zcpHeadJan2011
JANUARY 2011, Vol. 2 No.12
WELCOME:

January is the beginning of a new project out of the Zen Center of Pittsburgh called An Olive Branch. During the first week of the New Year, a group will be trained at the Zen Center in mediation and facilitation. The training participants will then be available as part of An Olive Branch to provide a nationwide service for mediation and facilitation serving spiritual communities and other non-profits. Please note that our daily zazen schedule will be changed for the first week of January.


Wake-up: 5:45am

Morning zazen and service: 6:15am-7:15am

Evening zazen: 8:00pm


You are welcome to join us for zazen and service.


Throughout the winter months, please remember if it is snowing or predicted to snow we will be closed. Always check the calendar before driving out.


Jisen, Kyoki, and the Sangha of Deep Spring Temple thank you for your support in 2010. May 2011 be a year of great joy and deep peace for you and all those whose lives you touch each day.


IN THIS ISSUE:
Zen Practice
Weekly Zazen Schedule
Location Schedules
Gratitude
Search, Shop and Donate?
ZEN PRACTICE:

Earlier this year, Kyoki wrote a series of articles on beginning Zen practice. These are now available on the Zen Center of Pittsburgh webpage here.

From time to time we all have questions regarding our spiritual practice. When this happens, we encourage you to meet with either Jisen (jisen@deepspringzen.org) or Kyoki, (kyoki@deepspringzen.org) for assistance. They are usually available Tuesday - Saturday 9:00am-4:00pm. Did you know that you can do a retreat at our temple and follow Kyoki's daily schedule?
WEEKLY ZAZEN SCHEDULE:
Please arrive 10-15 minutes before starting time.

schedule
  • Deep Spring Temple: 124 Willow Ridge Road Sewickley, PA 15143 (map)
  • Zen Friends: 4836 Ellsworth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15213 (map)
DEEP SPRING TEMPLE:
  • New Year's Eve Celebration: Friday, December 31; 6:00pm-12:30am
     
    • Please join us for any or all of our annual celebration. We begin at 6:00 p.m. with a potluck meal, music and dancing. The rest of the schedule is as follows:
    • 9:00pm - Zazen and burning of that we wish to be free of.
    • 10:00pm - Participants help strike the Bonsho (our large outdoor temple bell) 108 times signifying the removal of delusion.
    • Midnight - Soba noodles with sauce and toppings are served by our resident priests representing prosperity in the coming year.
    • Zen Center will be closed for the day, Saturday, December 1. 
  • World Peace Ceremony: Sunday, January 2; 9:00am-12noon
    • This ceremony dedicates our practice to bringing about a more peaceful world. We follow the service with an open discussion of Zen practice. 
  • Precept Renewal (Ryaku Fusatsu): Tuesday, January 18; 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.
  • One-Day Sit: Saturday, January 22; 5:30am-5:00pm
    • Please join us for a day of zazen, two formal meals and work practice.
ZEN FRIENDS:
  • Wednesday evening zazen; 6:00pm-7:15pm. Friends Meeting House (map).
ADDITIONS

We have two birth announcements this month!


Deep Spring Temple is very happy to announce the birth of Henry Andrew Tetlow, grandson of Leslie Hospodar. He was born December 12 at 9:36pm, 8 lbs 12 oz, 21.75 ins. "And the sweetest baby ever!!!"


We received the following announcement via email:


We are excited to the share the news that we are blessed with a baby boy named Tanvir which means Enlightened. Prajakta recently gave birth to a baby boy on December 16, 2010. At the time of birth he weighed about 7.15 pounds and 20.5 inches long. Both mom and the baby are doing fine. One of these days we plan to visit the temple with the baby and get a blessing. Simultaneously we are also looking forward to resuming our temple visits and practice which we couldn't due to pregnancy, birth and few other things.


We wanted to share this good news!


We wish you and all the Deep Spring Zen members a very happy new year!


Regards, 
Nagsen, Prajakta and Tanvir.


GIVING WHILE SEARCHING OR SHOPPING

Did you know you can support Zen Center of Pittsburgh by using the Internet? We are registered with Goodsearch.com, which is based on the Yahoo search engine. By making Zen Center of Pittsburgh your charity, each search done on the site earns a 1 cent donation. You can take this a step further by using GoodShop when making online purchases. You can support Zen Center with purchases from online stores including Amazon, Ebay, Apple, and even airfare by first going to the Goodshop page on their website. So if you would like to support Zen Center while you surf or work, please use this service and make every click count.

So far this year, we have raised $27.98 just by people searching the internet and buying through Goodshop. You can track our progress here.
UNTIL NEXT TIME:
  • Please check out the latest edition of Prairie Wind Online, the quarterly newsletter offered by Abbot Rev. Nonin Chowaney.
  • Visit the e-Newsletter archive to read past editions.
     
  • 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.
     
Make a Donation