Guidance in the time of Corona #3

photo by krsna das

Dear All,

Are you taking your breathing as most important?

When we were born, we would express naturally, smiling, laughing, crying. We were not involved in the outside world yet. At that time we were doing Tanden (abdominal ) breathing at that time. The abdominal pressure working well. This was our start, then our youth, adulthood and old age come along. When we are young, we can lively our daily life and can be active. Our tanden breathing is used when working, moving and using a loud voice. We do not need to learn this tanden breathing, we are able to use it naturally.

Yet we receive many energies from the outside and from our emotions, we get angry, we get greedy, we carry grudges, become jealous, sad, worried, unsettled and become captive of our emotions. Thus we lose our ability to breath with our tanden and become emotional, our breathing being shallow and a balanced breath turns into a confused breath. We lose our wide and expansive breathing. The outcome being unsettled in our mind.

Actually we do not need to learn something this complicated as tanden breathing. When we were young, we already used this kind of breathing, Once we start to protect our position and ideas, clashing with others, we confuse our original breathing and cannot use it anymore.

I am not telling you something special, but only pointing out, that we need to take this original breathing as most important. Yet during many years in our daily life we got stuck to outer ideas and made it more difficult for ourselves.

The idea of an I confuses our breathing. Let go of the idea of a self, work for others, be completely what you are doing and right there the original tanden breathing appears again. A shallow breathing without any strength makes us become heavy and dark in our mind. Living in this world with a huge, warm, loving mind and act from there, this refreshes also our breathing.

Please look at this carefully, and you can see how we should be now, how we should react – this becomes obvious. There is no need to practice a form of breathing. Rather do not get stopped by the emotions and ideas arising, by the idea of our position and self. That is what is important now.

-Shodo Harada Roshi

A Message from Roshi – Guidance at the time of Corona

Photo by krsna das

Dear All,
 
Now in this world the scary Corona Virus has infected over 200,000 people world wide, 8800 have died from this. Today in Sogenji a sutra was read after Teisho for those who have died from this virus.

Now countries especially in Europe, do not allow people to move around freely anymore. People are staying at home, not meeting others yet the direction it is taking is that the gathering of people is being allowed anymore. These political decisions must create quite some uncertainty I believe.

This worry and uncertainty weaken our health. The energy gets stuck within and this accelerates the number of people becoming sick. Yet thinking about the situation, I would hope that it quietens down by mid April. Everyone needs to make efforts to stay healthy until this time. Thus I am sending my advice to everyone.

Continue reading “A Message from Roshi – Guidance at the time of Corona”

May Training Period at Tahoma Zen Monastery

As of the date of this mailing we are moving forward with our plans for the May 2020 Samu Practice Period at Tahoma Zen Monastery. Due to the fluid nature of COVID-19, our plans may change. We are closely monitoring the situation. If you plan to fly to Tahoma we encourage you to investigate trip insurance in the event of cancellation. Applicants will be notified of any changes.

The May 2020 training period at Tahoma Zen Monastery begins on Tuesday, the 5th, and concludes Friday, the 22nd. The application deadline is April 3rd.

FULL TIME RESIDENTIAL TRAINING is available May 5th – 22nd, 2020

SAMU OSESSHIN – Tuesday, May 5th – Tuesday, May 12th, 2020
Kokuho is Tuesday evening, May 5th. OSesshin, led by Harada Roshi, concludes the evening of Tuesday, May 12th. The fee is $400. Full time participation is required.
The application is here: Registration Form.

SAMU KOSESSHIN – Wednesday, May 13th – Saturday, May 15th, 2020
Kokuho is Wednesday evening, May 13th. Two day KoSesshin led by Harada Roshi, concludes the evening of Saturday May 15th. The fee is $120.
The application is here: Registration Form.

KOSESSHIN – Sunday, May 17th – Friday, May 22nd, 2020
Kokuho is Sunday evening, May 17th. Five full days of sitting led by Daichi Zenni. Part time participation is permitted. If not attending full time please provide your arrival and departure dates and approximate times. Please keep us updated of any changes. The fee for this KoSesshin is $300 or $60/day.
The application is here: Registration Form.

Daichi Zenni will lead an event at Water Moon Dojo in Seattle on Sunday, May 24th.

The application deadline for the OSesshin and both KoSesshin is Friday, April 3rd.

