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Winter Study Group
February 16, 2020 @ 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
One event on March 15, 2020 at 9:00 am
One event on April 12, 2020 at 9:00 am
Our annual winter study group is an excellent way to deepen your practice beyond weekly attendance, to look into the way in which zazen and the Buddha’s teachings influences our day to day lives. The study group offers support and insight from others who are also asking the same questions on how to live in an awakened way under the particular circumstances we each experience.
While our fall Ango period focuses on the theme of zazen, personal koan, and the teaching of emptiness, the focus of our winter study group is on how zazen takes shape in the context of family, work, nature and the wider community. The study group follows a particular text or subject for 8 weeks and hold three one day retreats at Zen West. Participants post weekly online reflections in response to question prompts and suggested practices from Seido. Talks on Thursday evenings at Zen West will be rooted in our study together.
If you’d like to register for this group, a minimum requirement is that you are able to participate in at least two of the three Sunday retreats. (Exceptions may be made for previous Ango participants and distance students – please consult with Seido about this.) Participants should be members of the sangha and have some experience with zazen, Zen practice, and the Zen West ~ Empty Field weekly meditation. If this is your first time with a study period with us, attending the first retreat may be required. Participants are asked to make a good faith effort to post a short reflection each week in the online discussion group and are highly encouraged to attend Thursday evening sittings.
2020Theme: Being Time
Recommended Text: Being Time: A Practitioners Guide to Dogen’s Shobogenzo Uji by Shinshu Roberts
Day Sunday Retreat dates: February 16, March 15, April 12
9 AM – 5 PM @ Zen West
Sample Retreat Schedule
Silent Morning
9 AM – 1 PM – Traditional Zen Silent Pactices: Zazen, Walking Meditation, Service, Sanzen, Work Practice, Oryoki Lunch
Afternoon Study
1:30 – 5 PM – Group Introductions, Dharma Talk, Discussion, Exercises, Closing Circle