Heroic Spirit

Here is the latest Podcast from the Drinking Gourd and the Toledo Zen Center.

Ango

Although the details are not set, I am very excited to tell everyone that TZC is going to be having its first Ango in the new year.

Ango is a tradition that dates back to the time of the Buddha, before there was a tradition of established monasteries. Monks at that time were travellers, but during the monsoon season, they would gather together and practice intensively as a group.

In modern Western Zen communities, this usually takes to form of a period of 3 weeks to 3 months in which practitioners make a public commitments to intensify their sitting.

How it will look for our Zen family has not been outlined, but in general people intensify their sitting practice, participate in more retreats (zazenkais and sesshins) as well as other forms such as art practice.

Ango has always struck me as Zen's Lent or Advent.

Rev. Do-on will be the shuso for this first Ango. a Shuso is a senior practitioner that is set up as a model of practice during the Ango. For the Shuso, Ango often culminates with them giving their first dharma talk and the concluding sesshin. (Granted, Rev. Do-on has already given many talks, but this is a beautiful place to start for the TZC family).

What will this mean for AZMG? Julie and I will be participating to be sure. We will be coordinating AZMG's first Zazenkai with the start of Ango, and are trying to work out the details of doing Skype interviews with Rinsen. There may also be an opportunity to travel to Toledo for their Zazenkais or to use technology to see the talks given there LIVE.

Once more details are hammered out on their end, the nature of our ability to participate will be clarified.

In the meantime, we will be sitting this Tuesday night. Afterwards we will discuss the upcoming Ango and the plans for our own Zaznekai.

Keep well.

Zazenkai Cancelled

Hi all,

I am sorry to announce that the Zazenkai has had to be cancelled for this weekend. The Weiks have had some illness in their family and have had to make that the priority. We are still planing on travelling down for the Sesshin in December, although I won't be able to stay al the way through. See you this Tuesday.

Upcoming Zazenkai in Toledo

On December 4th, the Toledo Zen Center is holding a Zazenkai. This is a half day intensive sit that includes private interview with a teacher, a Dharma Talk and lots of meditation time. It begins with regular Sunday Service held at the center and goes forward from there.

Suggested contributions for is $35. ($25 for seniors, pledging members and young students).

A number of us from the AZMG are planning on going to this.

The Three Levels of Dealing With People

Extending the Practice.

The starting point and heart of authentic Zen practice is Zazen. This is inescapable. Until sitting takes root in a practitioners life, the obstacles that prevent us from manifesting the practice in our daily activities seem insurmountable.

So, we are very happy to announce that AZMG will be expanding its schedule to meet twice each month.

Although we are in silence, there is a strength in sitting together. The presence and efforts of others lends us strength on the cushion. This is a very important resource to developing home practice.

It is important to be able to sit regularly on your own, but attempting to do this in complete isolation can be very difficult. Checking in with a community can help to renew our intention and resolve.

With so many more opportunities to come and sit with our community, I hope you can take advantage of it.

See you soon.

New Drinking Gourd Podcast

This is a the latest Podcast released from the Toledo Zen Center.