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To introduce
the practice of Zen and to help getting started, Endless Mountain Zendo
offers the following beginner's programs:
Beginner's
Zazen Instruction at Sunday Zazen Gatherings:
Daily "zazen" (Zen
meditation) is the foundation practice of Zen life. Zazen with others
inspires and helps stabilize our practice. Some Sundays and some
Wednesdays are scheduled for zazen gatherings. First-time beginners are
welcome at Sunday Zazen Gatherings, at which time there is zazen
instruction, zazen, chanting, kinhin walking Zen, and Dharma talk
sometimes. Thereafter, continued attendance on Sundays as well as on Wednesday
evenings is also possible. 9:00 – 11:00 am, followed by tea. Open Donation
Basket. (Members: Free).
To
Attend: Please contact the Zendo for specific dates: endlessmountainzendo@gmail.com
Dates
of zazen gatherings are announced by e-mail. To receive notices of events, just
let us know that you would like to be added to the EMZ e-list.
Zazen
periods at gatherings are approximately 25 minutes, followed
by 20 minutes, with a short optional standing break in between. It is also
possible to sit through the break, making the whole sitting 45 minutes.
Zazen periods are followed by approximately 10 minutes of
"kinhin" Zen walking.
What
to expect? Please plan to
arrive a few minutes early to be seated in the zendo before the period
begins, anytime from 30 min. prior to starting time. Come to the house and
remove the shoes before coming in. There's a sign-in book. There is a
closet for coats. There is a rest room in the house just around the
fireplace. The zendo (zazen hall) building is just a few yards away. You
will need your shoes again. Then remove shoes in the entry room of the
zendo. You are welcome to bring your own cushion or use a cushion, bench,
or chair provided in the foyer of the zendo. Enter mindfully and quietly.
What
to wear for zazen: Comfortable and loose fitting, non-form
clinging clothing in solid, neutral colors, long in length, and with longish
sleeves work well. Please do not wear tank tops, shorts, tight pants,
or fragrance. The zendo (Zen hall) can be chilly in winter months; dressing
in layers is recommended. Slide-on shoes to and from the zendo are helpful.
Intro
to Zen Training
An experiential
and visceral plunge into guided Zen training for the enthusiastic beginner.
The day includes zazen meditation instruction, introduction to Zen practice
form and style, 30 min. zazen periods, stretches, outdoor walking Zen,
chanting, Dharma Talk, and tea with discussion. 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Suggested Donation: $50. (College
Students: $30.) Formal vegetarian
lunch included.
Beginner's
Zen Classes
From the beginning, our true nature has been open
and free. Not so much as a hairsbreadth has separated us from the happiness
and contentment we've desired and sought after: The simple fact is, we are
the reality we seek. Zazen is a
means to investigate this reality in a way that will lead us through the
noise and distraction of our everyday experience to recover our natural
clarity and the enduring light and peace of our essential heart and
mind."
This is a beginner's introductory
course in Zen meditation practice and an introduction to Zen Buddhism. Zen
practice is mindfulness meditation in daily life, a way of being clear,
calm and open in the activites of our lives and relationships. You will
build a strong foundation in the practice of seated meditation (zazen), the
core of Zen studies. Zen is an ancient practice with a history rich in lore
and wisdom; we'll take a look at the lives and inspired teachings of
several great masters. Please wear comfortable, loose fitting long pants
and sleeved top in solid neutral colors. Zen Practice Syllabus: Zazen
posture, breathing, breath counting practice, walking Zen, limbering
stretches, physical and psychological obstacles to practice, chanting,
bowing, zendo form and protocol, mindfulness in movement, everyday life,
continuing the practice.
Suggested
Donation: $60.
Work Exchange Weekend
A country work
weekend with introduction to Zen Buddhist practice. Zazen meditation
instruction, zendo orientation, walking meditation, dawn chanting service,
morning and evening zazen, prostrations, work practice, Dharma talk
and/or one-on-one Dharma meeting
with Genro Sensei, vegetarian meals, and tea. Begins Fri. with supper. Ends
Sun. by 3:00 p.m. The weekend is
offered on a work exchange basis. Donations are gratefully accepted.
What To Bring for Overnight:
Sleeping bag if
you have one, zazen attire such as a formal zazen robe or loose clothing in
solid neutral colors, long length, and longish sleeves (the Zendo has a few
robes for public use), work clothes for deer tick area, sturdy outdoor
shoes and slip-on shoes, raingear, flashlight, and unscented toiletries. No
shorts, tank tops, clinging fabrics, or fragrances please. The zendo tends
to be chilly in fall/winter. Soap/towels and two blankets provided.
For
event registration or information please e-mail: endlessmountainzendo@gmail.com and
send a deposit or full donation amount to Endless Mountain Zendo, 104
Hollow Rd., Stillwater, Pa. 17878.
Endless Mountain
Zendo, 104 Hollow Road, Stillwater, PA 17878
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