January 2022
Dear Friends,
A typical challenge in Zen kong-ans often goes something like this: “If you find this, I will hit you thirty times. If you cannot find this, I will also hit you thirty times. What can you do?” But lest we think this is just esoteric “Zen speak”, we might recognize this as a framing for our perennial human quandary. What do we do when we’re caught between a rock and a hard place?
Regardless of circumstance, even in the midst of surging endemic crises, our Zen practice teaches us that there is always an opening. And there is a way through it. How do we navigate through an ocean of suffering? The Four Noble Truths are there to guide us. And, unique to our own tradition, we also have many kong-ans to help steer us through obscuring waves of karmic conditioning. For example: how do you ride the ship with no bottom?
Here’s a hint: always let Don’t Know Mind be the ballast for that Prajna ship. So let us take heart and open the mind’s eye-view a little wider, and then wider still. Let us, all together, not be alarmed, but alert. Forms, feelings, perceptions, impulses, and consciousness are in constant flux. But the dharma gate is always closer that we might think.
Moment by moment—great love, great compassion, great bodhisattva way!
Yours in the dharma,
Jeong Ji
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Photo by Eric Nord, JDPSN |
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Your Support
PLEASE SUPPORT US by becoming a member OR INCREASING YOUR MEMBERSHIP LEVEL
In large part, our Zen Center is sustained by the contributions of our members. In return, our members receive a discount on retreats, have a say in our community’s direction, and have access to an extensive range of dharma talks and other resources on our website. But more importantly, membership means that we support one another. Together we form a unique and vital family that grows together, through all kinds of conditions.
Whether you practice with us every day, or occasionally, or just appreciate the work we do, please consider joining as a member. If you’re already a member, please consider increasing your level of membership. Your financial contribution can be made at a variety of levels ranging from $10 to $120 per month. Whatever the level of your investment, we exist in order to support you in your Zen practice.
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January 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 necessary, 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:
- Sunday 9am
- Monday - Saturday 7am
- Tuesday 7pm
Sessions with Dharma Talks:
- Tuesday, January 18 7pm - Eric Nord, JDPSN
Sessions with Dharma Dialogues:
- Tuesday, January 4 7pm - Senior Dharma Teachers
Introduction to Zen Workshop:
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January In-Person Events
You are welcome to join any of these in-person events at the Blue Heron Zen Center.
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Sundays 9am - Indoor regular practice
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Fridays 10am - Half-hour sit, followed by (BYO) tea with Zen Master Jeong Ji
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2022 Kyol Che
Tuesday January 25 7pm
As a sangha, each year in the winter months, we support each other in an intensified practice season, called Kyol Che. Designed for laypeople with busy lives, we provide a series of talks, interviews and retreats to support practice. Individually, those who sign up for Kyol Che fill out a contract with themselves and the teacher, as a commitment to deepening and renewing their training.
Please watch for a followup email with more details.
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3-Day Online Retreat with Eric Nord, JDPSN
Friday January 28 - Saturday January 30
On Friday, we'll gather our virtual community for a two-day long online-only 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. Please register using this form by Wednesday, January 26. 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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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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