zcpHeadAugust

AUGUST 2009, Vol. 1 No.7
WELCOME:

The 10th Anniversary Celebration preparations are now in full swing! We are now at the point where the very necessary follow up work needs to be done, and then we get to have a week of seeing all our hard work pay off for us!

A great deal has changed over the past ten years. Rev. Kyoki returned to Pittsburgh, we purchased the building and property, Rev. Jisen received priest ordination, the Mattress Factory Museum offered us a place in the city to sit once a week, we began a sitting group lead by Jisen known as Zen Friends and our community has grown along with all of our connections in the larger community in the Pittsburgh region. We really hope that this weeklong event becomes a homecoming for the many friends we have made through the years and is an inviting event for those who have not made the journey to our temple in the hills north of Sewickley. All are welcome to connect for the first time with new friends or catch up again with those you may not have seen for a while.

Regardless of whether you are an old friend or one we have not met just yet, please join us for one or more of the events throughout this week of celebration. For information or to register for the events, please visit http://www.deepspringzen.org and join us for "A Taste of Zen!"
WILL YOU PLEASE HELP?

Dear Fellow Sangha Members,

As we all know, the plans for the dinner include a silent auction.There are so many ways to participate, and I think we can get creative here as well. Not only can Sangha members donate THINGS, but we can donate  services as well. How about dog-sitting, house sitting, providing a gourmet meal with wine at your home? Donating several hours of doing odd jobs? Landscaping? Teaching a landscaping class for a couple of hours. If we find that we can do that, we need to print up a nice certificate so that it can be presented for bid.

If you have something to donate please bring the item to Deep Spring Temple as soon as possible so that we may catalog and photograph it. Call ahead or email so that we know you are bringing a donation (By phone: 412-741-1262; by email: kyoki@prairiewindzen.org).

Hands palm to palm,
Kaethejean
SOLICITING DONATIONS?

Businesses and other organizations may also be willing to donate items. If you know of any or would like to solicit items for us, email kyoki@prairiewindzen.org for a packet of information including a solicitation request and receipt on ZCP Letterhead plus a donor list.
INVITE YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

Everyone on our US Postal Mailing list will have received a postcard with details about the celebration week events and publicizes our new website http://www.deepspringzen.org. However, adding a personal touch to an invitation can really make a difference. We are asking all members and friends of the Zen Center of Pittsburgh to think about which events might be of particular interest to their families, friends and colleagues. Inviting them to the whole week may be a nice gesture, but personalizing the invitations with reasons why they might enjoy the movie on Wednesday night or how much fun the Friday night dinner will be can likely be the reason someone decides to participate and help us celebrate this momentous occasion.
IN THIS ISSUE:
Weekly Zazen Schedule
Location Schedules
A Gift of Wisdom and Art
WEEKLY ZAZEN SCHEDULE:
Please arrive 10-15 minutes before starting time.

ZCP Weekly Schedule
  • Deep Spring Temple: 124 Willow Ridge Road Sewickley, PA 15143 (map)
  • Mattress Factory: 505 Jacksonia Way Pittsburgh, PA 15212 (directions)
  • Zen Friends: 4836 Ellsworth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15213 (map)
DEEP SPRING TEMPLE:
  • World Peace Ceremony: Sunday, August 2; 10:00am-12:30pm
    • Celebrated on the first Sunday of every month, this ceremony helps us rededicate our practice to bringing about a more peaceful world. An open discussion of Zen practice follows the ceremony.
  • Precept Renewal (Ryaku Fusatsu): Tuesday, August 4; 6:00-7:00pm
    • This evening of the full moon ceremony offers practitioners an opportunity to renew their commitment to the sixteen Bodhisattva precepts.  All are welcome to attend!
    • Read more about Ryaku Fusatsu here.
  • Intro to Zen: Wednesday, August 19; 6:00-6:45pm
    • As part of our Anniversary Week celebration, our monthly introductory workshop will be held at Friends Meeting House at 6:00 p.m. Please join us for a 45-minute introduction to meditation (or zazen) and other aspects of Soto Zen Buddhism.
ZEN FRIENDS:
  • Wednesday evening zazen; 6:00pm-7:15pm. Friends Meeting House (map).
MATTRESS FACTORY:
  • Tuesday morning zazen; 7:00am-7:40pm. Mattress Factory (map).
NewManjushriA GIFT OF WISDOM AND ART:

On July 19, 2009, the Sangha at Deep Spring Temple welcomed our newest resident, a beautiful statue of the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, Manjushri. A gift made by the Rev. Gyokuko Carlson of the Dharma Rain Zen Center in Portland, Oregon, Manjushri Bodhisattva is represented by a monk sitting zazen - the embodiment of the Perfection of Wisdom. As is the tradition for new altar statues at Zen Temples such as our, the Sangha held an Eye Opening Ceremony lead by head priest, Rev. Kyoki Roberts.

This statue has a sibling, also sculpted by Rev. Carlson, at the Nebraska Zen Center's Heartland Temple. The Sangha of the Zen Center of Pittsburgh is deeply grateful for this gift and look forward to many sitting periods with our newest Dharma Friend.
UNTIL NEXT TIME:
  • Please check out the latest edition of Prairie Wind Online, the quarterly newsletter offered by Abbot Rev. Nonin Chowaney.
  • To make a tax-deductible contribution to the Zen Center of Pittsburgh, please click the 'Make a Donation' button. We are deeply grateful for your generosity.
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