Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Daruma (Bodhidharma) and the Doll
For those unable to attend on Sunday, it was a great morning of sitting and the talk by Chikyo on Bodhidharma was wonderful.
The First Patriarch is still part of today's Japanese culture. It is a popular custom in Japan to get a "Daruma Doll" for special intentions; see link here for a company that sells the dolls, plus an explanation and interesting links. Basically, you purchase or are given a doll painted in the likeness of Daruma (the Japanese transliteration of Dharma), and it is legless, eyeless, and armless (which is what some imagine happened when he meditated for nine straight years!). However, the doll is weighted on the bottom and when tipped over always rights itself. You make a wish or a vow, fill in one of the blank eyes, then fill in the other when the wish is fulfilled.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
The Weik Family Record 1-1: Solar System & 3 Family Practices!
Isabella finished a homeschool project on the Solar System today so we thought we would share it along with three of our Family Peace Practices: The Family Kiss, The Family Hug, and Voicing Gratitude.
Enjoy,
-Chikyo, Zuihan & Isabella!
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Open your heart and your mind
It is not my intent to offend anyones sense of the reality of our current existence though I am fully aware that this might do just that. I am a firm believer that the reason why so many people are unhappy is the fact that we are living within the bounds of a emotionally destructive civilization built upon and dependent on the continuous suffering of the masses. This is the age of information and I would like to share what I feel is an important informational work called "zeitgeist". In a sense the matrix does exist - If you decide to take the red pill go check out http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/index.html. It also exists as a google streaming video at http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5547481422995115331&q=zeitgeist&total=2537&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0
If you choose the blue pill then please ignore this post.
-Bob
If you choose the blue pill then please ignore this post.
-Bob
Article on Buddhism in Japan
"Funky Monks" was the frontpage headline for this news story in today's Guardian (a daily English newspaper). I thought TZC people might be interested (or maybe "intrigued" might be a better word!).
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Cha-no-yu
The Japanese tea ceremony (茶道, chadō, or sadō, or chanoyu - "the way of tea") is a traditional ritual based on Taoism (Daoism) and influenced by Zen Buddhism in which powdered green tea, or matcha (抹茶), is ceremonially prepared by a skilled practitioner and served to a small group of guests in a tranquil setting.
Simon Morgan-Russell is a member of the Toledo Zen Group and a professor and administrator at BGSU. He has spoken with Akiko Kawano Jones, lecturer at BGSU in Asian Studies, who is also a tea ceremony practitioner, about having a tea ceremony at the Japanese tea room that is a part of the BGSU campus. There is room for about 20 guests. There will be a small donation, to be announced. Please post a comment to this posting if you are interested. There will also be a sign up sheet at the dojo/zendo. Please indicate your name(s) and any dates you are available starting in February on Friday evenings only, and for the next four or five weeks; we will then pick a date, contact Ms. Jones, and set a date. Any questions or comments, see me.
Domo arigatou gozaimasu
Monday, January 7, 2008
Hermitage Heart Newsletter
Toledo Sangha -
Below is copied the text from a year end email from Myotai Sensei.
- Chikyo
"The bud/stands for all things,/ even for those things that do not flower,/ for everything flowers, from within, of self-blessing;/ though sometimes it is necessary to reteach a thing its loveliness,/ to put a hand on the brow/ of the flower and retell it in words and in touch it is lovely/ until it flowers again from within, of self-blessing"
—from St. Francis and the Sow," by Galway Kinnell
Dear Sangha,
Warm greetings at the turning of 2007 to 2008. I hope this letter finds you peaceful and well. I wanted to take a moment to share some news of the last year in Hermitage Heart, as well as several wonderful developments ahead of us as we look forward…
2007 saw Hermitage Heart establish a pattern of retreats at Garrison Institute, the Franciscan Center, and St Mary-in-the-Highlands, augmented by Home Hermitages. During hermitage practice, we connected from all around the world for dharma talks and mondo by conference call, and to light virtual candles together on-line. We held our first week-long Rohatsu sesshin, and second overnight vigil commemorating the Buddha's awakening. Precept retreats preliminary to the upcoming jukai began. Fall was an Ango of retreats and practices, and we also recognized our first shuso, Jay Chikyo Weik, who gave a talk and responded spontaneously to practice questions from the sangha. The Bodies of Water School (BOWS) was launched, and we gathered for a beautiful evening of ceremony and study at the extraordinary Water Exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History.
We also established an small office for Hermitage Heart in Cold Spring, very near the train stop, and even before the furniture got in the room, students began coming from the city and elsewhere for meetings. With a view of one tree out the window, it is also a good writing space. In the spring, I received a contract from HH, transitioning formally from my poverty vows to the simplicity vows of priest/clergy, beginning to contribute to Social Security and, next year, hopefully a small pension plan. The Board of Directors has held several productive meetings and enjoys working together, and we've recently begun working with an advisor to non-profits from Community Resource Exchange, which is proving very helpful.
