April 2021
Dear Friends,
Long ago, Buddha sat down in order to give a Dharma talk before a vast assembly of followers. After sitting for an extended period of time in silence, he held up a flower. Everyone was silent. Only Mahakashyapa smiled. After this extraordinary event, Buddha gave what was probably an unnecessarily long speech about transmission that somehow or other became famous.
But for me, the most beautiful embodiments to arise out of this tale, are the flower and the smile. Really, the Buddha and Mahakashyapa are minor players in this drama. Let’s dispense with them and get on to the important teaching here.
Spring is here! In all the brilliant diversity of colors, bearing up and bursting through the wind, the chill and the rain with the vitality of life itself, a smile and a flower are born together, as one.
May each one of us meet the flowering moment with this beautiful smile of recognition…Oh, here we are! How extraordinary!
Yours,
Jeong Ji
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Photo by Eric Nord, JDPSN |
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April Online Sessions
You are welcome to join in on any of these online sessions. No sign up necessary, just join 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
- Sunday 9am
- Tuesday 7pm
- Wednesday 10am
- Thursday 5:30pm
Sessions with Dharma Talks:
- Sunday, April 4 9am - Zen Master Jeong Ji
- Tuesday, April 13 7pm - Archetypal Figures
- Tuesday, April 27 7pm - The Six Modes of Existence
Sessions with Dharma Dialogues:
- Tuesday, April 6 7pm
- Tuesday, April 20 7pm
3-hour Retreat:
Book Club:
Intro to Zen:
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Friday Outdoor Practice
Fridays 10:00am - 10:30am
We are holding in-person practice outdoors at the Zen Center every Friday morning from 10:00 am to 10:30 am. We will practice outdoors, reciting the Four Great Views, sitting for 25 minutes, and then have a brief reading at the end.
This practice will be entirely outdoors; use of the building will be for emergencies only. In the interest of everyone’s safety, we ask that you remain masked, bring your own cushion and remain at least six feet apart from others. Clean chairs will be provided if necessary.
Because of the King County pandemic guidelines we are limiting the number of participants. If you plan to attend a session, please register for that session. |
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Buddha's Birthday
Sunday, April 11 at 9am
As many of you know, we hold a sangha meeting after Buddha's Birthday Ceremony in April. It's a wonderful time for our sangha to meet as a whole to discuss the current well-being and future direction of our community. Members and guests are encouraged to attend and are welcome to add agenda items at the beginning of the meeting, or may contact Abbot Paul beforehand.
Immediately after the sangha meeting there will be a meeting of the Blue Heron Board.
We hope all interested people and practitioners will consider becoming a member of our community. Not only do you gain practical benefits such as discounts on retreats and access to our members-only section of talks and teachings on the website, but you will be supported in your practice and become a vital participant of our sangha family. Your support helps us to maintain our building and grounds, and allows us to offer the dharma for all beings. For more information, see the Membership page of the website or contact us at info@blueheronzen.org. |
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Online Dharma Dialogue Opportunities
Monday, April 12 - Saturday, April 17
Zen Master Jeong Ji will offer online Zoom Dharma Dialogues from 2pm to 4pm the week of April 12. 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. |
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Three-Day Online Retreat with Eric Nord, JDPSN
Friday, April 23 to Sunday, April 25 7:00am-4:30pm
On Friday, we'll gather our virtual community for a three-day long immersion in group practice, Dharma talks and personal interviews. The schedule is available here. Please join us, to enliven the solitude we have each embraced for the safety and sake of all beings.
The fee for this retreat is $35/day for non-members, $25/day for members.
A voluntary gift of dana* to the teacher will be accepted with gratitude.
Join us for this online retreat using the Zoom teleconferencing platform.
If you join using the Zoom app:
Meeting ID: 228 228 1938
Password: 0 108 01
*dana is a voluntary donation to our teacher.
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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.
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Essentials Drive
Twelve Blue Heron Zen Center members and four cars participated in our Community Engagement Committee's non-food essentials drive on Sunday, March 14. Toilet paper, wipes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, beauty supplies, diapers, dish soap, and more will be distributed to the greater north Seattle community via North Seattle Helpline.
Thanks to our generous and compassionate community for helping out at a time when there is so much need. Watch for details on our next drive in June and our neighborhood cleanup event in May! All are welcome to participate.
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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. |
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