Monday, February 8, 2010
GREEN GULCH ZEN CENTER AND ORGANIC FARMS where I spent 2-3 mo. retreat per year (cooked there and love their kitchen and wok the size of a house) for a couple of decades + (some years I went to other center's)
The regular daily schedule for Practice Period students begins with two periods of sitting
meditation starting at 5:00 am (wake-up at 4:25). After breakfast, all residents gather for
work meeting, and work until noon service in the zendo. In the afternoon, Practice Period
students work for one hour then have a break until study hall at 4:00 pm, followed by
meditation, service, and dinner with the community. The evening schedule consists of
either two periods of meditation, or a class, or lecture. The day ends at 9:00 pm.
In addition to the regular daily schedule, there is a half-day sitting once a week.
Two one-day sittings and a seven-day sesshin (meditation intensive) are also part of each
Practice Period at Green Gulch. There are a number of ceremonies, classes, lectures,
and events which all members of the community are invited to participate in.
1. No expectations
2. Faithful daily practice is enlightenment
3. No sticking to any teaching; there is nothing special to do or understand, every moment is always new (this Suzuki Roshi expressed in the phrase "beginner's mind")
4. Zazen is the most important thing in our practice and true Zazen is our whole life
5. Kindness and toughness are not two different things
6. A close and loving relationship with a teacher
7. Whole heartedness in all activity
8. Pay close attention to the details of form, for true freedom is found there...Soto
My teacher, Jiryu is below. He is the author of "Two Shores of Zen"...the only monk who gives me the rope long enough to think my way...Zen-Lite. My way is also the more practical form of Zen in the outside world. How to deal in daily life when I get up when I wake up and then I Sit
At the bottom of this post you will see my teacher, Jiryu, and under him the bee hives
During our practice period our group sang "Save The Bee's" to the bee shrine I made
to the tune of "Let It Be"...
palgyal jonangpa takten shadrup choeling