There were also several nice ceremonies during the year…My wedding on September 2 to Rob Work involved 3 officiants and 165 guests…we're still smiling… I was also honored to officiate the wedding of sangha member Seikan Israel and Bina Altera. With Rev. Trudi Jinpu Hirsch, I gave a talk and blessing at the Farm Animal Sanctuary in Woodstock. Coming up on Saturday, January 12th there is the opportunity to lead the Blessing of the Waters in New York City, initiating the "Rivers of Life" program series at the American Museum of Natural History. http://www.amnh.org/programs/specials/livinginamerica/
And so, into the New Year! First, some initial dates:
Precepts Week Initiation Ceremony: April 8-13 at Skylake Lodge in Rosendale, NY.
- eligible Hermitage Heart Students will be contacted with registration and participation details shortly.
Spring Ango Opening: Sunday, March 16, St. Mary's, Cold Spring, NY
Home Hermitage: Friday-Saturday, February 22-23, March 21-22
Sesshins at the Garrison Institute, Garrison , NY: May 7-11, August 6-11, October 1-5
(please note that our Winter sesshin scheduled for Jan30-Feb.3, has been cancelled.)
In Gassho,
Myotai Sensei
Below is copied the text from a year end email from Myotai Sensei.
- Chikyo
"The bud/stands for all things,/ even for those things that do not flower,/ for everything flowers, from within, of self-blessing;/ though sometimes it is necessary to reteach a thing its loveliness,/ to put a hand on the brow/ of the flower and retell it in words and in touch it is lovely/ until it flowers again from within, of self-blessing"
—from St. Francis and the Sow," by Galway Kinnell
Dear Sangha,
Warm greetings at the turning of 2007 to 2008. I hope this letter finds you peaceful and well. I wanted to take a moment to share some news of the last year in Hermitage Heart, as well as several wonderful developments ahead of us as we look forward…
2007 saw Hermitage Heart establish a pattern of retreats at Garrison Institute, the Franciscan Center, and St Mary-in-the-Highlands, augmented by Home Hermitages. During hermitage practice, we connected from all around the world for dharma talks and mondo by conference call, and to light virtual candles together on-line. We held our first week-long Rohatsu sesshin, and second overnight vigil commemorating the Buddha's awakening. Precept retreats preliminary to the upcoming jukai began. Fall was an Ango of retreats and practices, and we also recognized our first shuso, Jay Chikyo Weik, who gave a talk and responded spontaneously to practice questions from the sangha. The Bodies of Water School (BOWS) was launched, and we gathered for a beautiful evening of ceremony and study at the extraordinary Water Exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History.
We also established an small office for Hermitage Heart in Cold Spring, very near the train stop, and even before the furniture got in the room, students began coming from the city and elsewhere for meetings. With a view of one tree out the window, it is also a good writing space. In the spring, I received a contract from HH, transitioning formally from my poverty vows to the simplicity vows of priest/clergy, beginning to contribute to Social Security and, next year, hopefully a small pension plan. The Board of Directors has held several productive meetings and enjoys working together, and we've recently begun working with an advisor to non-profits from Community Resource Exchange, which is proving very helpful.
There were also several nice ceremonies during the year…My wedding on September 2 to Rob Work involved 3 officiants and 165 guests…we're still smiling… I was also honored to officiate the wedding of sangha member Seikan Israel and Bina Altera. With Rev. Trudi Jinpu Hirsch, I gave a talk and blessing at the Farm Animal Sanctuary in Woodstock. Coming up on Saturday, January 12th there is the opportunity to lead the Blessing of the Waters in New York City, initiating the "Rivers of Life" program series at the American Museum of Natural History. http://www.amnh.org/programs/specials/livinginamerica/
And so, into the New Year! First, some initial dates:
Precepts Week Initiation Ceremony: April 8-13 at Skylake Lodge in Rosendale, NY.
- eligible Hermitage Heart Students will be contacted with registration and participation details shortly.
Spring Ango Opening: Sunday, March 16, St. Mary's, Cold Spring, NY
Home Hermitage: Friday-Saturday, February 22-23, March 21-22
Sesshins at the Garrison Institute, Garrison , NY: May 7-11, August 6-11, October 1-5
(please note that our Winter sesshin scheduled for Jan30-Feb.3, has been cancelled.)
In Gassho,
Myotai Sensei
Friday, January 4, 2008
2008 Sesshin Dates with Myotai Sensei
Myotai Sensei will be holding Sesshin in the New York area on the following dates in 2008: May 7-11, Aug 6-10, and Oct 1-5.
You can register for these powerful retreats at www.hermitageheart.org I sincerly encourage all TZC sangha to make the effort to join Zuihan, Isabella and I in a Dharma road trip to at least one of these retreats in 08 - you will be glad you did!
If you plan for it now, you can do it!
New Drinking Gourd Podcast!
Giving
"From Master Dogen's Bodhidharma Shisoho: 'Giving means non greed.' This has to do with not just a physical thing.... In the dharma, the giving can be vastly more encompassing than material things. 'Giving means non-greed. Non-greed means not to covet. Not to covet means not to curry favor.... It is to give away unneeded belongings to someone you don’t know, to offer flowers blooming on a distant mountain to the womb of suchness itself, or to offer treasures you had in your former life to sentient beings.'"
From the talk and discussion with Chikyo at the Toledo Zen Center on November 21, 2007. Click on the Drinking Gourd Icon to the left to listen to the podcast.
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