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| Winter Practice Period Opening Ceremony |
The Winter Mini Practice Period is designed to provide an opportunity for Temple participants to make a individual commitment to intensive practice during these several weeks of ongoing extended practice schedule. We began a little earlier this year - starting on February 21st and concluded with a weekend Sesshin (Meditation Retreat) on March 7th & 8th. This is our fifth annual Winter Practice Period.
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| Sesshin altar |
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| Sesshin Opening- Ryakufusatsu ceremony |
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| Sesshin- walking meditation |
The theme of this year's practice period was the "Self Receiving and Employing Samadhi" (an excerpt from Dogen Zenji's Bendowa). We chanted the text daily and had Dharma Talks on the topic - several of the talks were offered by visiting teachers.
Rev. Seiso Cooper - in-person Dharma Talk
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With deep gratitude to all the visiting teachers and to all who participated in this year's Winter Practice Period - may it be of benefit.
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| This year also included a MOVIE NIGHT- showing Zen: the life of Zen Master Dogen. |
This is not only practice while sitting, it is like a hammer striking emptiness; before and after, its exquisite peal permeates everywhere. How can it be limited to this moment? Hundreds of things all manifest original practice from the original face; it is impossible to measure. Know that even if all buddhas of the ten directions, as innumerable as the sands of the Ganges, exert their strength and with the Buddha’s wisdom try to measure the merit of one person’s zazen, they will not be able to fully comprehend it. - Dogen Zenji Self Receiving & Employing Samadhi from Bendowa
