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| Desert Zen Center - Chùa Thiên Ân |
| a Zen Buddhist temple dedicated to teaching meditation to everyone |
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| Turning of the Year
December 2011
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10 a.m.
Meditation
Dharma Talk
Chanting
November
27 - Tâm Hu'o'ng
Renewing the Precepts Lunch & Music December 4 - Roshi 11 - Thây Minh Nhat Bell Tower Dedication 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 tea & Dharma class in the Sangha Hall.
Please join us. |
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Plan Ahead 2011-2012
Event Schedule
Life is uncertain...
Everything changes
NovemberDecember 8 Bodhi Day- One night Retreat: Practice Meditation throughout the night
9 Temple Work Day 9-11 Rohatsu Sesshin/Retreat
11 Dedicate Bell Tower
25 Closed for Holiday January1 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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Call
for 
Amusing hats optional.
Contact Su Co to volunteer 818-535-7286 |
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Reminder
No Dharma Class - Thanksgiving
No Sunday Service - Christmas Day
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Bodhi Day /Rohatsu
This year, DZC will be honoring the Buddha's enlightenment in a three-part Bodhi Day retreat. Join us for all, or part,
1. December 8th - 9:30 p.m.
Bodhi Night: Thursday night, after the end of Dharma class, through breakfast the next morning, join us for all-night overnight meditation: zazen (sitting)
interspersed with walking meditation and the occasional tea break meditation.
2. December 9th - throughout the
day, beginning at 9:30 a.m. All day Friday, join in for a pre-Sesshin Temple Work Day, preparing for our Bell Tower Dedication on Sunday. 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.
3. December 9th - 8:00 p.m.
through December 11th
Arrive early Friday evening, as we begin our traditional, Rohatsu Sesshin at 8 p.m. Join us for a weekend of meditation: zazen (sitting), kinhin (walking). samu (working) and mindfulness throughout the day & night, including chanting services and opportunity for dokusan (formal interview with Roshi).
For all days: Dress in comfortable, loose clothing; layers are a good choice as weather is unpredictable, although nights are cold. Bring sleeping bag/bedding. towels and personal toiletries, warm clothes & outwear (including work clothes, sturdy shoes, hat and gloves). Plan to leave the world (e.g. cell phones, watches and so forth) outside the Zendo door.
Formal, ample, vegetarian meals 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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*During Sesshin, all-night sitting is not required, but is always an option - should you be so inclined..
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Bell Tower Dedication Ceremony December 11th
10 a.m.
Formal dedication of our wonderful, new Bell Tower will be held at the conclusion of our Rohatsu Sesshin on Sunday, December 11th, during our Service. Following the ceremony, please leave time to join us for a feast and festivities in the Sangha Hall.
All are welcome.
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Winter Holidays
Closed Thanksgiving & Christmas.
Join us New Year's Day, Sunday, January 1st,
to Renew the Precepts &
Vietnamese New Year's Eve/Day, Sunday, January 22nd,
to celebrate the coming of the Year of the Dragon
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"All I teach is Loving Kindness."
--Thây Thích Minh Nhat
I have read that his Holiness the Dalai Lama's very waking is a prayer of love and compassion, dedicating the coming actions of the day to the benefit of all.
What a beautiful practice of metta*, a classic practice of selflessness.
But, wait, "to the benefit of all," includes everyone - even ourselves. Many times, we forget or find it difficult to love ourselves; we don't feel particularly lovable in the moment. But this is the core of the practice of Loving Kindness. How can we love others if we can't love ourselves?
May I be well and happy, peaceful and free from suffering.
We might consider the advice of Miguel de Cervantes, the great Spanish author:
"Love not what you are
but what you may become."
Embrace the central Buddhist concept of impermanence (Sanskrit: anitya, Pali: anicca). There is a Chinese proverb which says,
"Be not afraid of growing slowly.
Be afraid of standing still."
Don't waste your time being stuck. Rejoice in the fact that everything changes, and will change again and again.
Loving kindness is a jewel that we have within us, but so many times we do not see it. The Sufi Poet Rumi expressed it so well when he wrote, "You wander from room to room, hunting for the diamond necklace that is already around your neck." Let your "Diamond Necklace" be a gift to all..
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*Metta is the Sanskrit word for Loving Kindness.
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