Deep Bows to Kevin, James, Melissa and David!

After our zazenkai retreat at Lourdes college, I was lucky to be able to travel to study with some really wonderful teachers.

First, I spent three days at St. Josephs Abbey in Spencer MA with Father Kevin Hunt Sensei. Kevin Jiun Hunt, OCSO, Sensei was certified as teacher of zen in 2005 by Roshi Robert Jinsen Kennedy, student of Bernard Tetsugen Glassman and Maezumi Roshi (White Plum Sangha). He is a deep and generous teacher of the Dharma, and can't say enough about being able to practice with him. Most of the time, I participated in the Cistercian Monastic schedule - which centers in the traditional western monastic practice of chanting the psalter. Once a day I was able to meet with Kevin in dokusan. In addition to the shikantaza/koan work we have been doing together, Kevin Sensei has a particular grasp of the Christian Mystical tradition and has helped me integrate my Catholic upbringing and the western traditions wisdom.

Then I joined the Boudless Way sangha for a three day sesshin held in New Hampshire. The sangha and teachers were most welcoming and the practice was wonderful. The three teachers James (not present in this picture), Melissa and David worked together as one with an incredibly generous spirit.

Deep Bows to all!

- Rin

A Post from Phil about Larry Smith

I’ve included the poem (italicized below) I received from Larry Smith; could you post it the blog (I asked him, of course, and he was happy for us to do so).

Here’s a link to the sitting group Larry is involved with: Converging Paths Sandusky Bay Meditation Center

And a link to the Amazon page for Larry’s The Kanshi Poems of Taigu Ryokan

Maybe you could post this too?

Thanks,

-P

Here's a morning poem...which might set the tone of my talk in Toledo this summer, so you know me.

Reclaiming the Sacred
“To me, poetry is being here with you.”
-Ko Un (Korean poet)

Again and again we sit
along the edge of day
in solitude together…
Listening to all
that’s not being said:
mute heart’s song of silence,
soft breath of wind inside us.
-Larry

Larry Smith
BGSU Firelands College

Photos from TZC retreat and our travels

Retreat Prep Help?

If anyone is able, please meet at the zendo at 1pm to help transport things to the retreat site. Please leave a comment below if you are planning to help out.

Bows,

- Rin

Zazenkai - Weekend Intensive April 17-19

Some information on the upcoming TZC Community Retreat:

Location:

Regina Center on the campus of the Sisters of St. Francis, Sylvania, Ohio at Lourdes College.

A Pdf map is HERE We are in building 17, just behind building 12 on this map. General directions to the Lourdes College campus are HERE.

What to Bring:

Bowl (Cereal bowl size), Napkin, Coffee/Tea Mug, Spoon. Zafu & Zabuton (bring extras if you have them). Toiletries.
No books or reading material.

How to Register:

Send an email to Rinsen@toledozen.org, leave a comment to this post, or call (419) 861-1163.

Schedule:


Friday

05:30-06:00pm Check in
06:00pm Orientation
07:00pm Precautions/Opening Comments
07:30pm Kinhin
07:40pm Zazen
08:10pm Kinhin
08:20pm Zazen/Bodhisattvha Vows/Evening Gatha



Saturday

06:00am Wake up
06:30am Zazen
07:00am Kinhin
07:10am Zazen
07:40am Kinhin
07:50am Zazen/Verse of the Kesa
08:30am Morning Liturgy
08:50am Morning Meal
09:35am Caretaking
10:50am Zazen
11:20am Kinhin
11:30am Zazen
12:00pm Afternoon Liturgy
12:20pm Midday Meal
01:00pm Rest Practice
02:00pm Zazen
02:30pm Kinhin
02:40pm Zazen
03:10pm Kinhin
03:30pm Rinsen's Talk
03:50pm Practice Discussion
04:10pm Extended Outside Kinhin (Weather Permitting)
04:30pm Zazen
05:00 Evening Liturgy
05:20pm Evening Meal
06:00pm Rest Practice
07:00pm Zazen
07:30pm Kinhin
07:40pm Zazen
08:10pm Kinhin
08:20pm Zazen/Bodhisattvha Vows/Evening Gatha
09:00pm Open Zendo
09:30pm Lights Out


Sunday

06:00am Wake Up
06:30am Dawn Zazen
07:00am Kinhin
07:10am Zazen/Verse of the Kesa
07:50am Kinhin
08:00am Open Sozan
08:30am Daikaijo
08:40am Informal Breakfast
09:35am Caretaking
10:00am Morning Service
10:30am Zazen
11:00am Kinhin
11:10am Rinsen's Talk
12:oopm Finish

Please note that a few have asked if they may join in a portion of this schedule, and the answer is that while participation in the whole weekend is preferable, you may join for any part of the retreat, so yes. We just need to know in advance so that arrangements can be made for you. If you would like to do a part of this retreat, leave a comment below, and be sure to include your email address so we can be in touch to confirm the detials.


Cost:

Dana of $155.00 for the weekend covers retreat fees, room and board.

Current Participant List:

Jay Rinsen Weik- All
Karen Do'on Weik- All
Elizabeth Jun'en Allen - All
Simon Monsho Morgan-Russell- All
Angela Macek -All
Timothy Okapal - All
Philip Andrew Dickinson - All
Rob Bondy - All
Donna Diekoff- ?
Anne Marie Fauser - All
Rob Bondy - All
Victor Van Deilen - All
Jim Sorensen - All
Joya D'Cruz - All
Travis Ross - All
Ron Waxell - All
Kirk Kennedy - All
Joel Devonshire- All
Sara Worley - All
Deb Goldberg - Sun
Hadgu Hadgu - Fri
Andy Lesniewicz- Saturday
Susan Purviance - Fri, Sat.
Eric Knapp - Sun
Leigh - Sat pm, Sun
Mark Hollyday - ?

Bodhdharma's Shoe

A nice 23 minute documentary about Zen retreats. Thanks to James Ford for sharing it on his blog Monkey Mind.

The Loving Wood

when some say winter
heaven and earth shake

others curse it
search in vain
for spring

the forest bed
holds it all

so quiet

as dragons
and snakes

find
their
way

Picture from the Circle of the Lotus Retreat

Practicing Nia at the end of the day.