Red Cedar Dharma Hall invites you to participate in any of the following upcoming events. For more information about these events, including online registration, visit our web site at www.redcedarzen.org.
6:00pm Wednesday Evenings
Dharma Hall Library
We meet on Wednesday evenings before Zazen at 6:00 pm in the library and ending at 6:45pm in time for evening zazen.
We use the book "The Life of the Buddha : According to the Pali Canon" by Bhikkhu Nanamoli, Nyanaponika Thera, and Gnanamoli. The authors sifted through the Pali Canon, extracted events of the Buddha's life, and placed them in a (somewhat) chronological order. Having the book is nice but is not necessary.
Chris will scan a 2-3 page excerpt each week and email to all who are interested. We'll look at one chapter each week, with the exception of Chapter 12 which will require more time.
Format
5 minute sit.
Read 2 or 3 paragraphs of the text.
Small group discussion.
Questions & Comments
Please email the facilitator, Shudo Chris Burkhart, chrisburkhart@hotmail.com or call 312-1094.
Thursday September 16, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Hawk Meadow Farm
Once a year the Red Cedar Zen Community gathers under the Red Cedar trees.
Join us in sending off the Hiking Retreat with an extra evening of practice on Thursday night, Sept 16th, will be at the Cedar Grove at Bob Penny's Farm. 1102 E. Kelly Road for zazen and a short talk by Resident Priest Nomon Tim Burnett. It's a beautiful site and very peaceful to sit outside. Dress warmly. The hiking retreat starts with this evening and continues through Sunday afternoon.
The time in the cedar grove is followed by a Native American style sweat lodge coordinated by Rob Staveland, one of Bob's neighbors. 9pm to about 11pm. Please bring two towels and (optionally) a bathing suit if you would like to stay for the sweat.
Directions: Take the I-5 exit at Sunset/Mt. Baker Hwy, go east about 1 mile to a light and take and left and go north on Hannegan Road. Go about three miles and take a right and go east on Kelly road exactly one-half mile. Take a left onto the driveway - the address is 1102, there is an old two-story green farmhouse there. Go north 1/4 mile on the driveway, my house is at the end on the right.
Hope to see you there. The drive takes 15-20 minutes from downtown. Zazen starts at 7pm. Limited parking, carpooling suggested.
Thursday September 16, 7:00pm - Sunday September 19, 5:00pm
Mount Baker area
For 2010 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Mountains and Rivers hiking retreat we are offering two sessions. August 19th-22nd and September 16th-19th. Both run from Thursday evening through Sunday afternoon.
Inspired by Dogen's Mountains and Rivers Sutra (Sansuikyo), this retreat includes silent backpacking through a beautiful old growth hemlock forest to a seldom-visited base camp at Mazama Park, just south of Mount Baker at the foot of Park Butte. Activities include traditional Zen practice, a short solo exercise, and opportunities for day hiking. The retreat is appropriate for new meditators and beginning backpackers.
The retreat is led by Reizan Bob Penny, M.S., naturalist, senior Zen student and experiential educator. Hiking is gentle to moderate, seven one way. A sturdy three-sided shelter is available for meditation if the weather is bad.
Participants provide their own lunches and trail snacks. Limited to 8 participants.
For any questions, please call Bob Penny at bobp@nas.com or (360) 398-8834.
Cost includes breakfasts, dinners and trail parking passes and pre-registration is now requested via the website or mail on the hiking retreat.
Registration this year will be done through the regular Red Cedar Zen registration system. Registration will open in July.
Note that first night is at Hawk Meadow Farm in Bellingham and the Red Cedar Zen Sangha is invited to join for an evening of practice to see the hiker's off. 7pm to 9pm, 1102 E. Kelly Road.
Check back again for registration information.
Friday October 01, 2:00pm - 6:00pm
Red Cedar Dharma Hall
A new event in our calendar. Enjoy company of sangha working together as we prepare ahead the two lunches we'll serve at the Study Retreat the following weekend. All ingredients and well written recipes will be at hand. Once the cooking is done, we'll enjoy the fruits of our labors by having dinner together.
