January 2020

Dear Friends,

A pledge for the new year: to gift oneself, moment by moment, “enough mind”.
Zen Master Seung Sahn would often bring up this imperative, “You must attain Enough Mind!”, perceiving that so much of our suffering is based on wanting things to be different than they are.

Though it seems like a herculean task at times, we have the gentle practice of Zen meditation, of opening the hand of perception, of accepting the gift of Enough Mind. Like waves meeting a shoreline, may our mind meet the moment without any separation whatsoever, without lack or excess. Just Enough. Complete. Exquisite.

For some, an entire lifetime can be spent in distress over the dream of desire and only at the last moment, near to death, is there finally a release from this delusion. Sometimes, a dramatic near-death experience can jolt one awake to realization. Recently I came across this quote from one of the greatest writers of all time, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, written just hours after he was about to be shot by a firing squad and at the last moment, given a reprieve. He wrote this: “Brother! I’m not despondent and I haven’t lost heart. Life is everywhere, life is in us ourselves, not outside. There will be people by my side, and to be a human being among people and to remain one forever, no matter in what circumstances, not to grow despondent and not to lose heart—that’s what life is all about, that’s its task.”

May we, in more ordinary circumstances, attain this profound realization and thereby find our uniquely human task in 2020, and for the next 10,000 years to come.

Mind to mind, wave to shore, yours in the dharma,

Jeong Ji
Waves
Photo by Eric Nord, JDPSN
January Events

Kong-An Interviews:

1st Tuesday of the month: January 7

2nd Sunday of the month: January 12

3rd Wednesday of the month: January 15

Consulting Interviews: None scheduled

Special Chanting: Sunday, January 5

Please visit the  website calendar for complete and current details of these events and for the weekly practice schedule. 
Three Day Retreat with Eric Nord, JDPSN

Friday - Saturday, Jan 31 - Feb 1 7am-8:30pm
Sunday, February 2 7am-3pm

Retreats offer a rare opportunity to let go of the demands of our busy lives and recognize our inherent compassion and wisdom through dedicated Zen training. Each day includes chanting, sitting and walking meditation, work practice, a private kong-an interview and formal vegetarian meals. Here’s more detailed retreat information and retreat schedule.

Members: $30 plus dana* per day, Non-members: $40 plus dana* per day.
*dana is a voluntary gratitude to our teacher

Please register online by Tuesday, January 28.
Fundamentals of Zen

Sunday, January 12 1pm

The Fundamentals of Zen workshop will give you detailed information about how to practice with the body, breath and mind, and introduce you to other practice forms such as chanting, walking meditation and bowing. There is ample opportunity to ask questions and try different techniques. All kinds of body types and physical conditions can access this ancient tradition of meditation. Working with one of our teachers, we help to make it as comfortable and practical as possible. Pre-registration is not necessary.
Kyol Che Opening Ceremony

Tuesday January 28: 7pm

In Korea, Kyol Che is a traditional intensive practice that takes place annually during the winter and summer. The name means “tight dharma” or “coming together.” Originally it was undertaken by monks and nuns doing intensive sitting practice in mountain temples. Here, in our busy and complex American lives, most of us cannot afford either the time or money to participate in this traditional practice model. But in our version of Kyol Che, we take the same principle to heart so that we, too, can intensify our practice and help others for a 90-day period within the reality of our own circumstances.

This year’s Kyol Che theme will be The Zen Circle and its Sources. Over the course of six workshops, we’ll first look at how this core training tool can benefit your Zen practice, and then explore the original teachings that form its foundation.

Please email Eric Nord, JDPSN and/or add your name to the sign-up sheet on our bulletin board at the Zen Center.
Monthly Potluck and Book Club

Sunday, January 26: 10am

Our book club continues with letters from Swampland Flowers by the great 12th c. Chinese Zen Master Ta Hui, translated by Christopher Cleary. Please check our website for the letters we plan to discuss.
Christmas Brunch at YouthCare

Serving brunch at the Youthcare Orion Center on December 25th was an amazing and fun experience. There were over 20 youth who visited the center from 11am to 1pm. We started prepping around 10, started serving brunch around 11:30, and finished cleaning up by about 1:30 or 2. Our fabulous coordinator, Unique, planned the meal and was our chef.

The diners were gracious and very hungry (especially for meat!). They played games, chatted, and shared the meal while we washed dishes, chatted, and served the food. We are grateful to Youthcare for allowing us this opportunity to contribute and look forward to being back again soon.
Managing Email Preferences

To provide a better Blue Heron Zen Community email experience, we now support two email lists. One list is for people who are interested in receiving the monthly newsletters (like this one). The other list is for occasional emails that announce schedule changes, retreat reminders and other events.

Everyone is currently subscribed to both lists. If you would like to change your subscription, please click on the "Update Profile" link at the bottom of this email and choose "Submit" on the web page. You will receive an email that lets you change your subscriptions.

If you have any questions, please contact us.