WELCOME:
Each June we hold an intensive practice period during the first several weeks. We have special ceremonies to open and close this time and members of our Sangha commit to "turning up the heat" in our practice. This year's intensive will include a 4-day sesshin as well as a 21-hour Monk for a Day retreat. All are encouraged to contact Kyoki and discuss how to implement the intensive practice during this time. Please note that the Zen Center of Pittsburgh will be closed for five days following the end of the practice period. The full schedule is listed below.
Please also note that we will temporarily suspend the Sunday morning Introduction to Zen classes for the first three weeks of June due to the special practice period schedule. We encourage all who are interested in an introduction to our practice to attend the special Monk for a Day retreat. The regular Sunday schedule will resume on June 27.
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ZEN PRACTICE: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:
Sunday Intro to Zen suspended until 6/27. Please arrive 10-15 minutes before starting time.
- Deep Spring Temple: 124 Willow Ridge Road Sewickley, PA 15143 (map)
- Zen Friends: 4836 Ellsworth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15213 (map)
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DEEP SPRING TEMPLE:
- Practice Period Opening Ceremony: Tuesday, June 1; 5:30am
- We will begin the practice period with our regular morning Zazen which will be followed by a very special ceremony.
- Precept Renewal (Ryaku Fusatsu): Wednesday, June 2; 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.
- Sesshin: Wednesday, June 2; 7:00pm - Sunday, June 6; noon
- In
this sesshin we will engage in an intensive four-day period of practice
consisting of sitting/walking meditation, service, work and interviews with Kyoki.
- You are free to sit any portion of the sesshin, but we ask that you commit to a minimum of one day.
- Please email your commitment in advance: kyoki@deepspringzen.org.
- Suggested donation of $50/day:
- Monk for a Day: Friday, June 11; 7:00pm - Saturday, June 12; 4:00pm
- This 21-hour retreat is specifically designed for beginners who wish to experience what it is like to be a monk in a Japanese Soto Zen Monastery.
- We will have zazen (meditation), services, formal meals, a dharma talk, and work.
- You will need work clothes and loose-fitting clothes for meditation.
- It might not be easy, but it just might change your mind!
- World Peace Ceremony: Sunday, June 12; 9:00am-noon
- This ceremony dedicates our practice to bringing about a
more peaceful world. We follow the service with an open discussion of
Zen practice.
- Zen Center Closed: Monday, June 21 - Friday, June 25
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ZEN FRIENDS:
- Wednesday evening zazen; 6:00pm-7:15pm. Friends Meeting House (map).
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JUNE MONTHLY AND DAILY INTENSIVE PERIOD SCHEDULE
1-Intensive begins; Opening Ceremony
2-Regular Schedule; Precept Renewal Ceremony 6pm
3-6-Sesshin thru noon Sunday; Sunday open to all
7-Personal Day; movie 6pm
8-Regular Schedule; class 7:30pm
9-Regular Schedule
10-Regular Schedule; class 7:30pm
11-Regular Schedule; Monk for a Day begins at 6 PM
12-Monk for a Day continues to 4 PM
13-Regular Sunday Schedule; Gay Pride March in Pgh 12noon (optional)
14-Personal Day; movie 6pm
15-Regular Schedule; class 7:30pm
16-Regular Schedule
17-Regular Schedule; class 7:30pm
18-Regular Schedule
19-Monks' Day Out (open to all participants in June intensive)
20-Sunday Schedule; Closing Ceremony
Daily Schedule
5 am-wake-up
5:30-zazen
6:45-service
7:15-oryoki breakfast
8:00-break
8:45-work or training
11-end of work
11:15-zazen
11:45-noon service
12 noon-lunch (informal)
12:30-break
1:30-work or training
4:30-break
6:00-zazen
7:30-study hall or class
8:30-end of day |
ZEN AND MINDFULNESS BOOK CLUB
The Zen and Mindfulness Book Club will hold its next meeting on Monday, June 14, at 7:00pm at the Penguin Bookshop in Sewickley. This month's book is Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life by Thich Nhat Hanh. This wonderful little book presents many simple but profound practices for bringing mindfulness and peace into seemingly "ordinary" activities. Anyone with an interest in talking about practice and daily life is welcome to join the discussion, even if you do not have time to read the book. If you do buy the book, however, please try to buy it from the Penguin Bookshop if you can. They will give you a 20% discount on book club selections, and you will get to support a wonderful, independent bookstore that is endeavoring to be a positive force in the community! |
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 $16.91 just by people searching the internet and buying through Goodshop. You can track our progress here.
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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.
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