Zoketsu Norman Fischer, founder of Everyday Zen, will give a Dharma Talk on Tuesday night, May 28, at 7:45, following one period of zazen. Norman will speak on compassion in Zen practice based on his new book, Training in Compassion: Zen Teachings on the Practice of Lojong. Norman will speak the next night Wednesday, May 29, at the Regulator Bookshop in Durham.

Norman, a long-term practitioner at the San Francisco Zen Center, was co-abbot from 1995-2000. His books include Opening to You: Zen-inspired Translations of the Psalms; Taking Our Places: the Buddhist Path to Truly Growing Up; and Sailing Home: Using Homer’s Odyssey to Navigate Life’s Perils and Pitfalls, as well as many books of poetry.

June Practice Intensive: June 2 to 30

You are invited to join the four-week Practice Intensive beginning on Sunday, June 2 and going through Sunday, June 30. This is an opportunity to rededicate ourselves to daily zazen during a focused period of time, much as one would do at a residential practice center. You may want to experiment with the limits of your time and energy, throwing yourself into the zazen schedule, joining the efforts of others. In so doing, we mutually benefit by enjoying sitting together, supporting each other.

During the month of June, we will have our usual early morning zazen, Monday through Friday at 6:00 and 6:50, followed by service, and our regular Tuesday night zazen at 7:00. There will also be evening zazen on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings at 6:00, with a Study Group meeting after zazen on Thursday evenings from 6:40 to 8:00 p.m. There will be an all-day sitting on Sunday, June 16. Please sign up at the zendo for the all-day sitting.

There will be three Practice Period Teas on Sundays June 2, 9, and 30, after the usual Sunday morning program. (There will be no Tea during the all-day sitting on Sunday, June 16.) Those participating in the Practice Period are expected to attend Sunday morning Teas. For teas this year the participants will be asked to speak for about 5-10 minutes about how they came to practice and why they are doing the Practice Intensive. About half the group will speak during the first tea and the other half during the second tea. Because of our individual circumstances, there is no minimum participation other than the Practice Period Tea on Sunday mornings.

Please draw up a realistic schedule, perhaps one that will stretch you a little, and then try to commit yourself to your schedule. Joining others for zazen gives us a clear taste of our mutual interdependence. Our practice supports the practice of others and the practice of others benefits us all.

—Josho

Dharma Talks

Josho Pat Phelan will give public Dharma Talks on Sunday mornings, May 19, and June 16, at 10:30.

Zoketsu Norman Fischer will give a Dharma Talk on Tuesday night, May 28, at 7:45.

Wayseeking Mind Talks

As part of the June Practice Intensive there will be Way-seeking Mind talks on Tuesday nights, at 7:45, following one period of zazen at 7:00 p.m. These talks are about how people came to practice or what motivated them to practice. Mary Johnston began practicing in the tradition of Thich Nhat Han and she will give a talk on June 4. Carter Smith began practicing Zen in 1978 in the Sasaki Roshi lineage and he will speak on June 18. Kathleen Batson will give a talk on June 25, and she began practicing with the CHZC in 2000.

Practice Intensive

Study Group

Children’s Program

All-day Sitting

There will be an all-day sitting on Sunday, June 16, from 6:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. The sitting will begin with orientation on Saturday night at 7:30, and will include instruction on the meal form and one period of zazen. The regular Sunday schedule, with zazen at 9:00 and 9:50 and Dharma Talk at 10:30, will be open to everyone. The day will include zazen, a lecture, dokusan and a work period, as well as breakfast and lunch. The fee is $10 for members and $20 for others. It is alright to sit half of the day, but please sign up in advance, and please speak to Josho Sensei if this is your first all-day sitting. For more information on the oryoki meal form see: http://www.kannondo.org/oroyoki.

Richmond Zen Group

Josho Sensei will visit and give a talk at the Richmond Zen Group on Wednesday night, May 15, at 7:00. For more information contact Kevin at 804-366-5546 or see www.ekojirichmond.org.

Wake Forest University Meditation Group

Gate City Zen Group

The Gate City Zen Group meets for zazen in Greensboro on Wednesday evenings at 6:00. For more information, contact Denise at (336) 324-9970 or dgabrielwes@gmail.com.

Temple Maintenance

If you are interested in helping care for the altars of our temple, this would be a good time to begin, or return to, the practice of chidening. Traditionally, chidens are responsible for maintaining the altars of a temple which means cleaning the altars themselves, sifting and cleaning the incense burners, trimming candles, and replenishing needed items. We also need volunteers to bring flowers and create flower arrangements for the altars. Chidening is a wonderful way of supporting the ongoing practice of our temple. A new schedule is being set up, and if you are interested in serving as a chiden, please contact Nell at nkriesb@ncsu.edu.

Buddha’s Birthday Celebration

Work Morning

The Anan Kôshiki in Modern Sôtô Monasticism

Qi Gong Workshop -- May 18 & June 1

Cameron Panee will lead Qi Gong workshops on Saturday mornings, May 18 & June 1, from 9:30–12:30. This will be a beginner's Qi Gong class covering basic movements and the first exercises from the Tai Yu Shen Gong system. Cameron has led Qi Gong at the Zen Center during sesshin, and his workshops allow for more verbal teaching and the opportunity to ask questions. The cost is $25 and everyone is welcome.

If you would like more information, or to register for the Qi Gong workshop, please contact Cameron at (919) 624-3297 or aiki.acupuncture@gmail.com.

Cameron Panee began studying Tai Chi and Qi Gong as a young child, and he is also an acupuncturist.

Looking Ahead

Recovery Meeting

Chinese Brush Painting

Jinxiu Zhao will teach Chinese Calligraphy on Sunday afternoons, May 12 and 26, and on June 9 and 30, from 1:10–2:40, which will be followed by Chinese Brush Painting from 2:50–4:50. Fees are $20 for calligraphy and $25 for brush painting. Please contact Jinxiu at (919) 484-7524 or Jxznc@aol.com to register or for more information. Jinxiu is also available to teach children’s classes.  

Prison Outreach