Thursday, April 25, 2013

Dual Ceremonies this Spring


Spring is in the air, and new growth and new beginnings are the hallmarks of the season.  In just a few short weeks, the Order of the Boundless Way will experience a growth spurt of its own, with an ordination ceremony and dedication in the Eastern United States.
On Thursday, May 16th, Marc Paine of Rogers, Arkansas, Harry Hale of Springtown, Texas, and Ken Zen Bodhi of Winchester, Virginia, will each be gifted the robe and the bowl in a ceremony at Southwind Yoga Studio in Rogers, Arkansas. Having respectively completed their apprenticeships under the tutelage of Koro Kaisan Miles, Steve Hodo Thompson and Ron Muji Brickey, each will be recognized by their teachers, receiving their dharma names and vestments as Wayfarers in the Order of the Boundless Way.
 On Friday, May 17th, the celebrants will make pilgrimage to the new mountain homestead of Steve Hodo Thompson in Edgar Springs, Missouri, for the dedication of Dragon Fly Hermitage and the future home of Empty Mind Zendo. These will be the first events the Order has held in the eastern U.S., and there will be a number of other related events in the Rogers area leading up to the ceremonies.
As usual, any and all members and friends of the Order are invited and encouraged to attend these events and welcome Marc, Harry and Ken into their new Dharma Family. See the schedule below for details, and direct any questions to: boundlessmindzen@yahoo.com.
 
Tuesday, May 14
7:00pm – 8:00pm Evening Meditation at Southwind Yoga in Rogers
Wednesday, May 15
7:00am-7:30am Morning Meditation at Southwind Yoga in Rogers
11:00am – 3:00pm Meditation, Hiking, and Picnic Lunch at Devil's Den
4:00pm – Tea at Fayetteville Soto Zen Center
6:00pm – Evening Liturgy at Morning Star Zen Center in Fayetteville
Thursday, May 16
7:00am-7:30am Morning Meditation at Southwind Yoga in Rogers
1:00pm Lunch with ATA Martial Arts of Bentonville
8:00pm Ordination Liturgy at Southwind Yoga in Rogers
Friday, May 17
7:00 Leave Rogers for Edgar Springs, Missouri
11:00-4:00 Prepare for Dragonfly Hermitage Dedication
4:00 Dragonfly Hermitage Empty Mind Zendo Ground Breaking Dedication
5:00 Prepare Dinner
6:00 Dinner
7:00 Social Time
Saturday, May 18
Empty Mind Zendo Morning Service
 6:45 Call to Zazen
7:00-7:10 Morning verses (Heart Sutra and reading from the Dharmapada)
7:10-7:40 Sitting Meditation (Zazen)
7:40-7:55 Kinhin (Walking Meditation)
7:55-8:25 Sitting Meditation (Zazen)
8:30-9:30 Tea Ceremony flowed by a Dharma talk and discussion.

Monday, April 8, 2013

Open Gate Zendo Spring Sesshin



It’s Spring again and time for the Open Gatte Zendo 2013 Spring Sesshin. This year’s retreat will be held on Saturday May 11th and Sunday 12th.  Dharma Brother Mike Furst, will be attending as part of  his annual visit from Beijing China, where he leads the Empty Cloud Chan Sangha. Mike will be giving a Dharma Talk and telling us what it is like to be and American Leading a Zen group in China. The Sesshin begins officially on Saturday morning, however anyone attending is welcome to come Friday evening and spend the night in the zendo, otherwise non-resident attendees should try to arrive around 7:00 am on Saturday.

As usual, there will be an informal breakfast with social time Saturday morning, but otherwise we will be following our traditional sesshin schedule and etiquette. There is no fee for attending sesshin, but donations to help pay for food and heating costs are greatly appreciated. Mattresses will be provided for those who wish to remain in residence for the duration of the sesshin, but if you plan to stay you should bring your own additional bedding.

Please e-mail opengatezendo@msn.com to confirm your plans to attend, as we need an accurate head count for buying food stuffs.

2013 Spring Sesshin

Saturday Schedule

7:00-7:15 Arrive for Sesshin
7:15-Call to Zazen (Plank drum (Han) roll)
7:30-8:00 One period of Zazen
8:00-8:05 Incense Ceremony
8:05-9:00 Informal Breakfast in Hojo
9:00-9:30 Break and kitchen cleanup
9:15- Call to Zazen (Han roll)
9:30-10:45 Two periods of Zazen alternated with Kinhin
9:30-10:45 Dokusan (one on one meeting with the teacher) by rotation.
10:45-12:30 Samu (work period- clean up, yard work, meal preparation)
12:30- Call to Lunch (Han roll)
12:45-1:45 Lunch ceremony (Oryoki)
1:45-2:15 Break and kitchen cleanup
2:00- Call to Zazen (Han roll)
2:15-3:30 Two periods of Zazen alternated with Kinhin
3:30-4:30 Angya practice. (monk procession walk)
4:30- Call to Zazen (Han roll)
4:45-5:15 One period Zazen
5:15-6:15 Dinner ceremony (Oryoki)
6:15-6:45 Break and kitchen cleanup
6:30- Call to Zazen (Han roll)
6:45-8:00 Two periods of Zazen alternated with Kinhin
8:00 -8:50 Tea ceremony & Teisho (teaching)
8:50- Closing ceremony
9:00- Prepare for bed or leave for the night.
9:00 Konsho (striking the evening bell)

Sunday Schedule

7:00-7:15 Arrive for Sesshin
7:15-Call to Zazen (Plank drum (Han) roll)
7:30-8:00 One period of Zazen
8:00-8:05 Incense Ceremony
8:05-9:00 Breakfast ceremony (Oryoki)
9:00-9:30 Break and kitchen cleanup
9:15- Call to Zazen (Han roll)
9:30-10:45 Two periods of Zazen alternated with Kinhin
9:30-10:45 Dokusan (one on one meeting with the teacher) by rotation.
10:45-11:45 Samu (work period), meal preparation and/or exercise.
11:45- Call to Lunch (Han roll)
12:00-1:00 Lunch ceremony (Oryoki)
1:00-1:30 Break and kitchen cleanup
1:15- Call to Zazen (Han roll)
1:30-2:45 Two periods of Zazen alternated with Kinhin
2:45-3:00 Short Break
3:00-3:55 Tea Ceremony, Teisho/Group Discussion
3:55 Closing ceremony
4:00 Konsho (striking the evening bell)