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Greetings!
Putting up some photos on our Facebook fan page a
few days ago, I
realized how much we have done over the past few
years. We completed a Japanese sacred garden. We
undertook and completed our first formal 3 month zen
intensive
training (ango). The training included 3 seven-day
retreats and a final Shuso Hossen on the hula mound
where head-trainee, Rev. Susie Reiju Dorian gave a
fabulous dharma talk. On several occasions my
teacher Roshi Nicolee Jikyo McMahon visited us for
important ceremonies.
June's hula school, Halau I Ka Pono has blossomed
with wonderful performances, such Dancing in the
Sea of Life and a weekend listening to Jason Poole
sing and tell stories of his teacher in Molokai.
As this year comes to a close and we look forward to a
new one, I want to take just a moment and remember all
the many hands that have made this Zen Center
possible. For all the tremendous help, energy and
support many of
you have given us, June and I are deeply grateful.
I would like to look ahead now to 2010 because there
are
many changes in store for our Zen Center; a new
name,
new curriculum, new offerings, and new ways of
practicing together. But these all have a common
thread which is that living a transformed Zen-inspired
life of openness, empathy and clarity can increase and
improve our effectiveness and the quality of our lives.
What is a Zen-inspired life style? Well, it's one that
includes a generous amount of meditation practice.
Anyone can do this practice. It doesn't have to be a big
project unless you prefer to make it one. In fact,
mindfulness meditation can be done anywhere you
happen to be, in your living room, waiting in line at the
bank or sitting on a bench waiting for a
bus or train.
A Zen-inspired life style is one where you begin to trust
your own experience as a deep source of wisdom and
guidance. It is a life of relationships, intimacy and caring
for others. And it's a life in the service of something larger
than yourself.
What is surprising and delightful about such a life style
is that we have all the tools and guidance for living it
within our own culture. And our core curriculum will
draw on these Western modalities such as Focusing,
TAE (Thinking at the Edge), Nonviolent
Communication, Integral teachings, Big Mind, Five
Wisdom Energies and Council Circle to make these
teachings clear and personal.
Just writing about this gets me excited. So I am
looking forward to 2010. We have done an enormous
amount of work to prepare for this, and there is still
more to be done, so please be patient with us. We
hope to have
a completely new web site ready for you by
the
middle of January.
I hope to see you in 2010. Please have a safe and
joyous New Year's celebration and let's find ways to
practice together in 2010 that benefit ourselves and
those around us.
We know 2009 was a time of upheaval and change, and
sometimes it can be difficult to continue or deepen our
practice during so much chaos, but
as Tarrant Roshi said in a recent Shambhala Magazine
article, "It would be a shame to waste a good crisis."
Warmly,
Joshin Roshi
| Membership Meeting, Sunday, Jan. 3rd at 3:00 pm |
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We will have a membership meeting this Sunday from
3:00 to 5:00 pm to explain the many changes taking
place at our Zen
Center. In addition to members, anyone who is
interested in learning more
about what we are offering in 2010, is welcome to join
us
for this meeting.
We will discuss the new core curriculum, other new
programs and offerings, new types of membership
participation in the Zen Life & Meditation Center, how
traditional Zen training will be handled (for example,
how
we will do our Zen Intensive - Ango - in 2010) and how
Roshi's students will have access to him in private
interviews (dokusan). Much time will be provided for
questions and discussion about all these changes.
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| Separation of Zen and Hula |
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One change you will notice is that we are separating out
Zen and Hula. This will be evident in our new web site
and in this monthly e-newsletter. We perceive Zen and
Hula as distinctly different brands, and feel that it's
clearer for Hula to develop it's own brand.
So for those of you interested in the Hula School, Halau I
Ka Pono and Kumu June's teaching schedule in
Chicago, New York and Hawaii - please be patient. A
web site for the school is being developed as is a regular
newsletter.
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| Fridays with Roshi, Friday, Jan. 22, 7:30 - 9:00 pm |
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Once a month, Joshin Roshi will offer a special event
where he will present a koan from the Zen tradition.
