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Greetings!
This month we will begin exploring shared stewardship
together as a sangha community. We will do this by
holding a once-a-month council circle in which all
members are asked to attend and participate.
What does it mean to lead a religious life in our secular
world? We are fond of using the term "spiritual" to
describe our religious lives, but I think it may be more
challenging for us to think in a larger way about what it
means to be religious and to organize our lives
accordingly.
We can describe any activity we do as spiritual -
sitting meditation, doing yoga or going to church on
Sunday morning. If we think of ourselves as simply a
group of people who are committed to gathering
together once a week to practice meditation, then I
think "spiritual" would describe our activity together.
What does it mean to follow the Buddha Way? How
do we do this in our world where we face war, torture,
lawlessness, famine, AIDS, global warming and the
threat of nuclear annihilation?
I think, the Buddha would prescribe more powerful
medicine for the illnesses we face. I hope that as we
explore the practice of stewardship we
will have the courage to ask tough questions about
ourselves and our world, and what is required of
each of us. If we have the courage to face our own
shadows, then perhaps we can explore our
collective ones as well.
Perhaps in this way, slowly, patiently, with thought
and care, we may steward a religious community that
is brave enough and skillful enough to proclaim the
dharma with no qualification, excuse or apology.
And perhaps in the end, this is the medicine the
Buddha would prescribe for our troubled and divided
spirits.
With gratitude, Joshin Sensei
| Inner Disarmament: the Art of Pro-active Integral Communication, Aug. 24-26 |
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Robert Althouse will teach this workshop at the
Daifukuji
Soto Mission on the Island of Hawaii. Shortly after
9/11, Althouse began doing these trainings around
the country to help people deal more effectively with
conflict. This training integrated Nonviolent
Communicaiton as taught by Marshall Rosenberg
and universal, integral truths. Specific language skills
are presented, along with many hands-on,
experiential exercies to help integrate the course
material.
Learn pro-active communication skills.
Transform conflicts without fear.
Let go of destructive judgments.
Learn the power of empathic listening.
The cost is $175, $160 for Zen Community members,
$100 for Daifukuji members.
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| Shared Stewardship Circle, Aug. 5 |
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On Sunday during our morning program, we will hold
our first Shared Stewardship Council Circle. All
members of the Zen Community are strongly
encouraged to attend and participate.
Pictured here is a mandala to help us hold a larger view
as we move forward in our work together. This mandala
combines the energies of the five Buddha families with
the four quadrants of integral spirituality.
We will start by exploring all the ingredients that make
up who we are as a community; the history of our
lineage and teachers, issues and problems that arose.
Stewardship Circles are scheduled for Sunday, August
5, Sept. 30, and Oct. 21. Non-members are welcome to
join the circle as silent witness
to the process.
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| Other Dharma Teachings in Hawaii |
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Joshin Sensei will give dharma talks at the Holualoa
Zendo on Monday, August 20, and at the Cloud Forest
Temple on Thursday, August 23. He will also give Jill
Teiho Wagner priest ordination at Daifukuji on Sunday,
August 19th, at 4:00 pm.
Everyone is welcome to attend.
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| Django Jam, August 10 |
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The Zen Community is hosting a Gypsy Jazz Jam on
the
second Friday of each month. This music, which was
developed by Django Reinhardt, is a form of swing
jazz,
which has become a highly developed genre of
music.
All
musicians and
instruments are welcome. We also invite anyone who
would like to come and hang out to join us. Bring
along some food and drink and enjoy yourself.
What does this have to do with Zen? As Bernie Roshi
says, "It don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that swing."
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| Dharma Talk by Martin Hakubai Mosko, Aug. 28 |
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Author of the book, "Landscape as Spirit", and master
landscape architect, Martin Hakubai Mosko will visit the
Zen Community for several days in late August to help
us landscape our temple grounds. We are honored and
fortunate to have Hakubai visit us, and to design our
grounds for us.
In place of our Tuesday night zazen, on Tuesday,
August 28, at 7:30 pm, Hakubai will give a dharma talk.
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| Hula Class Schedule |
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There will be no hula classes in New York during the
month of August. The next New York City classes will be
in September as follows:
New York City:
PLEASE NOTE NEW LOCATION FOR CLASSES:
Dance Theatre Workshop, 219 W. 19th St. (between 7th
and 8th Ave)
September 8, New Beginners class: 4-5 pm
Sept. 8, Beginning Kahiko class: 5-7 pm
Sept. 9, Auana class: 10 am - 1 pm
Sept. 9, Kahiko class: 1 pm - 4 pm
PLEASE NOTE: During August, there will only be two
hula classes in Chicago. They will take place on
Wednesday, August 1 and August 8. They will resume
again in September.
Chicago Classes:
Wednesday nights, August 1, 8
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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| First Children's Dharma Class |
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The first Children's Dharma Class was a success thanks
to wonderful three year olds: Jeffrey Norris and Eva
Phillips and their moms and teachers Susanne Fairfax,
Steve Hetzel, and June Tanoue.
The class covered basic meditation, walking meditation,
songs and building a model zendo. The class is open to
all ages. Cost is $15 per child
The next classes are set for Sunday, Sept. 23rd and
October 28th from 9 am to 10:45 am. Call 708.445.1651
or email kaili@zencommunity.org to register your child.
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| Baby Shower for Maria, Sun. Sept 2 |
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On Sunday, Sept. 2, following our regular Sunday
program, at 11 am we will have a baby shower for Maria
Leiseca. Please bring gifts for the baby and food for a
pot luck
lunch.
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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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Five Day Sesshin in Hawaii, Aug. 14-19 |
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The Zen Community will hold its annual 5 day sesshin
in Hawaii in the lovely Kalopa State Park. Amidst old
growth forests and indigenous plants of Hawaii this
traditional Zen retreat will take place in silence. The
retreat includes intensive meditation, services, samu
work practice, daisan with the teacher, body work and
the practice of immediacy.
The cost of the retreat is $375; $250 for Zen Community
members.
It's not too late to sign up!
to register:
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