Muho discusses some Japanese books, Seikan moves to L.A. and rents out his place, January 22nd 2015
From Melbourne Zen centre’s Facebook page:
Announcing: Manhattan Beach Zen
People from all walks of life coming together for zazen in the sand where LA meets the Pacific ocean. Following zazen, there will also be time for discussion, Q&A, short talks by Seikan, and/or swims in the ocean.
Regular meetings from March 2015.
All welcome! www.meetup.com/mb-zen
Self-contained, fully furnished residence, attached to Melbourne Zen Centre in Glen Iris, available for 3 months from March to June 2015 (and possibly for longer). Residence includes hallway, living/office, 1.5 bedrooms, kitchen/meals, bathroom, laundry, garden, some storage, and off-street parking. Rent and conditions negotiable. Contact: seikan@zen.org.au
New photo albums uploaded, January 20th 2015
We uploaded three new albums to the photo gallery:
Last upload this year, December 14th 2014
The 90-day practice period of the winter starts tomorrow, the topic this year will be the “Dhammapada”.
Last day of rohatsu sesshin, December 7th 2014
Today is the last and longest day of Rohatsu sesshin.
Zazen takes place in the ice cold hondo until the date changes to the eight.
Only the abbot leaves the mountain already today for a last lecture trip to Tokyo.
The kids will be free from school for the time being.
Drying futons before Rohatsu-sesshin, November 30th 2014
Tomorrow starts our last long sesshin in 2014, the week long “Rohatsu”.
This sesshin celebrates the enlightenment of Buddha Shakyamuni, which is said to have taken place on December 8th, 2500 years ago, when he saw the morning star.
We will sit until midnight of the 7th, and when the date changes, read the “Heart Sutra”. After that the wood stove in Antaiji will be lit for the first time, and at the time that the Buddha experienced his liberation from suffering, most of the residents at Antaiji are either drunk or sleeping.
After the sesshin, carrots and Chinese cabbage need to be harvested and preserved, and one of the last jobs will be making miso paste. After December 15th, the snow practice period starts. During the winter months, we mostly stay inside and – apart from practicing zazen – study the sutras. This winter’s topic is the “Dammapada”. All of the residents take turns lacturing and discussing the text, and writing a 50 page report at the end of the winter about their personal studies.
The main event of the winter will be the “dharma combat ceremony”. All residents will challenge the first monk with questions, to which she has to give answers. Although there are still almost 3 months to go, everyone needs to sharpen their weapons already now.