Please RSVP to Tim (tim@redcedarzen.org or 360-223-0687) so we have an idea of how many cooks will be available.
Saturday October 02, 8:00am - Sunday October 03, 4:00pm
Red Cedar Dharma Hall
Our annual two-day Zen studies retreat with Zoketsu Norman Fischer. This year's topic: "On Healing Emotions".
In this two-day study retreat Norman will offer teachings on our emotional life reflecting new learning in psychology and neurology in the light of ancient truths and practices of Buddhism. Norman will be working from the book Healing Emotions: Conversations with the Dalai Lama on Mindfulness, Emotions, and Health by Daniel Goleman (Shambhala 2003).
This weekend retreat is a regular feature in our fall practice schedule. These retreats include sitting and walking meditation, but their main focus is study and discussion. There will be two talks and question-and-answer periods each day. Individual interviews with the teacher (dokusan) are not available at study retreats.
Scholarships to cover up to half of the retreat cost are available. Please contact the registrar (registrar@redcedarzen.org) before the scholarship application deadline to request a scholarship.
A vegetarian lunch will be provided on both days.
Downloadable flyer and mail-in registration form.
Check back again for registration information.
Saturday October 02, 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Red Cedar Dharma Hall
A potluck gathering with our guiding teacher with a forum discussion of sangha life and actualizing practice in our daily lives.
Come one come all. All members, friends, and participants in the study retreat are welcome. A wide diversity makes for a richer discussion. Fine to come if not attending the study retreat. Also a chance to meet Norman if you haven't already.
Saturday October 16, 9:00am - 1:00pm
Red Cedar Dharma Hall
Seishu John Wiley has been practicing Zen for 15 years and is a family therapist in private practice. He is a lay teacher of Zen under the supervision of our Guiding Teacher, Zoketsu Norman Fischer.
Check back again for registration information.
Saturday November 06, 5pm? - Saturday November 13, 1pm?
Loon Lake Camp, near Maple Ridge, B.C.
Norman Fischer leads two 7-day Zen sesshin (formal Zen retreats) in the Northwest. The June retreat at Samish Island and a November retreat in the beautiful forested mountains of British Columbia at the Loon Lake retreat center. Loon Lake is just over an hour's drive north from Bellingham near Maple Ridge, B.C. A strong, quiet and beautiful place for practice in the misty rains of November.
For details and registration see www.mountainrainzen.org.
Sat. and Sun 9am-4pm, Nov 20-21
Red Cedar Dharma Hall
Two work days on the weekend of November 20-21 to do deep cleaning, maintenance, repairs and improvements to Red Cedar Dharma Hall.
Everyone who appreciates the existence of the Hall is warmly invited to attend a day, a few hours, or both days.
Schedule: 9am - 4pm Saturday and Sunday Potluck lunch with short chanting service at 1pm each day.
Please bring something simple to add to a potluck lunch with soup provided. (Salad, bread, treat, fruit, etc.).
Working together mindfully to care for sacred space is a wonderful practice, we hope to see you then.
Note also that on the Saturday from 6am to 9am the Zen Community hosts it's usual 1st and 3rd Saturday meditation practice with potluck breakfast. Come early to make it a full day of Dharma and community.
Thursday December 02, 7:00pm - Sunday December 05, 9:00am
Red Cedar Dharma Hall
Every year in December Zen Buddhists around the world celebrate the enlightenment of the Buddha with sesshin (formal meditation retreat). This year's sesshin will be 2-and-a-half days long and a combined sesshin with Seattle Soto Zen.
The sesshin starts with an orientation and evening of zazen on Thursday night Dec 2nd. Then continues with regular 6am - 9pm sesshin days on Friday and Saturday. Saturday night is an optional all-night sit (traditional in rohatsu sesshin) and the retreat concludes on Sunday morning with a 6am-9am practice session including the Buddha's Enlightenment Ceremony and informal breakfast.
The practice of sesshin is a powerful opportunity - watching the sun rise in the morning and set in the evening from your seat in the zendo. Sitting a full day is do-able with a little training and experience. Each day includes alternating sitting and walking meditation, Dharma Talks, optional private meetings with the teachers, meals, breaks, and afternoon tea.