Instead of this being a traditional dharma talk where
he does all the talking and everyone else listens
passively, Roshi will facilitate an interactive
exploration of the koan.
He is very
excited about this new way of teaching and feels it has
enormous potential to clarify and personalize koans
so that others find the meaning for themselves through
their own experience. He will use various modalities
such as Big Mind and Focusing to facilitate these
teachings.
Please come and enjoy an evening with
Roshi.
Cost: $15/Free for Advanced Members
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| New Meditation Schedule |
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Our new meditation schedule for 2010 will provide
organized meditation on Tuesday and Thursdays from
6:00 to 7:00 pm. We will also offer what we are calling
free-style meditation Monday thru Friday mornings from
6:00 to 7:00 am.
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| Two Day Residential Meditation Retreat - Jan. 29-31 |
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We will hold a two day residential meditation retreat
beginning
Friday, Jan. 29th at 7:00 pm and finishing at 12:00 noon
on Sunday, Jan. 31st.
The retreat will include intensive meditation practice,
services, dokusan (private interview with Roshi),
interviews with Ryushin, practice of immediacy, council
circle and body work.
Cost: $150/$100 for ZLMC members. T
To register please
call 708.445.1651 or email info@zlmc.org. All
registrations for retreat must be received by January
25th.
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| Special Events |
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Jukai Ceremony for Brendon Gross
Joshin Roshi will give the precepts to Brendon Gross on
Sunday, January 17th at 11:00 am. Everyone is invited to
come witness and celebrate Brendon's deep commitment
to his spiritual practice through this moving ceremony.
Opening Ceremony for Zen Intensive Training (Ango),
Sunday, Jan. 24th at 11:00 am.
We will have a brief opening ceremony to mark the
beginning of an 8 month zen intensive training. Rev.
June Ryushin Kaililani Tanoue will serve as the head-
trainee. This intensive is only available to advanced
members of ZLMC and students in Kumu June's Hula
School. If you are interested in joining this intensive,
please call Ryushin at 708.445.1651 or email her at
kaili@zencommunity.org for more information.
The Zen Intensive Training will conclude with a
traditional 7 day sesshin from Sept. 25 to Oct. 2. The
concluding Shuso Hossen (Dharma Combat) ceremony
will be on Saturday, Oct. 2nd at 1:00 pm.
One-year Memorial Service for June's Father - Jan. 24th
We will hold a one-year memorial service for Robert
Tanoue, June's father on Sunday, January 24th at 12:00
noon. The ceremony will include hula and be followed by
a potluck lunch.
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| Support the Zen Life & Meditation Center |
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We are grateful for all of you who have continued to
support
us and believe in what we are doing. These have been
challenging times, and we need your continued support
so please consider giving a gift to our Zen Center today.
Online contributions may be done through
PayPal. If
mailing a check, please make it out to the "Zen
Life & Meditation Center" and send to 163 N.
Humphrey
Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302.
The Zen Life & Meditation Center is a 501 (c)(3)
non-profit organization so your donation is
fully tax
deductible.
$
USD
Learn More
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Day of Mindfulness: Saturday, Jan. 16, 9 am - 4 pm |
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The levels of stress and anxiety in our culture are at
an all-time high. We are bombarded daily with
enormous amounts of information. To reduce our
stress and anxiety, we need opportunities to slow
down, step back and reflect on our busy lives.
Mindfulness meditation can help restore order and
balance to your life. It's easy, and anyone can do it,
regardless of faith, philosophy or culture.
Join us for a healing day of mindful meditation to
restore your peace of mind, improve your mental health
and strengthen your physical well-being.
The day will include meditation, both seated and walking,
a dharma talk from Joshin Roshi, dokusan (private
interviews with Joshin Roshi), lunch and some light body
work such as yoga and stretching.
Cost: $65, $50 for ZLMC members
Register by calling 708.445.1651
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