Upcoming Retreat

Spring  Zazenkai – One Day Retreat

20th September 2014

Hi Dear Friends

As promised, our one day retreat (Zazenkai), is coming up on Saturday 20th, September at the Erina Zendo.

I have provided the program below, but it may change slightly during the day, depending on the weather.

As per tradition, let's keep our food to a vegetarian mix.

Breakfast will be quite a simple self service of toast, muesli, fruit juice, teas,coffee etc. Please bring a little something for yourself if this is unsuitable.

Lunch will be "please bring a plate" to share. I'll do a quinoa (or some brown rice) and veges with no gluten, legumes etc). Perhaps others could bring a salad or another vege dish? We wont be ready to do Oryoki on this retreat but it's coming soon :-). We will practice mindful eating though.

I also have some beautiful Mountain Oolong tea to experience during ceremony.

Please wear your comfy blacks or dark colours. You will need some walking shoes too and maybe a hat. Those who wish to wear the Zen hats during the "Anya Walk" may need to wear a scarf or head band underneath. I'm looking to have the inner head piece modified to be a foam and material band for more comfort.

Standard Zendo ettiquette applies. Please refrain from using strong deodorants colognes, after shave lotions and perfumes. Mobile phones should be switched to silent or turned off.

So really all is needed is yourself, a hat and a plate for lunch.

The topic for the group discussion at 2.30 pm, will be Chapter One (1) of "What The Buddha Taught" by Walpola Rahula. The chapter title is "The Buddhist Attitude of Mind" You can find it here.....

Just a short note that this was first published in 1959, so it doesn't include current gender conventions. That said, the tone of the text is quite well written for the general public and should promote some healthy discussion.

There are no dues or fees for the retreat, but any small contributions to cover the retreat costs would be welcome. They can be placed in the donations box near the entry.

Any questions please just come back to me.

Yours in the Dharma

Hoka Matt. 

Program

7:00 Arrive (Chosho -morning bell tolled 9 times)

7:15-Call to Zazen - (Han or Moktok)

7:30-8:00 One period of Zazen (Chosan- first morning meditation)

8.00-8.30 Chanting practice

8:30- Kitchen aids prepare Genkan for breakfast- bring out trays and toaster :-)

8:30-9:15 Breakfast ceremony “Mindful Eating - Silence for the first 30 minutes”

9:15-9:30 Break and kitchen clean up.

Second Morning Session

9:30- Call to Zazen (Han or Moktok)

9:35-10:40 Two periods of Zazen alternated with Kinhin and Dokusan

9:35-10:40 Dokusan (one on one meeting with the teacher) by rotation.

11.00-11:45 Anya Walk – Rumbalara Reserve

11:50 Han or Moktok Roll

12:00-12:30 One Period of Zazen

12:30- 12:40 Kitchen aids prepare Genkan for lunch- bring out trays

12:40-1:30 Social Lunch

Afternoon Session

1:30-2:00 Break and kitchen cleanup

1:45- Call to Zazen (Han or Moktok)

2:00-2.30 One period of Zazen

2:30-4:00 Tea ceremony, Teisho/Group Discussion

4:00-Closing - Konsho  (striking the evening bell) tolled 9 times  _/|\_