Nomon Tim Burnett of Red Cedar Zen and Eko Jeff Kelley of Seattle Soto Zen will co-lead the sesshin offering dharma talks and practice discussion. Practice discussion also available with Red Cedar Zen lay teachers Yuzan Nancy Welch and Seishu John Wiley.
Part time attendance is fine. Please indicate in the COMMENTS section of your registration when you plan to be at sesshin. We need to know for meals. Each day is broken into four parts: early morning, morning, afternoon, and evening. New to sesshin? Please come on Thursday night for the opening and orientation.
General Daily schedule:
6am - 8:450am: zazen, kinhin & service, oryoki breakfast
9:30am - 1:00pm: zazen, kinhin, dharma talk, service, oryoki lunch
2pm - 6pm: zazen, kinhin, tea, zazen, oryoki dinner
7pm - 9pm: zazen, kinhin, encouraging words, refuge chant
Detailed schedule from previous years available at the workgroups site. (Schedule subject to change for this years longer retreat.)
There will be three oryoki (formal three-bowl) meals each day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Oryoki training is included and can also be arranged in advance and oryoki sets are available to borrow or purchase ($40) at the Dharma Hall.
Out of town (and even local!) participants are invited to stay the night at the Dharma Hall and we have some spaces at the Dharma Hall and with sangha members' homes for spending the night. Overnight accommodation is worked out as part of the registration process.
Please join us for this exciting collaborative retreat.
Check back again for registration information.
Sunday January 16, 9:00am - 1:00pm
Red Cedar Dharma Hall
An introductory class and retreat. The basics on sitting and walking meditation and other ritual forms. On the spirit of living a life of healthy discipline with the guidance of Zen Buddhism. Designed for new students or those wanting to renew and deepen their understanding. There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion.
Check back again for registration information.
January 20 - March 6
Red Cedar Dharma Hall & Vancouver
Practice Period is a time in which Zen students practice intensively together. Historically, practice period (ango, in Japanese) originated in the rains retreats of the early Buddhist monks and nuns when they could not travel due to heavy rains. During that time they settled down for more intensive practice.
Today, in monasteries the practice period schedule of zazen, silent work, and study is more intense than normal, and practitioners are expected to attend all events, never leaving the monastery. Our practice period is adapted to our lives as lay people in the West. Although we don't live in monasteries, each winter in the spirit of those in monastic practice, we try to settle our busy lives in order to intensify our practice. Especially today, in this time of extreme suffering throughout the globe, it feels crucial to come together to practice Buddha's Way in support of the awakening of all beings.
A central part of practice period is the head student, or "shuso." The shuso takes a leadership role as an emerging Dharma teacher and senior student by teaching a class and giving several dharma talks as well as meeting individually with practice period students for tea. The sangha in return gathers together to support the shuso. This year's shuso will be Edie Norton. Edie is a long time member of Red Cedar Zen who started practicing Zen in the 1970's in California with the Japanese teacher Kobun Chino continuing on with Tenshin Reb Anderson of San Francisco Zen Center and now entering into her shuso training with Zoketsu Norman Fischer
Starting with an opening ceremony on Thursday January 20st at the Dharma Hall and a weekend retreat in Vancouver January 21-23, a one day sesshin on February 5th at the Dharma Hall, and concluding with three day sesshin March 4-6, the Practice Period will include extra classes and zazen.
For most participants it's also a time to practice more at home, to study, or to take on a special focus in their practice lives. At the opening ceremony on January 20st we state our intentions and we do our best to stay connected with and supported by sangha during this dark winter time of practice.
Registration is required for the 3 retreats and the shuso's class.. Register online, look for paper forms at the Dharma Hall, or contact the registers for assistance at 360-312-7088 or registrar@redcedarzen.org. And tea with the shuso can be scheduled directly with Edie.
PLEASE NOTE: the retreat in Vancouver with Zoketsu Norman Fischer is sponsored by our sister sangha in Vancouver, the Mountain Rain Zen Community, and registration for this retreat is handled by the Mountain Rain Registrar. See www.mountainrainzen.org for info.
