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| Desert Zen Center - Chùa Thiên Ân |
| a Zen Buddhist temple dedicated to teaching meditation to everyone |
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10 a.m.
Meditation
Dharma Talk
Chanting
November
6 - Roshi 13 - Thây Minh Nhat 20 - Roshi 27 - Tâm Hu'o'ng
Renewing the Precepts Lunch & Music December 4 - Roshi 11 - Thây Minh Nhat 18 - Tâm Hu'o'ng 25 - Closed for Holiday a peek at 2012
January 1 - Roshi Renewing the Precepts Lunch & Music 8 - tba 15 - Tâm Hu'o'ng 22 - Chinese New Year's Eve / Tết Celebration 29 - tba
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Service is followed by fellowship and light refreshments
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Can't make Sunday Service?
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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.
Current topic is An Overview of Buddhism in America vs. the Attempt to Define American Buddhism. Please join us. |
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Plan Ahead 2011-2012
Event Schedule
Life is uncertain...
Everything changes
November
12 Day at Temple
24 Closed for Holiday
December 8 Bodhi Day- One night Retreat: Practice Meditation throughout the night
9 Temple Work Day 9-11 Rohatsu Sesshin/Retreat
25 Closed for Holiday January 1 American New Year, Reaffirming the Precepts Ceremony 22 Vietnamese New Year's Eve / Tết celebrated.
Note: DZC plans various events on the second Saturday of every month.
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 | October 9th, 2011,
Roshi addresses the sangha at the Precepts Ceremony . |
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Call
for
Winter is almost upon us.
(oh wait, it's here...)
We're facing
a number of time-sensitive projects and dribs and drabs of work orphaned by all the shiny new
projects...
(That's not really true. Let's just say that - for the past couple of years - we have had to refocus and rise to opportunities and challenges which *demanded* our immediate attention. At times, however regretfully, we were forced to leave details to be finished later.)
We could use some help. Give us an hour or four, a day, a weekly commitment, what-have-you. We'll be thrilled, happy to work with your schedule and match you to a project. We might even feed you.
Tag, you're it.
Contact
Su Co
to volunteer
818-535-7286
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Day at the Temple,
November 12th - 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Arrive early to be ready to begin at 9:00 a.m. with the opening ceremony and instruction in the Dharma Hall. Dress in comfortable, loose clothing; layers are a good choice, as weather for the day is unpredictable. Plan to leave the world (e.g. cell phones, watches and so forth) outside the Zendo door.
A formal, ample, vegetarian lunch will be provided. Please advise in advance of dietary restrictions. Unless there are medical issues, do not bring snacks or treats.
DZC does not charge for retreats; donations are most gratefully received.
RSVP to Roshi or Su Co, please
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Introducing & Welcoming
Upāsaka/Upāsikā* x 5 On October 9th, following the weekend retreat, Thích Ân Giáo Roshi held an Ordination ceremony giving Lay Precepts to five members of the Desert Zen Center sangha. The ceremony, also known as Taking Refuge, declares and dedicates one as an "Official Buddhist." Each person Taking Refuge at DZC is given a new Sanskrit Dharma** name and a rakusu (a small form of the Buddha's robe, worn on a yoke around the neck), following the practice of our Vietnamese Patriarch, the Most Venerable H.T. Thích Thiên Ân.
As is customary, each of these names contains Muktika ("Great Potential"), part of the Sanskrit name received by Roshi when he became a Disciple of the Most Venerable Thích Thiên Ân. For our new Buddhists, this part of their names underscores challenges as well as competencies.
Above, in front:Thích Ân Giáo Roshi - original Sanskrit name: Muktika Dharma ("Great Potential Dharma"**) Behind, left to right: Ananda ("Delight in Existence") Muktika - Jorge Infante Vimala ("Purity in Deed") Muktika - Mary Madison Campbell Upeksha ("Equanimity") Muktika - Gayle King Upaya ("Skillful Means") Muktika - Tyler King Satya ("Truth") Muktika - Bill King
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Pretend this is a very *old* photo of Thay Minh Nhat, Vimala, Sa di Tam Hy, Ananda, Upeksha, Su Co Tam Huong, Upaya and Satya.
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*Sanskrit: literally means "attendant," but is used to indicate a devout Buddhist layman (Upāsaka) or laywoman (Upāsikā) **The word Dharma, although often used, is difficult to translate in brief with precision, which is why we tend to simply rely on the Sanskrit Dharma (pháp in Vietnamese). Dharma literally means "that which upholds" and, when capitalized, it is used to indicate the Buddhist teachings and path. |
| DZC at the Winter Holidays
Please note that we will be closed the days of Thanksgiving and Christmas. We will be open on January 1st, 2012, New Year's Day, to Renew the Precepts and enjoy the spectacular winter scenery and views at the Temple. Vietnamese New Year / Tết is just around the corner, toward the end of January, so mark your calendar and celebrate the Year of the Dragon with us.
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Bodhi Day / Rohatsu 2011
Over two and a half centuries ago, the sage Siddhartha Gautama realized his true nature as the Morning Star rose in the sky one morning.. The traditional Japanese Rohatsu Sesshin celebrates this event as occurring on December 8th, and centers many days of intensive practice around that date. This year, DZC will be honoring the Buddha's enlightenment in a three-part Bodhi Day retreat. Join us for all, or part -- bear in mind that the the weekend retreat with Dokusan is the heart of our practice; if you can only do one part, choose the weekend.
December 8th - 9:30 p.m.
1. Bodhi Night: Thursday night, after the end of Dharma class, through breakfast the next morning, join us for all-night overnight Zazen (sitting meditation, interspersed with walking meditation and the occasional tea break meditation).
December 9th -
beginning at 9:30 a.m.
2. On Friday, join us during a pre-Sesshin Temple Work Day. Keeping/seeking meditative mind in work, there will be group and individual activities, with ample opportunity to rest for those *recovering* from sitting all night.
December 9th - 8:00 p.m.
through December 11th
3. On Friday evening, our formal, "normal" Rohatsu Sesshin will begin, continuing through the end of Sunday Service.
Plan to stay at DZC overnight Friday and Saturday.*
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*During Sesshin, all-night sitting is not required, but is always an option - should you be so inclined..
Additional Details in the December newsletter, -- but please RSVP asap.
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"All I teach is Loving Kindness."
--Thây Thích Minh Nhat
Of all the holidays celebrated in this country, be they religious or secular, my favorite holiday is Thanksgiving.
When I was living in the Midwest, this time of the year was special as we watched Nature change from Fall to Winter and people's festive moods anticipated various celebrations to be held. I loved the gatherings of friends and families around the table to enjoy company, feast on food and to share gratitude.
Usually, we were grateful for health, work, success in school, and many other reasons. However, over the years, I always felt something was missing in this "litany of gratitude."
I wondered what other thing might or should we be grateful for? What was missing?
My Rabbi friends have always told me that when studying we should approach the writings as if we were Talmudic scholars, examining the materials, paragraph by paragraph, line by line, word by word. One day, I was reading an article about Thanksgiving and I just kept looking at the word, studying it. And, then, I did something.
I split the word in two: "Thanks" and "Giving".
And there it was.
Thanksgiving is the day, any day, we give thanks for the gift of giving.
This is Metta,* without the turkey.
May you be well and happy, peaceful & free from suffering.
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*Metta is the Sanskrit word for Loving Kindness.
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