Zen practice in the Connecticut River Valley
Dear Oxbow Zen Sangha:
Stormy wind, sheets of rain, dark and drifting clouds, deep community practice. Warm thanks for everybody’s practice effort and giving hands at the October Zazenkai today. Deep gratitude to Ryotan Sensei for sharing the teaching so freely and generously! Three bows!
Weekday evening sits resume on Thursday evenings from 6:00-7:30 PM. At Magna House, as usual … please bring cushions and arrive a few minutes early to set up your seat. Chairs are available. Looking forward to practicing with you!
In spring 2019 we plan to have a monthly reading/writing/study group — online or in person. That way we can stay connected and practice together in the spring while Jo-Ei and Kenko are on the West Coast. Initial ideas might be similar to a monthly book study:
“Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind” was mentioned as one possible reading. Open to additional ideas. Let’s let this ferment a little while longer and come together to settle on a plan later this year. If you’re interested, let’s make sure we keep you in the loop, whether you’re in town or at a distance.
Study of the Oxherding Pictures will resume this fall on the third Sunday of the month: Oct 21, Nov 18, Dec 16 at 10 AM after the morning sit. All are welcome! Each study meeting is self-contained. No prior study participation necessary! Each picture is all fresh and new! You can download the two versions we’ve been using from our Study Page. Hope to see you there!
Dear local Oxbow Zen Sangha and friends:
Registration is now open online for the
Oxbow Zen Fall Zazenkai at
Shokai’s and Mark’s house
on Saturday Oct 27 2018,
from 8 AM – 4:30 PM
at
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0c4babab29a0fb6-zazenkai1
Ryotan Sensei from the Village Zendo will be joining us for the day, offering private interviews and a Dharma talk.
The registration also provides an opportunity for you to sign up for a particular item for potluck lunch. Please choose one that you’d be happy to bring!
Looking forward to practicing with you!
Kenko.
Looking forward to connecting with everybody for a Fall Sangha Meeting on September 2! Thanks for sharing your date preferences at our Doodle Poll (https://doodle.com/poll/c2ewmf8zb3i2zzub).
Also, a Fall Zazenkai will take place on Sat Oct 27.
Bodhisattvas! Fellow Dharma friends! Dear Sangha community!
Our current Sunday morning lease at the Upstairs Studio completes at the end of the month. Next Sunday, May 27, marks—for now—the last Oxbow Zen sit at the Upstairs Studio. Come June the Sunday sit will move to Magna House.
The Upstairs Studio has been the home of our Sunday morning sit for a number of years. On May 27 we’ll be setting aside some time for sitting in a Council Circle: speaking and listening together from the heart, as this particular outer form of the sitting location changes. Please consider participating, perhaps sharing brief appreciation, anecdotes, feelings, silence, questions, wonderings, …, as each arises in the moment.
Looking forward to coming together in Council!
You are warmly invited to a Sangha Meeting on April 8, to connect and explore how to support our practice together. Email for details. Looking forward to seeing you!
Dear Oxbow Zen Sangha:
Settling into deep stillness and silence together, sharing potluck oryoki, experiencing the shifting light of the weather and the mind, deep teachings. Special thanks to all those who braved storm and snow and rain and other hindrances to be part of the March Zazenkai. Deep gratitude to Ryotan Sensei for his teaching!
Dear Oxbow Zen Sangha:
We’re excited to announce the dates for a
Spring Zazenkai with
Ryotan Sensei on
Saturday March 3 from
8 AM – 4 PM
at Shokai and Mark’s house in Southampton. Please mark your calendars!
All are welcome to gather for a day of deep practice.
Watch the email list for more information regarding the potluck sign-up and other logistics in early February.