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Greetings!
This last weekend, I ordained June Ryushin Kaililani
Tanoue in a Shukke Tokudo ceremony. She is the
second priest I have ordained. Last year I ordained
Susie Reiju Dorian in Hawaii. In August I will ordain Jill
Teiho Wagner at Daifukuji Soto Mission.
There are different implications to ordination, but I think
the most important thing to appreciate is that this is a
deep commitment and aspiration to accomplish the path
of a Bodhisattva. The Bodhisattva vow is to liberate and
heal suffering wherever it occurs in the human heart.
Another implication is that of what's called "home
leaving". One is said to give up one's family and
home when one becomes a monk, which is often the
case in Asia, but I think here in the West, it is
important to balance this with an appreciation of
family and home. In our White Plum tradition, preists
are not monks or nuns. We are allowed to marry and
have families, but still we should try to be mindful of
serving our families and also arrange our lives so
that we can also be in service to the sangha
community.
It has been a live question now for many years in our
lineage just what is a priest and how is a priest
different from a lay person. I think a priest is
empowered both by the preceptor that gives them
ordination, and also in some ways, by the sangha as
well, to oversee and officiate important rites of
passage in the life of the community. Some of these
rituals include regular services, weddings, memorial
services, jizo services and other services for special
occasions.
I have developed a three year training program that
allows trainees time to grow into the role of being a
priest, for the sangha to acknowledge and accept them
in this role, and for they themselves to activate an inner
archetype of priest in their own life. As part of this
process they also connect to our White Plum Lineage.
So the most important point is that this is not a position
of engendered privilege but of service to the sangha
and the world. This service will take different forms for
each priest, depending on their life circumstances and
other factors.
I am grateful to our priests for the deep commitments
they have made to service and to our sangha for
continuing to support and maintain our Zen spiritual
tradition.
With gratitude, Joshin Sensei
PS: a special thanks to my good friend Peter
Cunningham who's photographs grace this newsletter.
Please visit his web site at:
http://www.wordwiseweb.com
| Sunday Worship and Fellowship |
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Everyone is welcome to come celebrate and enjoy our
time together in this meaningful and heartfelt way.
The worship and fellowship continues every Sunday
from 9:00 to 11:00 am. The program includes
meditation, service, a dharma talk with time for
questions and answers and fellowship with the
community.
Dana donations are always appreciated.
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| Zen Practice 1: Entering the Way, June 10, July 8 |
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The Zen Community offers a class teaching beginning
meditation from 8 to 9 AM on Sunday mornings, June 10
and July 8. Fundamentals of posture, breathing and
working with the mind are taught.
The class is followed by our regular Sunday program
from 9 to 11 AM.
Cost is $25
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| Zen Practice 2: Refining Your Life, June 24, July 22 |
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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 prerequisite. Cost is $25
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| Bodhisattva Crew, Sunday, June 10 |
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Have you ever felt that if you only had a few extra
hands, you could really accomplish that project you've
wanted to get to for some time now and that would make
such a difference in your life!
It's the Bodhisattva Crew (BC) to the samu rescue!
Tan ta da ....!!! In one hour's time BC will help you
with that project and fill your life with boundless joy.
BC is looking for Bodhisattvas to come togther for its
first project: Michael and Maria's apartment at 247
Washington Blvd, Unit 3A, June 10th after Sunday
Service, between 11:30 am and 12:30 pm. They
promise a nourishing lunch as reward - though
Bodhisattvas know that the act of service is reward in
itself.
BC is looking for other projects and willing Bodhisattvas
to help. Contact Michael Leiseca at
mleiseca@gmail.com or Ryushin at
kaili@zencommunity.org if you have a
samu project or a bodhisattva calling.
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| New Children's Dharma Class |
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We are beginning a new monthly dharma class for
children at the Zen Community of Oak Park. The first
class will begin on Sunday, June 24th at 9:00 - 10:30
am.
3 years of age and older are welcome. A parent or
guardian of younger children should plan to stay the first
half hour and longer if they would like. Pre-registration
is required.
Please contact Ryushin at kaili@zencommunity.org,
708.445.1651 or Susanne Fairfax at
sfairfax@ameritech.net, 708.763.0360 if you are
interested in having your children attend.
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| Joshin Sensei Teaches Meditation at New Garden |
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Sensei will teach a meditation class at the New Garden
Community Church on Saturday, June 9th at 10 am. The
church is located at 37 S. Ashland (cross streets are
Ashland and Randolph). Everyone is welcome to
attend.
There is no charge for this class.
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| June 2007 Hula Classes |
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New York City:
(Hula Ho'ike Recital photographs link:
http://www.wordwiseweb.com/2007/hula/) Saturday,
June 9, 12 noon - 3 pm. Hula
Auana - Modern Hula classes for students who have
been dancing for at least 6 months or more.
June 9th, 3 pm - 6 pm, Hula Kahiko - Ancient Hula
utilizing the ipuheke, other instruments and
chants about the gods and goddesses of Hawaii, the
royalty and nature. Class also focuses on values
important to dancers, mythology, flora and fauna, and
pana/places. Class is for students who have been
dancing at
least 6 months.
Sunday, June 10th 10am - 12 noon. Beginner's Kahiko
class. The beginner's class learns the basic hands and
feet motions as well as Hawaiian values. Men and
women are invited.
All NYC classes held at Ripley Grier, 520 8th Ave.
(between 36th & 37th). Cost is $60 for Hula Auana and
$60 for Hula Kahiko. If
both classes are taken, cost is $100. Beginner's class is
$40. If one Saturday class is taken, cost for the class is
$30. If two
Saturday classes are taken, cost is $20.
Chicago Classes:
Wednesday nights, June 13, 20, 27th.
Hula I is 6:30 - 7:30 pm - both Kahiko and Auana
classes for students who have danced 1 year or more.
All ages welcome.
Hula II is 7:30 - 8:30 pm - Beginner's class, both Kahiko
and Auana classes for students who have danced less
than 1 year. All ages welcome
Cost is $15/class.
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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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Ryushin's Shukke Tokudo Ordination |
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On Saturday, June 2nd, June Ryushin Yoshiko
Kaililani Tanoue
received Shukke Tokudo from Sensei Robert Joshin
Althouse at the Zen Community of Oak Park.
Witnessed by sangha and friends, the ordination
followed the conclusion of a seven day sesshin.
Following the ceremony, June danced the hula with
two of her students. One dance was about Venus,
the evening star; another about family; and a third (a
gift for Sensei) was a song written by Keali'i Reichel
for his mother,
comparing her steadfast love and support to the
resiliency of the verdant mountain on Maui,
Maunaleo.
This ordination represents Ryushin Kaililani's
integration of two paths of spiritual practice in her life -
Zen and the sacred dance of Hula.
She received jukai from Joshin Sensei in Hawaii on
December 21, 1997, receiving the name, Ryushin,
which means "dragon heart". She received the title of
Kumu Hula which means Master Teacher of the Hula
from her teacher, Michael Pili Pang in 2000.
We want to thank the sangha and many friends who
helped to make this event a great success.
to see photos:
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