Zen practice in the Connecticut River Valley
On Sunday, December 17, we’ll be doing a Fusatsu ceremony, after a 10 minute sit to settle.
Fusatsu is an ancient Buddhist chanting and bowing ceremony of atonement and purification that provides us with the opportunity to acknowledge our deep karmic entanglements. There will be a short talk on one of the Bodhisattva precepts.
Village Zendo Winter Sesshin, “Time Outside of Time,” December 26 – January 1, Garrison Institute, Garrison, NY
We will meet after Community Check-in to discuss any community business, such as financial status, use of zoom, managing the door for practice periods, service positions. Have something to bring up? Email Meikame.
You are warmly invited to an all-day Zazenkai on Sunday, October 8. It will include Oryoki lunch, so please plan to bring your bowls (if you have any). A mug for tea would also be helpful. More details to come via email. All are welcome! To register, please email oxbowzensangha@gmail.com by Oct 1.
Zazenkai dates in 2024: Sunday Jan 7, Apr 7, Jun 2, Oct 6 2024.
Looking forward to sitting with you at our regular Sunday morning (8 AM) and Wednesday evening (5:30 PM) sits.
Many people are away on retreat with the Village Zendo, so there will be no Oxbow Zen sits for the next two weeks or so.
We will resume on Wed Aug 9 and/or Sunday Aug 13. Please enjoy sitting at home or online. Looking forward to reconnecting in August 😉
Specifically, there will be no sits on the following days:
Dear Oxbow Zen Friends,
There will be no evening practice this Wednesday, July 12. Wednesday evening practice will resume next week (7/19/23).
Bows,
Kenko
for Oxbow Zen Sangha
As the summer and travel season gets under way, we expect that our regular sits will generally continue. It’s possible that there may be a few cancellations here or there; please keep an eye on the email list and the News page on our web site. For the organizers, to see who’s away or opening, take a peek at this shared document.
Enjoy the practice of summer!
Study (Sunday): We continue our once-a-month study of chapters in The Zen Teachings of Homeless Kodo, by Kosho Uchiyama & Shohaku Okumura. This will take place after the regular Sunday sits, in place of the usual check-in.
Next Study: Sunday May 21. Chapter 72: “Sawaki Roshi’s Last Words.” Kenko will be facilitating. (We’ve looked at Chapters 49, 9, 66, 50, 44, (67?), 43, 36, …)
After this study, we will taking a break for the summer and may resume in the fall with a different study text. Suggestions welcome!
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has determined that transmission rates for COVID-19 in our local counties are low.
As a result, we determined that effective immediately the use of masks will be optional for in-person practice at the Zendo.
We will no longer require proof of vaccination to enter the Zendo.
You are still very welcome to wear a mask when you attend Village Zendo events. Please take care of your own needs if you want to be especially cautions, e.g. ahead of international travel.
If you have a condition that impairs your immune system, or if you are over the age of 75, we recommend that you wear a mask.
If you have fever, chills, cough, sneezing, runny nose or a new rash please take appropriate care of yourself and do not come to the Zendo until you have recovered.
If you have been exposed to COVID-19 recently, please attend only after five days since exposure and a negative test.
Any member may still choose to wear masks or N95s. Please respect their decision.
Please be aware that if community transmission of COVID-19 or Flu return to CDC high or substantial levels, we may be required to return to mandatory masking. Staying up-to-date with vaccines remains the most important way to prevent the serious complications from COVID-19.