Acceptance emails will be sent soon after the deadline date. Please send your sesshin fee once you have been notified of your acceptance. The maximum cost for the entire month is $600. The cost of Osesshin is $400. The cost of kosesshin is $60/day.

Schedules, guidelines for conduct, and directions to the monastery can be found here,: Tahoma Zen Monastery Sesshin Information.

Temple housing is limited so we appreciate your flexibility. Any help with set up before or clean up following sesshin is greatly appreciated. There may be a wait-list for any “segment” of this month of practice. People on the wait-list will be contacted immediately as spaces become available.

Please consider that Tahoma is a communal space with no facilities for effective isolation of members who become ill. If you have a compromised immune system and are prone to infections you may be placing yourself at risk by attending. Should people become ill during the training period it may be necessary to transfer them to a local hospital.

Public Teisho During February OSesshin

Each day during the February OSesshin (February 6th – 12th) there will be a daily Teisho (dharma talk) from Shodo Harada Roshi. Talks are in Japanese with translations by Daichi Zenni. The talks begin at 1pm and it is requested that attendees arrive 10-15 minutes early to allow time to walk to the zendo and get settled. There will be staff to assist with parking and making your way to zendo. There will be chairs and cushions available for seating and staff on hand to facilitate finding your seat.

Roshi will be speaking on koans from the Blue Cliff Record, please do come for this unique opportunity to hear a living Zen Master speak on the words of our Zen ancestors. 

Directions to the Monastery can be found here:
Visiting Tahoma Zen Monastery

Public Teisho at Tahoma

Six Paramitas

Public Teisho by Shodo Harada Roshi

During Osesshin Shodo Harada Roshi will give a daily Teisho (Dharma Talk) on a selection from the Blue Cliff Record (the edition we use is the Thomas Cleary translation if you’d like a copy for reference). These talks are free and open to the public. Anyone can attend. 1 pm daily for 7 days May 6th – May 12th. Approximately 1.5 hours with English translation by Daichi Zenni. Arrive 10-15 minutes early, parking is to the right just past the entrance sign. There will be hosts there to help you with parking and to guide you to the zendo.  Chairs and cushions available in the Zendo.

May 2019 Training Period Application Available

The May 2019 training period at Tahoma Zen Monastery begins on Sunday, the 5th, and concludes Tuesday, the 21st.

FULL TIME RESIDENTIAL TRAINING is available May 5 – 21, 2019

SAMU OSESSHIN – Sunday, May 5 – Sunday, May 12, 2019
Kokuho is Sunday evening, May 5.  Osesshin, led by Harada Roshi, concludes the evening of Sunday, May 12th.  Full time participation is required.
The application is here:  Sesshin Application

A memorial ceremony will be held for Tanzan Jon Sholle at Tahoma Zen Monastery on Wednesday, May 8. Guests are invited to attend.  The exact time of the service will be announced.

SAMU OSESSHIN – Tuesday, May 14 – Tuesday, May 21, 2019
Kokuho is Tuesday evening, May 14th.  Seven full days of sitting led by Daichi Zenni.  Please note that full time participation for this Osesshin in not required.  Therefore, comings and goings are permitted.  In order for this Osesshin to run smoothly we request that you provide your arrival and departure dates and approximate times.  Please keep us updated of any changes.  Daichi Zenni will remain in residence at Tahoma Zen Monastery on May 22nd and 23rd.
Application here: Sesshin Application

Daichi Zenni will lead a workshop at Water Moon Dojo in Seattle on Saturday, May 25th and Sunday, May 26th.  Please register directly with Water Moon Dojo by contacting Malcolm Best, watermoon.info@gmail.com, or by calling (731) 599-2837.

The Tahoma application deadline is Monday, April 1st.  Acceptance emails will be sent soon after the deadline date. Please send your sesshin fee once you have been notified of your acceptance.  The maximum cost for the entire month is $600.  The cost of Osesshin is $400. The cost of Daichi Roshi’s Osesshin is $400 or $60/day for part time attendance.

Upon confirmation of acceptance please send checks to:

Rozan Lenny Gerson
2552 NE 46th Ave
Portland, OR 97213

Schedules, guidelines for conduct, and directions to the monastery can be found here.

Temple housing is limited so we appreciate your flexibility.  Any help with set up before or clean up following sesshin is greatly appreciated.  There may be a wait-list for any “segment” of this month of practice. People on the wait-list will be contacted immediately as spaces become available.

Thank you,
Rozan Lenny Gerson
lenogerson@gmail.com