September 2021 Newsletter

September 2021

Dear Friends,

We sit at the threshold of everything that is about to occur – catastrophe and illumination, life and death, choices to be made, errors to rectify. How critical it is that we allow our minds to rest and open right here, right now! This beginning place is the pinnacle of being. It’s not a preparation for the real work ahead. It is the real work. Just look. Be. Do. With our brightest and fullest attention.

How can we not feel gratitude for this opportunity? And for this awe-inspiring life?

With that in mind, I’d just like to express the gratitude that I know we all feel for our sangha members who have worked so hard to keep our Zen community together, and healthy. It’s been a hard year with many unexpected challenges. Thank you for your dedication to this remarkable practice that we do.

Yours, alongside you at the threshold,

Jeong Ji

Photo by Eric Nord, JDPSN

Practice Schedule Change Due to Spike in Delta COVID-19

Beginning in September, in-person practice on Sunday mornings and Tuesday evenings will temporarily be suspended.

The decision to temporarily suspend in-person practice on Sundays and Tuesday evenings was made after careful consideration by the Re-Opening Committee and the Blue Heron Board, in response to the rise of the Delta variant of COVID-19. This decision will remain under review, and our intention is to resume expanded in-person practice when COVID-associated risks have lessened.

See below for the schedule.

September Online Sessions

You are welcome to join in on any of these sessions. No sign up necessary. Just join the online group practice at the appropriate time for any of our group practices. If you need to, entering late is okay, as is leaving early. If it’s your first time trying this out, come early if you can. The Head Dharma Teacher will be available to help you get started.

Sessions:

Monday - Saturday 7am (online only)
Sunday 9am (online only)
Tuesday 7pm (online only)
Friday 10am (In-person outdoors, with possibility of indoor practice during inclement weather)

Sessions with Dharma Talks:

Sunday, September 5 9am - Zen Master Jeong Ji

Sessions with Dharma Dialogues:

Tuesday, September 9 7pm - Senior Dharma Teachers

Intro to Zen:

Sunday, September 5 1pm-2pm we are offering a one-hour online introduction. Please register if you would like to attend. Dana (donation) is welcome but not required.

Please visit the website calendar for complete and current details of these events and for the weekly practice schedule.

Guiding Teacher's Tea

Friday 10am

Starting in September Zen Master Jeong Ji will be joining the Friday morning in-person practice every week. After practice, we'll have tea and conversation (but bring your own tea, please!). For those of you able to attend, she looks forward to this time that we can be together at the Zen Center.

A BIG THANK YOU

We want to thank an anonymous donor for their amazing generosity. We recently received a gift of a complete set of mats and cushions. Dharma Teacher Gerald was there to accept them.

They are very comfortable and will be greatly appreciated by all our sangha members and guests.

THANK YOU!!!

If you would like to claim one of our old mats or cushions, please send email to Gerald to set up a time to stop by the Zen Center.

Long White Cloud Qigong (Seattle) Community Practice

Dharma Teacher Gerald is offering weekly sessions now at no charge. We have a small but growing core of regulars. He is administering the group on the Meetup website. We meet outdoors with social distancing. Locations include Green Lake Park and Licton Springs Park. Questions can be directed to lwcqseattle@gmail.com.

Online Dharma Dialogues

Zen Master Jeong Ji will offer online Zoom Dharma Dialogues from 2pm to 4pm the week of September 19. Kong-an training is available in these dialogues (but not required). These will be scheduled individually, separate from our regular practice times. Sign up for a Dharma Dialogue. You will receive an email with the Zoom video conference information before the date of your dialogue.

Students may wish to offer dana to the teacher. These expressions of gratitude are most welcome. To anonymously provide dana to the teacher, please click here to donate.

Our senior dharma teachers are offering Online Dharma Dialogues if you would like to discuss your practice and any questions you may have. Please get in touch with them individually to schedule an appointment if you would like a one-on-one Zoom meeting.

Jeff Tipp PSN jefftipp@gmail.com
Greg Eisen eisengn@gmail.com
Paul Gulick paul@blueheronzen.org
John Craycraft johnc@blueheronzen.org
Chris Chapman chris@blueheronzen.org

Our Online Altar

We invite you to register a name of a loved one who is currently suffering for our Kwan Seum Bosal Chanting, or for Ji Jang Bosal Chanting, for a loved one who has recently died. We will recite these names when we do special chanting.

Looking Forward

3-day retreat with Zen Master Jeong Ji: October 22-24