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Greetings!
We all want to be happy. It's important when starting
Zen practice to find some relative sense of
happiness. The key to this is eventually seeing
through the illusion of self that we have constructed.
But this realization can take years of
practice.
Because of our deep conditioning, we are easily
caught by reactive, habitual patterns of behavior. So
it is important to address this in the beginning by
developing some good spiritual habits. A steady diet
of zazen will serve us well.
Other disciplines may also be useful. Perhaps therapy is
required to work through strong conditioning. Regular
visits to the gym or yoga practice can be an amazing
attitude
adjuster.
Happiness seems to allude us as long as we follow
the path of self. We assume happiness means doing
whatever we want. But happiness has more to do
with seeing through the illusion of the self we have
constructed, and making commitments and vows to
walk a path of liberation from self.
We might then be surprised to find that showing up to
do samu work practice on a Friday evening after a full
day of work, when we are tired and just want to be
horizontal, could be a surprising source of
happiness.
Facing our fears. Extending ourselves. Trusting our own
basic sanity and wholesomeness is the path we walk
together. If we start with a good spiritual foundation of
zazen and precepts, we plant the seed of happiness
that continues to grow in the soil of our lives and those
around us.
with much care and respect, Joshin Sensei
| David Loy Dharma Talk, Sunday, March 11 |
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David Loy, highly respected scholar and Zen teacher,
author of "The Great Awakening: a Buddhist Social
Theory", will give a dharma talk at the Zen Community
Sunday program on March 11.
The Sunday 9:00-11:00 am program includes
zazen, a service and the dharma talk followed by a time
for fellowship.
Everyone is welcome.
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| Zen Practice 1: Entering the Way, Sun., Mar. 4 |
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The Zen Community offers a class teaching beginning
meditation from 8 to 9 am on
Sunday morning, Mar. 4. The class is followed by our
regular
Sunday program from 9 to 11 am.
Cost is $25
Register online or call ZCOP office at 708.445.1651
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| Zen Practice 2: Refining Your Life, Sun., Mar 18 |
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The Zen Community offers a one hour class from 8 to 9 am on
Sunday morning, that
provides more information on the nature of Zen training at the
Zen Community of Oak Park. Some topics covered are, the
student-teacher relationship, services, sesshin retreats,
precepts, koan study and zendo procedures.
Zen Practice 1 is a re-requisite. Cost is $25
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| Samu Work Practice, Friday, Mar. 2, 30: 7 to 8:30 pm |
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The Zen Community invites you to support the
community by doing samu work practice to clean the temple
building and grounds. We will do this work practice from now
on, once or twice a month. Such work practice is an integral
part of our Zen training so we encourage everyone to come and
participate.
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| Joshin Sensei Speaks at DePaul University |
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Joshin Sensei will give a talk titled "Descending the
Mountain: a Spiritual Path for Troubled Times" on
Tuesday, March 6 from 7 to 9 pm. The talk will be given
at DePaul University Student Center (Belden between
Kenmore and Sheffield), Room 101 (Reflection Room).
The talk is hosted by Lincoln Park Zen, an
integral part of the Ten Directions Zen Community in the
Great Chicago area and the international Kwan Um
School of Zen.
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| Coming Home Coalition meets Sat. Mar. 24 at 2 pm |
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The Coming Home Coalition will meet at the Zen
Community on Saturday, March 24 at 2 pm. Dr. Jeanne
Douglas, the Director of the Oak Park Vet Center will
come make a presentation to the group about local
veterans' needs.
This is an ongoing group that is planning to host a
series of pilot projects in the future that will be designed
to support veterans and veterans' families.
Everyone is welcome.
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| Support the Zen Comunity of Oak Park |
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Make an online contribution today.
The Zen Community of Oak Park is a 501 (c)(3)
non-profit organization so your donation here to the
Zen Community is fully tax deductible
$
USD
Learn More
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Inner Disarmament Practice Group |
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On Saturday, March 17 at 2 pm there will be an Inner
Disarmament practice group at the Zen Community of
Oak Park. Various kinds of role plays will be used
along with group discussions to practice pro-active,
integral communication skills. These involve
expressing our truth respectfully and inquiring into
the other's perspective with empathy and openness.
As anyone knows who has taken this workshop, it's
not enough to appreciate these communication skills
and principles intellectually. They have to be
practiced. This is your chance. Everyone is welcome!
There is no cost, but a dana donation is requested to
support the Zen Community.
More:
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