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Greetings!
I'm happy to report that the
Japanese Contemplative Garden is almost complete.
Of
course,
it will never really be done, but most of the large
architectural elements are in place. I want to again
express my gratitude to so many of you who have
helped
support this work. The vision of building a sacred
space that would be restorative and healing for all
who enter has finally taken form.
We are in the midst of turbulent winds of change. We are
like the
autumn leaves being blown about by strong winds. So it
is a very practical question to ask how we can keep our
stress levels manageable as we sail our ships through
these choppy waters.
One of my teacher's, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche,
gave a
teaching on mind training that consisted of slogans.
One of these is "Always maintain a joyful mind." In
times such as these, this is a good slogan for all of us.
Even if we've lost money, and the world seems to be
falling apart all around us, it's possible to cheer
ourselves up. The sun is still rising and the grass is
growing.
When you connect with your own aspiration to benefit
and serve others, you may extend this Bodhisattva vow
through the practice of taking and sending. When you are
feeling happy and joyful, you simply give this away on
your out breath.
This seems counter-intuitive, because generally we
want
happiness for ourselves, but actually it is a burden to
hold on to our pleasure as a private experience. To
give this away can lighten our burden of self-
absorption. Our resistance to change and to the
circumstances of our life, is ultimately the source of
much of our suffering.
As we approach the end of this year, may we renew
our
deepest aspirations to accomplish, realize and
maintain
this Buddha Way. The outer circumstances of our lives
are beyond our control but we can learn how to relate
to them with an open heart and an open mind. There
is much joy in the simple things of life and they are
taking place around us constantly.
In gassho, with much respect
Joshin Althouse
| in this issue |
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Jikyo Roshi to give Inka to Joshin Sensei, Nov. 9th
Inner Disarmament Workshop, Nov. 14-16
Rohatsu Sesshin, Dec. 5-13
Big Mind Workshop with Jikyo Roshi, Nov. 8th
Jukai for Eric Lampland, Dec. 13
Qigong Class, Tuesdays, 6-7 pm
Hula Classes in Chicago
Hula Classes in New York
Stewardship Circle, Sunday, Nov. 30
Tara Dance Circle, Nov. 9th, Dec. 14: 1-3 pm.
Zen Practice 1 class, Nov. 2, 8-9 am
Children's Dharma Class, Sunday, Nov. 23
Empty Sound Temple closed from Dec. 14- Jan. 6, 2009
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| Inner Disarmament Workshop, Nov. 14-16 |
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Joshin Althouse will teach Inner Disarmament: the Art
of Pro-active Integral Communication on Nov. 14-16,
at the Zen Community of Oak Park. This workshop will
teach specific language patterns for building and
nurturing trust in relationships and groups. The class
material is accompanied by may hands-on role-plays
that are surprisingly transformative. The integration of
integral, universal truths with practical communication
skills will give you more confidence in working with
conflicts and difficult people.
Althouse has been teaching this workshop all around the
country since 9/11. The workshop begins on Friday night
and goes from 7-9 pm. It continues Saturday from 9 am to
4 pm, and Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm.
* Learn pro-active communication skills
* Transform conflicts without fear
* Let go of destructive judgments
* Learn the power and depth of simple, empathic
listening
Cost: $225/ZCOP members, $175
You may register by calling the office at 708.445.1651 or
online at:
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| Rohatsu Sesshin, Dec. 5-13 |
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Held in deep silence, this sesshin celebrates the
Buddha's enlightenment, and as such is traditionally
considered the strongest retreat of the year. The
retreat will include intensive meditation, services,
samu work practice, dharma talks by Joshin Sensei
and private daisan interviews with him every day. It
also includes body work and the practice of
immediacy.
Part-time participation is possible for $75/day. You may
also attend all of the morning zazen periods or all of the
evening zazen periods for $175, but to do this, you must
commit to coming to all seven sittings in the morning or
evening. Please make prior arrangements with Joshin
Sensei if you plan to participate part-time.
The sesshin begins Friday night, Dec. 5th at 7 pm. It ends
on Saturday, Dec. 13th with a communal lunch at noon.
Cost: $525/ZCOP members, $350.