Saturday mornings during Practice Period Jan 30 - Feb 27
Red Cedar Dharma Hall
Our usual 1st and 3rd Saturday practice is offered every Saturday during practice period. Note only that on Feb 13th practice continues all day as that is the one-day sesshin.
Sitting early in the morning is a powerful part of the Zen tradition. This program includes 3 periods of zazen during the early morning quiet. Opportunities to meet with the teachers in practice discussion. Longer morning chanting service.
This program is flexible for arrival times: if 6am is difficult, you may arrive on the half hour and enter during kinhin (walking meditation) at 6:30, 7:00, 7:30 or 8:00. Come a few minutes early to be sure you can enter during kinhin. Please do not enter the zendo during zazen (sitting mediation).
Breakfast is "potluck + oatmeal". Bring something to add to a one-bowl meal. Sugggestions: a bowl of nuts, fruit, bread, or anything that can be added to a bowl of oatmeal. (Note that oryoki meals will be offered just during sesshin for now).
SATURDAY MORNING MEDITATION SCHEDULE - ALL SATURDAYS DURING PRACTICE PERIOD
6:00am zazen (opening with robe chant, early morning bells, and priest's jundo)
6:25am kinhin
6:35am zazen
7:00am kinhin
7:10am zazen
7:40am service (longer morning service with some additional ritual)
8:00am potluck breakfast (pot of oatmeal, coffee and tea provided)
8:40am close (or break if extended program).
Thursday January 20, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Red Cedar Dharma Hall
At this ceremony all participants in the 2011 Winter Practice Period are invited to state their intentions and welcome this year's shuso (head student) Edie Norton as she is entered into her shuso training by guiding teacher Zoketsu Norman Fischer.
Friday January 21, 7:00pm - Sunday January 23, 4:00pm
Vancouver, B.C.
A weekend retreat which runs Friday evening through Sunday afternoon, sponsored by the Mountain Rain Zen Community. The retreat is non-residential, but the MRZC sangha does their best to find housing for out-of-town retreatants.
Registration and information through Mountain Rain Zen Community. See http://www.mountainrainzen.org
Registration has not yet begun.
Mondays 7pm / Saturdays 9:30am Jan 31-Feb 26
Red Cedar Dharma Hall
A class on creative expression as Zen practice with Shuso Edie Norton.
A four meeting class offered in two sessions: Monday evenings 7pm-8:30pm and Saturday mornings 9:30am-11:00am.
In four 90-minute sessions we will play with expressing our meditative intuitions and insights artistically. We’ll create with and through modeling clay, pastels and crayons, music listening, food smelling and tasting, stream-of-consciousness and Haiku writing, and—for those who can, singing and dancing. No prior artistic skill or experience required, just your life experience and meditative mind—and maybe a little playfulness. Everyone welcome!
Monday classes are on Jan 31, Feb 7, Feb 14, and Feb 21
Saturday classes are on Jan 29, (not Feb 5), Feb 12, Feb 19, and Feb 26
[Note Feb 12th class location TBA]
Check back again for registration information.
Saturdays 6am-9am, Jan 29 - Feb 26
Red Cedar Dharma Hall
Our usual 1st and 3rd Saturday practice is offered every Saturday during practice period. Note only that on Feb 5th practice continues all day as that is the one-day sesshin.
Sitting early in the morning is a powerful part of the Zen tradition. This program includes 3 periods of zazen during the early morning quiet. Opportunities to meet with the teachers in practice discussion. Longer morning chanting service.
This program is flexible for arrival times: if 6am is difficult, you may arrive on the half hour and enter during kinhin (walking meditation) at 6:30, 7:00, 7:30 or 8:00. Come a few minutes early to be sure you can enter during kinhin. Please do not enter the zendo during zazen (sitting mediation).
Breakfast is "potluck + oatmeal". Bring something to add to a one-bowl meal. Sugggestions: a bowl of nuts, fruit, bread, or anything that can be added to a bowl of oatmeal. (Note that oryoki meals will be offered just during sesshin for now).
