Desert Zen Center - Chùa Thiên Ân
a Zen Buddhist temple dedicated to teaching meditation to everyone

   June 2012       
In this issue:
Event Schedule
Quicklinks
Sesshin/Retreat
Instructions for Zazen
Loving Kindness
Contact us


Sunday Service

10 a.m.
 
Meditation
Dharma Talk
  Chanting   


June
  3 - Su Co Tam Huong
 10- Thay Minh Nhat
 17 - Roshi
 24 - Roshi

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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 tea & Dharma class in the Sangha Hall. 

We're enjoying a great class series focusing on Achaan Chah's A Still Forest Pool
(online link to the book on our website or simply click http://tinyurl.com/stillforest
thanks to our friends at dhammatalks.net).
   Please join us.   


Event Schedule

Life is uncertain...
Everything changes


June 
8-10 Sesshin/weekend retreat

July
14    Temple Work Day 
 

Note: DZC plans various events on the second Saturday of every month.  

Why not mark your calendars now?.

 

Website update...
Recent Dharma talk audio files being posted on the DZC website even as this is being sent to you. 
Sư Cô apologizes for the delay.
 
Quicklinks

Photos Portal   


June 8-10 - Sesshin
(Weekend Retreat) 
 
Join us for a weekend of meditation:   zazen (sitting), kinhin (walking). samu (working) & mindfulness throughout the day & night.  Formal meals & opportunities for dokusan (interview with Roshi).

RSVP to Roshi or Su Cô, please!

Arrive early Friday evening; meditation begins
at 8 p.m.
Stay at DZC Friday and Saturday nights. 
Retreat ends with lunch on Sunday.

Bring sleeping bag/bedding. towels & personal toiletries. Dress in comfortable, loose clothing; layers are a good choice as weather is unpredictable (Although summer is here and it's quite "warm," nights may be cool). Bring 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 provided.
Advise in advance of dietary restrictions and, unless medically necessary, please do not bring snacks or treats.

     

DZC does not charge for retreats; 
donations are most gratefully received.
The rose bush shows its true nature.   Photo by Susan Chacon 
INSTRUCTIONS FOR ZAZEN

 

Sit on the forward half of the cushion, in the lotus, half lotus or simply cross-legged.

 

The hands are held in the lap palm upward, left upon right, with the tips of your thumbs lightly touching. This is held in close to the lower abdomen, resting on your thighs.

 

The back is made straight by pushing in slightly at the small of the back, and your chin is tucked in, causing your face to tilt slightly downward.

 

The eyes are half open, or even drooping. Look at an imaginary spot three feet in front of you. Your eyes may be in, or out, of focus.

 

The lips are closed, the teeth are touching and the tongue is at the roof of the mouth, making contact with the back of your teeth.

 

All breathing is done through the nose. As you breathe in, the lower part of your body should expand; as you breathe out, it should contract. There should be little or no rise and fall of the chest.

 

Take two or three full breaths, forcing the air all the way down to where it stops. This will establish your breathing pattern. Now relax and breathe normally, but fully.

 

Stretch your back, lift your rib cage, and attempt to touch the ceiling with the top of your head. Without letting your rib cage fall back down, relax, sit, and breathe in a normal manner.

 

As thoughts arise, let them pass through; do not cling to thoughts, manufacture thoughts, or try to control them. Treat them as a breeze that blows across your face and then is gone. No anticipation or following of the breeze. It comes and then is gone.

 

If you become distracted by a sensation or thought, take one or two deep breaths, as in the beginning, to reestablish your breathing pattern.  

 

Continue meditation.

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All I teach is Loving Kindness...  
-- Thây Thích Minh Nhat     

Ananda* was passing a well. A low caste woman named Pakati** was drawing water and he asked her for a drink. She replied she couldn't do that because she was low caste and might contaminate him. Ananda replied he was not interested in caste but water.

When Pakati heard this, her heart leaped for joy.  She gave him the water.  When he left, she followed him at discreet distance. Finding that he was a Disciple of the Buddha, she went to the Buddha with a request.  She asked to be accepted so she could live in this place where Ananda dwelled. She said she wished to serve him because she loved Ananda.

The Buddha told her, "Your heart is full of love, not for Ananda, but for the Loving Kindness that he shown you.  You, in turn -- as a practice -- will show it to others."   
 
We can recognize Metta and think we understand Metta, but do we put it into action?

I love a quote from Silvia Boorstein, a wonderful teacher of the Dharma at Spirit Rock in Central California, when she says, 

"When you get the message, hang up the phone."  

She is telling us to put into practice what we have learned.
Do good things, not for your own sake, but for all things in the universe.

Lotus in bloom 
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*Ananda, the Buddha's cousin, acted as his attendant and was one of his principle Disciples.         
         The word Ananda means "joy" or "bliss" in Sanskrit.
**Pakati means "natural morality" in Sanskrit.


 

Desert Zen Center                                                              www.DesertZenCenter.org
Thích Ân Giáo
Roshi                                                           email: roshiDZC@hotmail.com 

10989 Buena Vista Road                                                    (760) 985-4567

Lucerne Valley, CA 92356-7303

Regarding this email or to contribute to future newsletters:     tamhuongDZC@yahoo.com

 
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