigan CampusSunday, April 202 PM - 4 PMTickets available from tickemaster.comor the University of Michigan Ticket Office (734-763-TKTS) - from $15 to $1000Special donor/sponsor seating available by contacting 734-994-3387 or dalailamaannarbor@jewelheart.org [mailto:dalailamaannarbor@jewelheart.org]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~www.JEWELHEART.ORG Jewel Heart 1129 Oak Valley Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48108 734-994-3387

Dojo Child Care Opportunity

The Dojo is looking for someone who is interested in taking on a part time job looking after some kids while the adults practice a few evenings a week. Please email me if you have anyone you know that may be interested in exploring this possibility!

Thanks,

- Jay (jayweik@gmail.com)

Suzuki Roshi

The author of "Zen Mind Beginners Mind" Youtube is amazing!

Perfect, Like Vast Space.

Perfect Like Vast Space
Jay Chikyo Weik presents a talk and leads a discussion at the Toledo Zen Center on December 19, 2007.

"The Way is perfect like vast space / where nothing is lacking and nothing is in excess. / Indeed, it is due to our choosing to accept or reject / that we do not see the true nature of things." -Seng T'san, Faith Mind

This newly posted Drinking Gourd Podcast also has some pointers on dealing with the Holidays!

Welcome Cindy and Tim

The sangha council gathered during last Sunday's Zazenkai and Ancestors retreat to receive the earnest partitions of Cindy and Tim. Thank you to all participants. We are all so blessed to able to meet each other in such a open hearted way. A formal entrance ceremony will be scheduled soon. Since this is our first one, we will include every one who has been a member of TZC up until this point. We also encourage those feeling the urge to acknowledge and deepen their relationship to Zen practice and TZC to meet with the council. This meeting will most likely be during the next workshop.

New Drinking Gourd Podcast Available: Obstacles to Practice (part 3 of 3)

Jay Chikyo Weik offers a presentation entitled "Obstacles to Practice (part 3 of 3)" given at the Toledo Zen Center on December 2, 2007.

"There are four basic ways that a bodhisattva will guide or help or engage sentient beings to the purpose of helping to relieve suffering. The first one is called Giving, the second one is Kind Speech, the third one is Beneficial Action, and the fourth one is called Identity Action."

Tea Ceremony Update

The time has been set for the tea ceremony that Simon has put in motion. It is to be Friday, February 29th, 2008, at 7:30 P.M. at the tea room on the BGSU campus. There is a $5 per person donation. Wearing kimono is OK if you have it, but if not, I would think casual clothing (not TOO casual!!) would be fine as long as it is not too tight, we are sitting on tatami, after all. Simon will provide a map before the event, as well as parking information. If you are not able to make it, please let me know ASAP. If there is room for others, we will take them on a first to let me know basis. I think there may be a cut off of 20, but I will find out if we still have the 24 pre-registered. Those still signed up are: Jay Sensei and Zuihan, Simon + spouse, Diana + spouse, Judith Winhoven, Chuck Greer, Angela Macek, Dale Winter, Bob Fiedler, Victor V., Jim Bier + spouse, Robert Jacoby, Danny Kline, Andre' (Muketsu), Leigh Macaro, Marilyn Halgrimson, Kristy Keaton Baird, Kristi Cooper, Greg and Tammy Cerilli, Gary Laderach + spouse.
You can reach me at chuckcg2@yahoo.com

Once Attached, We're Unaware.

"The awareness of mortals falls short. As long as they're attached to appearances, they're unaware that their minds are empty. And by mistakenly clinging to the appearance of things they lose the Way. If you know that everything comes from the mind, don't become attached. Once attached, you're unaware. But once you see your own nature, the entire Cannon becomes so much prose. Its thousands of sutras and shastras only amount to a clear mind. Understanding comes in midsentance. What good are doctrines?"

From 'The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma' Translated by Red Pine.
Online support for the Toledo Zen Center Buddhist community.