SATURDAY MORNING MEDITATION SCHEDULE - ALL SATURDAYS DURING PRACTICE PERIOD 6:00am zazen (opening with robe chant, early morning bells, and priest's jundo) 6:25am kinhin 6:35am zazen 7:00am kinhin 7:10am zazen 7:40am service (longer morning service with some additional ritual) 8:00am soji (temple cleaning) 8:20am potluck breakfast (pot of oatmeal, coffee and tea provided) 9:00am close (or break if extended program).
Followed by the Saturday session of the shuso's class at 9:30am.
Schedule with the shuso
Red Cedar Dharma Hall
Meeting privately with the shuso for tea is an important part of practice period. This provides a chance to get to know each other a bit and to discuss practice in a relaxed setting.
Saturday February 05, 6:00am - 9:00pm
Red Cedar Dharma Hall
Every year we gather as sangha in the middle of the Winter Practice Period to sit in sesshin (formal meditation retreat) and hear from the shuso (head student) of the practice period. This year after the success of our full day sangha sesshin in August and December we will offer the full 6am-9pm day of practice with formal meals. Joining us for part of the day is also welcome, read on.
There will be three oryoki (formal three-bowl) meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A way-seeking mind dharma talk will be given by Shuso Edie Norton.
The full day runs from 6am to 9pm. We encourage you to attend the full day - watching the sun rise in the morning and set in the evening from your seat in the zendo is a powerful opportunity. Sitting a full day is do-able with a little training and experience. The day includes alternating sitting and walking meditation, Dharma Talks, optional private meetings with the teachers, meals, breaks, and afternoon tea.
Part time attendance is also fine. Please indicate in the COMMENTS section of your registration which of the four sections of the day you will be there for. We need to know for meals. The day is broken into four parts: early morning, morning, afternoon, and evening.
Early Morning: 6am - 8:45am: zazen, kinhin & service, oryoki breakfast
Morning: 9:30am - 1:00pm: zazen, kinhin, dharma talk by Bob pt 1., service, oryoki lunch
Afternoon: 2pm - 6pm: zazen, kinhin, tea, dharma talk by Bob pt 2., zazen, oryoki dinner
Evening: 7pm - 9pm: zazen, kinhin, refuge chant
Oryoki (formal 3-bowl eating) training is included and can also be arranged in advance and oryoki sets are available to borrow or purchase ($40) at the Dharma Hall.
Please remember to indicate in the COMMENTS box in the online registration if you will be attending part time and which parts of the day if so. And if you would like to borrow or buy an oryoki set.
For those coming from out of town who would like to spend the night before in Bellingham some spaces at the Dharma Hall and with sangha members' homes may be available. Please indicate in your registration and register early if you would like housing.
Check back again for registration information.
Wednesday February 09, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Red Cedar Dharma Hall
The principal events in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha are celebrated in Zen centers throughout the world: his birth (May - varies), enlightenment (rohatsu - Dec 12th), and death (parinirvana - Feb 8th or 15th).
On this evening of Winter Practice Period we'll sit two periods of zazen and then celebrate the Buddha's passing with a beautiful ceremony.
Wednesday February 16, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Red Cedar Dharma Hall
The Wednesday night practice period schedule (3 periods of zazen) is replaced on this night in the middle of our Winter Practice Period to discuss how we're doing. One period of zazen followed by talking circle. A wonderful way to touch base with our own practice and intentions in the middle of practice period and support others.
Thursday March 03, 7:00pm - Sunday March 06, 3:00pm
Red Cedar Dharma Hall
With Zoketsu Norman Fischer. (Thursday 7pm - 9pm, Friday 6am - 9pm, Saturday 6am - 9pm, and Sunday 6am - 2pm) This more intensive retreat will include oryoki meals, sitting and walking meditation, and breaks. The schedule is strong but do-able for anyone who has sat with us.
Daily Dharma Talks by Norman with the opportunity for doksuan. Practice discussion available with Nomon Tim Burnett, Seishu John Wiley, and Yuzan Nancy Welch. Dharma talks also by practice period shuso Edie Norton.
