Theme: Facing Fear through
Loving Compassion
Hi Everyone,
We will be holding a weekend
retreat at "Silky Oak Zendo" 26th, 27th and 28th of February, 2016.
This retreat is for all of our
regulars and friends and so all are welcome to attend.
The retreat is being held at
Silky Oak Zen's new Zendo:
3/63 Webb St East Gosford NSW.
Please park on the Street.
About our Theme
Loving-kindness (Metta/Maitri)
is the experience of having friendly and loving relationship towards ourselves
and others. It’s also the practice of loving experience without the suffering
that arises from attachment.
In truth, many of us harbour
harsh thoughts and feelings about ourselves. We experience these feelings to a
greater or lesser degree and sometimes they are greatly amplified. These
negative thoughts and feelings can be so overwhelming, that it can be difficult
to see where there is even a skilful way out.
In practice, ‘all troubled
doors’ can be closed with the practice of Zen. In our daily lives, we use the
fruits of Zen practice to not harshly judge ourselves - to be gentle and kind -
as we are - here and now.
We can remember one of Buddha’s
teachings that we can search the whole tenfold Universe, but we will still not
find a single Being more deserving of our Loving-kindness than the one right
here.
“Searching all directions
with your awareness, you find no one dearer than yourself. In the same way,
others are dear to themselves. So you shouldn't hurt others if you love
yourself”……………………………The Rājan Sutta
The regular practice of
loving-kindness and right speech, lifts our self-esteem and promotes our
well-being, and this in turn lifts the well-being of all those around us.
In this retreat we have the
aspiration to apply loving kindness to our own daily lives, as we interrelate
with all beings.
Ordinations
We will also be celebrating
some ordinations during the retreat. Some of our regular members are stepping
up to enhance their own journey of practice. Our aspirants: Ashwin Bhatt,
Steve Allan and Don Anderson will be ordained into The Mugendo Zen Kai (The
Order of the Boundless Way).
This will be a very special and
welcoming experience, so please come along and celebrate with our wonderful
friends, who are taking this next step on their path. The ordination ceremony
is also a meditative and contemplative experience and a benefit to all in
practice on retreat.
Any family, friends etc, please
arrive around 9.30am.
Also please bring your
phone/camera or video camera if you wish to take photos and record the event.
Retreat Schedule
Friday Evening Session
6.30pm Formal Opening of the
Retreat
6:45pm One Period of Zazen 7.15 Kinhin walk
7.50 Meditation – Metta/Maitri – Self Care
8.30 Tea/Teisho (DharmaTalk-Steve)
9.00 Close and return home for a peaceful sleep
Saturday Schedule:
Morning Session
7:00 Arrive (Chosho -morning
bell tolled 9 times)
7:15-Call to Zazen - (Moktok) 7:30-8:00 One period of Zazen (Chosan- first morning meditation)
8.00-8.30 Chanting and Recitation Service
8:30- Kitchen aids prepare Genkan for breakfast- bring out trays and toaster :-)
8:30-9:15 Breakfast ceremony “Mindful Eating - Silence for the first 30 minutes”
9:15-9:30 Break and kitchen clean up.
Second Morning Session
9.30 am Bells, Drums and
Procession to the Zendo
9.45 am Traditional wooden
tapping (Moktok) and Bell
10.00 am "Ordination
Ceremony" All Welcome
11.30 am Closing Mantra and
photos
12.00 Noon: Lunch and Photos East
Gosford Japanese Gardens. (Table is booked)
Afternoon Session
1:30 to 2.30 Anya walk –
Takuhatsu hats –optional (Bush Walk)
Return to Zendo
3.00-3.30 One period of Zazen
3.30-4:00 Tea/Teisho (Don-
Dharma Talk) 4:15-Closing - Konsho (striking the evening bell) tolled 9 times _/|\_
4.30 Close and return home for a peaceful sleep
Sunday Morning Session
7.00 Metta/Maitri Practice
7.30 Kinhin walk 8.00 One period of Zazen
8.30 Tea/ Teisho (Ashwin-Dharma Talk)
8.45 Informal breakfast and Discussion
10:00 Samu (work period)
10:30 One Period of Zazen
11.00 Metta/Maitri Closing Meditation
Notes:
The retreat is about practice
and friendship. You are welcome to come along to some or all of the retreat.
The Friday night session would be helpful if you are new to practice and are
wishing to participate in Saturday or Sunday. Friday night also sets the theme
for the weekend. Gentle guidance will also be ongoing throughout the retreat.
There are no dues or fees for
the retreat, but any small donation to keep our centre running would be
gratefully accepted. The donation box is in the Zendo (meditation hall).
Please wear blacks or dark
colours to limit distraction. OBW clergy please wear full robes and Rakusu.
Members please wear your mala.
Please do not wear perfumes or
colognes. We also don’t use incense at Silky Oak and our candles are made from
natural products.
Please bring a plate to share
for breakfast on the Saturday.
Lunch will be at the Japanese
Gardens (East Gosford) on Saturday so please bring a little money for that.
We
will do the Anya (Bush Walk) straight after at "Rumbalara Reserve"
(It's the "Grass Tree Walk" this time), so please bring walking shoes
and a hat. There are only limited Takuhatsu (hats) available, so anyone wishing
to purchase their own ahead of time, please contact Hoka Matt at
mlawther@hotmail.com. Otherwise any hat will do.
If you have any questions about
the retreat, please contact Hoka Matt on 0401 231 251 or Seido Merelyn on 0414
819 136
Everything has been
pre-planned, so please just come along and enjoy. We would be grateful if you
could RSVP when possible, just so we can work out space and numbers.
Please forward this email to
all friends or practitioners who may be interested.
In Loving Kindness
Jishin Hoka (Matt) Silky Oak Zen