A Buddha Can't Be Found In Words.

"Even if you can explain thousands of sutras and shastras, unless you see your own nature yours is the teaching of a mortal, not a Buddha. The True Way is sublime. It can't be expressed in language. Of what use are scriptures? But someone who sees his own nature finds the Way, even if he can't read a word. Someone who sees his nature is a buddha. And since a buddha's body is intrinsically pure and unsullied, and everything he says is an expression of his mind, being basically empty, a buddha can't be found in words or anywhere in the Twelvefold Cannon."

From: The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma. Translated by Red Pine.
Supporting Buddhism in Toledo Ohio!

Miraculously Aware Nature

"Buddha is Sanskrit for what you call aware, miraculously aware. Responding, perceiving, arching your brows, blinking your eyes, moving your hands and feet, it's all your miraculously aware nature. And this nature is the mind. And the mind is the buddha. And the buddha is the path. And the path is zen. But the word zen is one that remains a puzzle to both mortals and sages. Seeing your nature is zen. Unless you see your nature, it's not zen."

From 'The Zen Teachings of Bodhidharma.' Translated by Red Pine.
Helping the flower of Buddhism to spout roots on the rock of Ohio!

Drinking Gourd Water Keepers initiative

The Toledo Zen Center and Shobu Aikido of Ohio in partnership with the MultiFaith Council of NW Ohio have begun the work of creating a collection program aimed at reducing the quantity of unused pharmaceuticals entering the environment and reducing the amount of drugs available for diversion, theft, or accidental poisoning.

If you would like to have a look at the conversations and progress that have happened to date or join the email group for this project please go to this Google Groups Page.

It is important that as a community of practice we reach out in meaningful ways to help the world around us, please get involved to whatever degree you can.  Even if you are nowhere near the Toledo area, your being in the loop with the google group is itself helpful.

Bows,

- Chikyo

The Smallest Thing

A talk from my teacher Myotai Sensei:

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Important Note: Because of technical issues, the first 5 minutes of this talk were not recorded. Kyoman managed to capture the remainder by using a room microphone. This solution wasn't ideal since the heating system was hissing & wheezing. Despite the ambient noise the bulk of the talk is listenable.

Obstacles to Practice (2 of 3)

Obstacles to Practice (part 2 of 3)

Jay Chikyo Weik offers a presentation entitled, "Obstacles to Practice," given at the Toledo Zen Center on December 2, 2007.

"Typically, what are taught as being the primary challenges or the main difficulties have to do with the six realms. In the center of those realms, there are three poisons that are providing the gravity that's holding these beings in these various realms of suffering. What those three poisons are called are Greed, Anger, and Ignorance."

Obstacles to Practice (1 of 3)

Obstacles to Practice (part 1 of 3)
Jay Chikyo Weik offers a presentation entitled, "Obstacles to Practice," given at the Toledo Zen Center on December 2, 2007.

"Today, our mission is to talk a little bit about the things that might get in the way of maintaining a spiritual practice; now that we have a sense of what the practice is, what kind of things arise that actually get in the way and obstruct and hinder us in that effort; and then some solutions. What can we do to help that?"

Posted at www.thedrinkinggourd.org

Shodo: the Way of Writing

The Asian Studies Program at BGSU has an upcoming exhibition of contemporary Japanese calligraphy, which runs between February 26 and March 18 (Mondays through Fridays 10am-5pm; Saturday, March 15, 12-5pm) at the McFall Gallery. There's also a calligraphy demonstration on March 17, from 5-6pm (followed by a reception until 8pm) and two calligraphy workshops on March 18 (11:30-12:45 and 4:00-6:00) in the McFall Assembly Room. For workshop reservations, call Akiko Jones at 419-372-7136.
I have a copy of this information on a poster, which I'll bring to the zendo, since I haven't found a way to upload it to the blog!