10 a.m.
Meditation
Dharma Talk
Chanting
October
31 - Tâm Hu'o'ng
Everyday Ghosts
Reaffirming the Precepts
November
7 - Tâm Hu'o'ng
Malas
14 - Thầy Minh Nhâ't
21 - Roshi
(followed by Mala Crafting
and Book Exchange)
28 - Roshi
Reaffirming the Precepts
December save the day
5 - Bodhi Day Celebration
Mind Seal Transmission
12 - Rohatsu Retreat ends
Service is followed by fellowship and light refreshments _________
Can't make Sunday Service?
Visit the Dharma Talk Archive at DesertZenCenter.org
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Meditation & Dharma Class
Thursday Nights
7 p.m.
Every Thursday night, we gather in the Zendo for meditation, followed by training practice and, then, fellowship & Dharma class in the Sangha Hall. During the Rains Season at DZC, we are practicing Japanese chants, the keisaku and studying the life and works of Dogen Zenji, founder of the Soto Zen School. Please join us.
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"All I teach is Loving Kindness." -- Thây Thích Minh Nhât* (Metta is Sanskrit for Loving Kindness.)
I have been a student of religions most of my life and have come to the belief that the foundation for all of them is found in Compassion and Loving Kindness. It seems to me that the goal is to teach everyone to interact with all beings with equality, to exist in harmony. As we know from history, this does not always happen. Much suffering as been caused by these principles not being followed. What are the steps we can take to reach that point of Loving Kindness and Harmony?
- First, we must empty ourselves and let go of our strongly-held ideas that we have the Truth. This is called Not-Knowing.
- From Not-Knowing, we then Bear Witness to the many positions of others, without being limited by our own attachments and aversions.
- The last step is to do an act of Loving Kindness. Trust yourself, offering your action with gratitude and love for the well being of all.
May you -- and all beings -- be well and happy, peaceful, and free from suffering. _________________________________________________ * The monk formerly known as Reverend Nagacitta/Thích Tâm Hue
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Lunch, Book Exchange & Mala Crafting
November 21 (after Service - 3 p.m.)
Bring your vegetarian specialty or a beverage for a potluck lunch, & plan to spend the afternoon with books, beads and us. Book Exchange is simply that - bring book(s), take book(s). Only limitations are avoiding attachment and taming greed. Pass it on: that book you bought in the airport, those cookbooks/tile repair guides you'll never use, an unused gift diary with a sea-shell lock from your Aunt, the vampire novel(s) you don't want to admit you read, or the math/poetry book you never understood? (Doesn't have to be Buddhist, although that would be swell, too!)
Any usable/readable book that's not too outrageous for the Sangha Hall is okay. Send it to another life with someone else.
- Malas are strings (garlands) of beads that are used in Buddhism to count repetitions. For example, you might chant 108 recitations of Om Mani Padme Hum, keeping track on your neck mala, or you might do 27 bows, using your wrist mala. They make great gifts, too. We'll have a selection of beads, thread and goodies available for free or for our cost, but please do bring any supplies and ideas you may have.
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It's not too late to sit a Retreat...
Desert Zen Center's Retreat Schedule
Please, please, please RSVP for Retreats
November Saturday, the 13th, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Day at the Temple - Teaching Retreat on "Meditation Techniques"
One day of Zazen (sitting) & kinhin (walking) meditation, dokusan (formal individual interview), formal vegetarian lunch, Dharma talk & ending ceremony.During Teaching or Workshop Retreats, several periods of zazen are replaced with Dharma teaching. This November, Roshi will focus on a variety of meditation techniques, giving instruction before sitting periods for each type.
December Friday-Sunday, 10th - 12th, starts 8 p.m. Friday Weekend Retreat / Sesshin
Celebrating Bodhi Day / Buddha's Enlightenment Day (December 8th)
Sesshin: meditation retreats: zazen, kinhin, samu (working meditation) and mindfulness throughout the day & night, including chanting services and opportunity for dokusan. Weekend retreats start 8:00 p.m. on Friday, and continue through Sunday Service. Plan to stay at DZC Friday and Saturday nights; formal vegetarian meals are included.
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