Encountering the Ancestors Retreat this Sunday May 18th

TZC will be hosting its monthly retreat this Sunday, May 18th.

As usual, there will be open zendo sitting from 9 to noon, and the afternoon workshop will be from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm. This time around, we will be working with the teachings of Yung-chia (J. Yoka) entitled "Song of the Way."


A brief Excerpt:

"Haven't you net someone seasoned in the Way of Ease,
a person with nothng to do and nothing to master,
who neither rejects thought nor seeks truth?
The real nature of ignorance is buddha-nature itself.
The empty, illusory body is the very body of the Dharma.
When the Dharma-body is realized, there's nothing at all.
The original nature of all things is innately Buddha.
Elements of the self come and go like clouds, without purpose.
Greed, hate, and delusion appear and disappear like ocean foam.
When you reach the heart of reality, you find neither self nor other,
and even the worst kind of karma dissolves at once."


Yung-chias teaching speaks directly to the condition of our very lives in the 21st century, and points us again and again to the awakened mind and the joyful heart. The 1:30 - 4:30 pm afternoon workshop is open to the public.

I hope to see you on Sunday!

- Rinsen Chikyo

Zen Scribe?

I need help in transcribing some of the talks that I gave at the last two Shobu Okugyo Aikido retreats as well as some of the Ddrinking Gourd Podcast material. If you would be able to volunteer some time to help with the project please let me know. I'm hoping to shape some of these into a more formal book format over the summer.

Thanks,

- Rinsen Chikyo

The Virtue of Non-Doing

New Drinking Gourd Podcast

Jay Rinsen Chikyo Weik presents a talk and leads a discussion at the Toledo Zen Center on March 5, 2008.

"The wise have nothing to do, while the unwise tie themselves in knots." —Relying on Mind, Seng-ts'an

This talk works with some of the similarities of Taoist teachings with those of Zen.

Erik sighting

Unfortunately the rigors of children in soccer, being a soccer coach for 3 and 4 years olds and a son in baseball, have kept me away fom the Zendo lately. Wanted to take a brief moment to mention that thinking of you all and hope your practice is fruitful. Looking forward to returning in the near future. Of potential interest to the Sangha, I will be attending a two day Big Mind retreat with Genpo Roshi in Miami, during the month of July at the Center for Integral Living. Hope to be able to share my experiences upon my return. As always, take care, and live well...

Mind Science with the Dali Lama