Dear all
We will be having a one day spring retreat on Saturday, April 5th of this year, to both celebrate Hanamatsuri (https://www.kanpai-japan.com/lifesty...suri-kanbutsue) and 700 years since the death of Master Soji Keizan, the other patriarch of Soto Zen alongside Eihei Dogen Zenji.
The format for this retreat can be found in the attached PDF which you can download and print if you wish to. Our hope is that this is a manageable schedule for everyone to join in full or in part, so that you'll also be able to have time with your families or to handle your responsibilities during that day/weekend.
My apologies that this is shorter notice than is ideal but I hope that many of you will be able to join us for this event.
On Hanamatsuri
Hanamatsuri traditionally takes place on 8 April in Japan, and is a dual celebration of the birth day of the Buddha, and the emergence and viewing of cherry blossoms which is an important part of Japanese culture. Hanamatsuri literally translates as Flower Festival. It is not unlike the Christian Easter in its combining of a religious event with nature's cycles.
Hanamatsuri corresponds to Vesak in South Asian Buddhist traditions as marking the birth of the Buddha, with this based on the lunar calendar and taking place on the full moon in April or May depending on the date.
Keizan Zenji
Keizan Jōkin (1268–1325) is second only to Master Dōgen in terms of his importance to Sōtō Zen and in fact the Sōtōshu operates on the view of Ichibutsu Ryoso (One Buddha, Two Founders). The Sōtōshu Constitution declares that, “The Sōtōshu shall primarily honour Shakyamuni Buddha, and shall honour Koso Joyo Daishi (Dogen Zenji) and Taiso Josai Daishi (Keizan Zenji) as its Two Founders.”
Whereas Dōgen is credited with founding the Sōtō school in Japan, Keizan is seen as having been responsible for its popularisation and spread . He also founded Sōji-ji which, together with Dōgen’s own Eihei-ji temple, is to this day one of the two head Sōtō Zen training centres.
Keizan’s notable writings include Denkōroku (The Record of the Transmission of the Light), which contains enlightenment stories for the first 53 Zen ancestors, from the Buddha to Master Dōgen (although it should be noted that these are more legendary than historical), and Zazen-Yōjinki (Points to Keep in Mind when Practicing Zazen).
DOWNLOADABLE RETREAT CHANT BOOK: >> One Day Retreat Chant Book.pdf <<
DOWNLOADABLE RETREAT SCHEDULE: >> One Day Retreat Schedule.pdf <<
Full Retreat Schedule:
Europe Start time : 9 am CET - End time: 15 pm CET
America Start time : 9 am EST - End time 15 pm EST
Local times also available on our Practice Calendar >>
We will meet in the Zoom Scheduled Sitting Room >>
9:00 Zazen Opening Bell
30´Zazen
10´ Kinhin
30´Zazen
5´Kinhin
25´Zazen + Verse of Okesa and putting on robe
10:45 Morning Service Preparation
10:50 Morning Service (includes Lineage Chant, special Eko)
11:15 Tea break
11:30 Dharma Talk (verses for opening and closing Sutras)
12:00 Community Discussion based on the talk
12:30 Lunch Break
13:30 Zazen
30’ Zazen
10’ Kinhin
25’ Zazen
5’ Kinhin
14:40 Closing Short Service
15:00 End
We will begin the retreat the same way we do our weekly Sunday Zazenkai or the Rohatsu retreat, directly by sitting. Simply come in the room on time, head towards your sitting place and get yourself ready. Do not wear your Okesa or Rakusu, just have them close at hand, since we will recite the verse of the robe together at the end of morning Zazen.
Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday/lah-
We will be having a one day spring retreat on Saturday, April 5th of this year, to both celebrate Hanamatsuri (https://www.kanpai-japan.com/lifesty...suri-kanbutsue) and 700 years since the death of Master Soji Keizan, the other patriarch of Soto Zen alongside Eihei Dogen Zenji.
The format for this retreat can be found in the attached PDF which you can download and print if you wish to. Our hope is that this is a manageable schedule for everyone to join in full or in part, so that you'll also be able to have time with your families or to handle your responsibilities during that day/weekend.
My apologies that this is shorter notice than is ideal but I hope that many of you will be able to join us for this event.
On Hanamatsuri
Hanamatsuri traditionally takes place on 8 April in Japan, and is a dual celebration of the birth day of the Buddha, and the emergence and viewing of cherry blossoms which is an important part of Japanese culture. Hanamatsuri literally translates as Flower Festival. It is not unlike the Christian Easter in its combining of a religious event with nature's cycles.
Hanamatsuri corresponds to Vesak in South Asian Buddhist traditions as marking the birth of the Buddha, with this based on the lunar calendar and taking place on the full moon in April or May depending on the date.
Keizan Zenji
Keizan Jōkin (1268–1325) is second only to Master Dōgen in terms of his importance to Sōtō Zen and in fact the Sōtōshu operates on the view of Ichibutsu Ryoso (One Buddha, Two Founders). The Sōtōshu Constitution declares that, “The Sōtōshu shall primarily honour Shakyamuni Buddha, and shall honour Koso Joyo Daishi (Dogen Zenji) and Taiso Josai Daishi (Keizan Zenji) as its Two Founders.”
Whereas Dōgen is credited with founding the Sōtō school in Japan, Keizan is seen as having been responsible for its popularisation and spread . He also founded Sōji-ji which, together with Dōgen’s own Eihei-ji temple, is to this day one of the two head Sōtō Zen training centres.
Keizan’s notable writings include Denkōroku (The Record of the Transmission of the Light), which contains enlightenment stories for the first 53 Zen ancestors, from the Buddha to Master Dōgen (although it should be noted that these are more legendary than historical), and Zazen-Yōjinki (Points to Keep in Mind when Practicing Zazen).
DOWNLOADABLE RETREAT CHANT BOOK: >> One Day Retreat Chant Book.pdf <<
DOWNLOADABLE RETREAT SCHEDULE: >> One Day Retreat Schedule.pdf <<
Full Retreat Schedule:
Europe Start time : 9 am CET - End time: 15 pm CET
America Start time : 9 am EST - End time 15 pm EST
Local times also available on our Practice Calendar >>
We will meet in the Zoom Scheduled Sitting Room >>
9:00 Zazen Opening Bell
30´Zazen
10´ Kinhin
30´Zazen
5´Kinhin
25´Zazen + Verse of Okesa and putting on robe
10:45 Morning Service Preparation
10:50 Morning Service (includes Lineage Chant, special Eko)
11:15 Tea break
11:30 Dharma Talk (verses for opening and closing Sutras)
12:00 Community Discussion based on the talk
12:30 Lunch Break
13:30 Zazen
30’ Zazen
10’ Kinhin
25’ Zazen
5’ Kinhin
14:40 Closing Short Service
15:00 End
We will begin the retreat the same way we do our weekly Sunday Zazenkai or the Rohatsu retreat, directly by sitting. Simply come in the room on time, head towards your sitting place and get yourself ready. Do not wear your Okesa or Rakusu, just have them close at hand, since we will recite the verse of the robe together at the end of morning Zazen.
Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday/lah-
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