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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
8 - Roshi 15 - Tam Hu'o'ng 22 - Tam Hu'o'ng Vietnamese New Year's Eve Tết Celebration 29 - Thay Minh Nhat
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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.
We're finishing up The Zen Teachings of Bodhidharma and soon will be diving into the Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra
(see Dharma Class page on website for online links).
Please join us. |
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Plan Ahead 2011-2012
Event Schedule
Life is uncertain...
Everything changes
January
14 Temple Work Day and Mala Making 9 - ?
22 Vietnamese New Year's Eve / Tết celebrated.
February
10-12 Winter Sesshin
March
10 Temple Work Day
April 8 Hanamatsuri /
Buddha's Birthday
14 Temple Work Day
May 11-13 Dogen Sesshin
Note: DZC plans various events on the second Saturday of every month.
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Why not mark your calendars now?.
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January 14th, 9-??
Workday & Mala Making Workshop .
You'll notice above a scheduled Mala Making Workshop for January 14th.
Please RSVP to
Su Co ASAP,
or she'll find some other work to keep her busy! |
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In the tradition & color of our Patriarch, The Most Venerable H.T. Thích Thiên Ân, the greater sangha of DZC presented our Master a new "Roshi Rakusu" in thanks for his teachings and kindnesses on January 18th.
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Happy
Double New Year
January 1st brought us into 2012, and January 23rd will bring us into the Year of the Dragon, according to the Vietnamese Lunar Calendar. Join the sangha at DZC on Sunday, January 22nd, 10 a.m. for New Year's Eve Sunday Service and a New Year feast.
Tết Nguyên Đán!
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Florence Macy, our newest Upāsikā*
Starting the New Year fresh, Florence Macy, was given Lay Precepts by Thích Ân Giáo Roshi at our New Year's Day Service. The ceremony, also known as Taking Refuge, declares and dedicates one as an "Official Buddhist." Florence was given the new Sanskrit Dharma** name of Metta Muktika, which means Loving Kindness - Great Potential. In truth, Florence already demonstrates many aspects of Metta during her time with us at DZC, the most immediately apparent are baked into the delicious pies and treats with which she makes sweet our time together.
We bow in welcome & congratulations!
(Sorry, no photo of Metta Muktika available at this time - will be on website &
in February newsletter... just as soon as someone sends Su Co a photo!)
*Sanskrit: literally means "attendant," but is used to indicate a devout Buddhist laywoman, **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, indicates the Buddhist teachings and path.
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Bell Tower Dedication
Our beautiful new Bell Tower was dedicated on December 11th, as part of our Rohatsu/Bodhi Day celebration. We were joined by pilgrims from San Diego, Long Beach and Orange County, and treated to fabulous Vietnamese (and heartland America) food.
The very possibility that we now have this building was made possible through the generous donations of two people:
Funding provided by Huynh Thi Ngoc Huong (Julie)
Design and Labor provided by Rob Campbell
Our deepest gratitude to them both, and to all the others in our sangha who played vital supporting roles in construction and decoration.
We regret that Julie was not able to be with us but, as you can see, Rob represented them both when he cut the "official" ribbon, opening the Bell Tower so that everyone could ring the bell.
See Quicklinks section to left to visit our Bell Tower Dedication Photo Page, as well as a YouTube video and Flikr array of the event.
As you will see, a great time was had by all!
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All I teach is Loving Kindness...
As we go through our lives, we would do well to consider the thoughtfulness of a little girl who did not prejudge.
The Buddha, before his enlightenment, almost killed himself in his search to find the answer to the end of suffering. He staggered to sit at the outskirts of a small village and was found by a small girl named Sujata.
Can you imagine what she saw? Here was a person who was gaunt, wore rags, had long messy hair and a beard; he probably did not smell nice. She gave him some rice milk she was carrying. She continued to bring him food and he got his strength back.
She could have run away, frightened by such a sight. She didn't run or prejudge. She saw somebody in need and responded.
I have always said we can learn from children, if we are open. Let us think of her and what we might learn from her actions, her teaching.
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