To register for the sesshin call our office at 708.445.1651.
You may also register online.
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| Big Mind Workshop with Jikyo Roshi, Nov. 8th |
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Roshi Nicolee Jikyo McMahon will offer a Big Mind
workshop on Saturday, Nov. 8th from 1:00 to 3:00 pm
at the Zen Community of Oak Park. The Big Mind
process was developed by Dennis Genpo Merzel
Roshi and is a wonderful pointing-out technique. Ken
Wilber says "The Big Mind process is an astonishingly
original, profound and effective path for waking up, or
seeing one's True Nature. It is such a simple and
universal practice it can be used in any spiritual path
you wish, or even by itself, as a practice for realizing
your True Self."
Nicolee Jikyo McMahon Roshi is certified by Dennis
Genpo Roshi in the Big Mind process. She is the
Abbot of the Three Treasures Zen Community in San
Diego. She originated the "Practice of Immediacy" (c)
which integrates arts, music, writing, poetry and
movement with Zen practice. She is married, and has
two grown children, a stepson and four grandchildren.
She also works as a Marriage and Family Counselor.
Please register by call the office at 708.445.1651
Cost: dana offerings
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| Jukai for Eric Lampland, Dec. 13 |
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On Saturday, Dec. 13th, following our Rohatsu Sesshin,
Eric Lampland will receive the precepts from Joshin
Sensei. The ceremony will take place at 1:30 pm.
Everyone is invited to join us on this joyous occasion to
witness Eric's commitment to this spiritual path.
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| Qigong Class, Tuesdays, 6-7 pm |
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Paul Mokuin Levy will lead a Qigong class each
Tuesday from 6:00 to 7:00 pm. Qigong is an excellent
complement to zazen. It emphasizes conserving and
growing the vital force (Qi), thus enhancing health,
creativity, mental clarity, emotional and mental stability
and increasing longevity.
Mokuin has practiced several types of Qigong over the
years including Golden Bell, ChiLe'l and Falun Gong. He
has lead groups for 12 years.
Everyone is welcome and it is ok to come to the class
late. The cost of the class is $15/ZCOP members, $10.
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| Hula Classes in Chicago |
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New Beginners Hula: Thursday 6:00-7:00 pm; includes
basic footwork and hand movements - hula auana and
kahiko.
Adults and children are welcome. $15/class.
Intermediate Hula: Wednesday: 6:30-7:30 pm; Includes
basic footwork and hands - hula auana. Adults with at
least a year's dance experience or permission of Kumu.
$15/class.
Come dressed comfortably. If you are interested or have
questions, call
Kumu June at 708.445.1651. You can also
email her
at kaili@zencommunity.org.
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| Hula Classes in New York |
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Location for November hula classes in New York City is
the Ripley Grier at 520 8th Ave.
Saturday, Nov. 15, Auana class: 12 noon to 3 pm
Saturday, Nov. 15, Kahiko class: 3 pm to 6 pm
Sunday, Nov. 16, Beginning Kahiko: 12 noon to 3
pm
The December classes will be held at the Dance Theatre
Workshop, located at 219 W. 19th St. (between 7th and
8th Ave.)
Saturday, Dec. 6th, Auana class from 12 noon to 3 pm.
Saturday, Dec. 6th, Combined Kahiko and Beginners
class: 3 to 6 pm. The Beginners class which is usually
held on Sunday, will be held in this combined class on
Saturday from 3 to 6 pm.
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| Stewardship Circle, Sunday, Nov. 30 |
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Our shared stewardship circle continues. We are
beginning work on articulating a mission statement for
the Zen Community and continuing the discussion about
how to best organize and run the temple.
Everyone is welcome to join this circle, which will be a
combination of council and old-fashioned meeting to
present and discuss information that concerns the
sangha community.
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| Tara Dance Circle, Nov. 9th, Dec. 14: 1-3 pm. |
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The 21 Praises of Tara is an ancient prayer that
celebrates 21 aspects of Tara (Kwan Yin, Kannon), the
Tibetan Buddhist emanation of divine compassion in
feminine form. Through the medium of sacred dance
this prayer becomes a meditation in movement,
gracefully blending mantra and mudra. The
movements are simple and one does not need to be
a trained dancer to master them, nor does one need to
be a Buddhist to participate. Its practice teaches
mindfulness in motion and can also be a joyful and
healthy addition to a daily devotional routine.
Tara Dance is the core practice of Tara Dhatu,
www.taradhatu.org, an international nonprofit
organization dedicated to empowering and uplifting
humanity through the sacred arts. The organization
was formed by Prema Desara, the dancer's master, at
the request of her teacher, His Eminence Tai Situ
Rinpoche, to protect the dance's integrity as a Vehicle
for Liberation.
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| Zen Practice 1 class, Nov. 2, 8-9 am |
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There will be a beginning meditation class taught on
Sunday, Nov. 2nd. The class covers the basics of
meditation such as posture, breathing and working with
the mind. There will also be some information given on
the nature of training at the Empty Sound Temple. There
will be time for questions and answers.
All are welcome. Cost is $25.
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| Children's Dharma Class, Sunday, Nov. 23 |
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The Children's Dharma Class will take place on Sunday,
Nov. 23rd from 9:00 am to 10:45 am. The class will be
taught by Suzanne Fairfax.
The class includes stories, some simple meditation and
mindfulness exercises, singing, hula and more. The class
is open to all ages.
Register online or call the office at 708.445.1651
Cost is $15/child.
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| Empty Sound Temple closed from Dec. 14- Jan. 6, 2009 |
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The Zen Community of Oak Park will be closed from Dec.
14th until Jan. 6, 2009. We wish all of you a blessed
Christmas season with family and friends and a very
happy New Ears!
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| Support the Zen Community of Oak Park |
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We deeply appreciate your continued support of our
Empty Sound Temple. Please consider making a tax-
deductible contribution to our Gutei's One-Finger
Building fund today. You may do this online or by mail.
Online contributions may be done through PayPal. If
mailing a check, please make it out to the "Zen
Community of Oak Park" and send to 163 N. Humphrey
Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302.
The Zen Community of Oak Park is a 501 (c)(3)
non-profit organization so your donation is fully tax
deductible
$
USD
Learn More
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Jikyo Roshi to give Inka to Joshin Sensei, Nov. 9th |
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A Note from Roshi Nicolee Jikyo Keiren McMahon
Joshin Sensei will receive Inka from me, on Sunday,
November 9, 2008,
in a ceremony at the Zen Community of Oak Park, in
Chicago. "Inka" means "seal of approval." It is given
when the teacher feels the student has ripened in
practice and in how he or she lives. In our lineage,
the Inka document is a poem with the teacher's seal
on it and is hung in the dokusan room.
The Soto School's term for Dharma Transmission is
"Shiho." The Rinzai School's term for Dharma
Transmission is "Inka." Maezumi Roshi received
Dharma Transmission in both the Soto and Rinzai
schools. The White Plum lineage, established by
Maezumi Roshi, combines the teachings and
transmission of both schools. Maezumi Roshi, used
Inka as the final seal of approval and gave it to his first
successor, Bernie Tetsugen Glassman Roshi, right
before he died. Bernie then gave Inka to Genpo
Merzel Roshi as well as to many of Bernie's
successors.
After Maezumi Roshi died in 1995, Genpo Roshi
became the head of the White Plum lineage. He has
given
Inka to his successors as well as to several of
Maezumi Roshi's successors who had also studied
with Genpo Roshi. I received
Shiho from Maezumi Roshi in 1995. I received Inka
from Genpo Roshi in 2006 and I'm now giving it to my
successors.
After the public ceremony on Sunday, the
title "roshi" can be used when referring to Joshin. The
title "roshi" has two characters which mean "old
teacher" and also "old child." In China, "old child," was
used for a sage like Confucius or Lao-Tse. Children
bring such wide open curiosity and freshness to living
-- formal titles have little meaning to them for quite a
while.
Yet understanding how to relate to hierarchy is
essential to growing up. "Old child" implies that one is
able to play freely and with a spiritual maturity that
neither binds oneself nor others.
May Walt Whitman's
words guide all of us: "All things of the universe are
miracles, each as profound as any."
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