Advance registration required for retreat. $60 - $120 sliding scale plus donation to Norman. Scholarships available - apply by Feb 20th at the latest. Housing can be arranged for out of town retreatants, please register early and indicate in your registration that you need housing. There is no need to contact the registrar separately to request housing, it is built into the registration process.
Oryoki sets available to borrow or purchase ($40) and oryoki instruction will be provided during the retreat, and is available at other times in practice period by request.
The retreat closes with the Shuso's Dharma Inquiry Ceremony (hossenshiki) on Sunday March 7th at 11am. All in the sangha are invited to this ceremony regardless of attendance at this sesshin. Hossenshiki is followed by lunch and work period with all leaving the Dharma Hall by 3pm. Those traveling from afar will be able to leave at about 1:30pm or even earlier if needed to make connections to get home.
This retreat ends the 2011 Winter Practice Period.
Check back again for registration information.
Sunday March 06, 11:00am - 1:00pm
Red Cedar Dharma Hall
Shuso's Dharma Inquiry Ceremony (hossenshiki) on Sunday March 6th at 11am. All in the sangha are invited to this ceremony regardless of attendance at the 3-day sesshin. Hossenshiki is followed by lunch.
In this ceremony all participants in the practice period are invited to bring up a dharma question which the shuso responds to. You are welcome to ask any of the former shuso's (Tim, Nancy, John W., Bob P.) if you have never participated in this ceremony and are coming without attending the sesshin for guidance on the question. For sesshin participants there will be an explanation given ahead.
It is also fine to attend the ceremony and not ask a question.
Lunch will be served after the ceremony.
Do mark you calendar for this important community event.
Fri March 4 & Sat March 5 at 10:30am & 3pm
Red Cedar Dharma Hall
All are welcome to join the sangha during the 3-day sesshin for all four dharma talks.
Two with Zoketsu Norman Fischer on Friday and Saturday morning at 10:30am.
And on Friday afternoon at 3:00pm Red Cedar Zen's Spiritual Director Nomon Tim Burnett gives a talk.
Saturday afternoon at 3:00pm our current Shuso (head student) Edie Norton gives a talk.
Please arrive ten minutes early and wait in the lobby until invited in by the Ino.
See also the shuso's Dharma Inquiry Ceremony on Sunday at 11:00am.
Sunday April 17, 9:00am - 1:00pm
Red Cedar Dharma Hall
Yuzan Nancy Welch has been practicing Zen for 15 years and is a family and child therapist in private practice. She is a lay teacher of Zen under the supervision of our Guiding Teacher, Zoketsu Norman Fischer.
Check back again for registration information.
Saturday May 07, 6:00am - 9:00pm
Red Cedar Dharma Hall
Join us in the middle of summer for a new annual event: an all day Zen sesshin (formal Zen retreat) with Dharma Talks and opportunity for private meetings with the Red Cedar Zen Community's teachers.
There will be three oryoki (formal three-bowl) meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
The full day runs from 6am to 9pm. We encourage you to attend the full day - watching the sun rise in the morning and set in the evening from your seat in the zendo is a powerful opportunity. Sitting a full day is do-able with a little training and experience. The day includes alternating sitting and walking meditation, Dharma Talks, optional private meetings with the teachers, meals, breaks, and afternoon tea.
Part time attendance is also fine. Please indicate in the COMMENTS section of your registration which of the four sections of the day you will be there for. We need to know for meals. The day is broken into four parts: early morning, morning, afternoon, and evening.
Schedule Summary Early Morning 6am - 8:45am: zazen, kinhin & service, oryoki breakfast
Morning 9:30am - 1:00pm: zazen, kinhin, dharma talk by Tim, service, oryoki lunch
Afternoon 2pm - 6pm: zazen, kinhin, tea, zazen, oryoki dinner
Evening 7pm - 9pm: zazen, kinhin, dharma talk by Nancy, refuge chant
Exact schedule from previous sesshin (subject to change) is available here online at the workgroups site.
Note on oryoki: training can be arranged in advance and oryoki sets are available for rent ($10) or purchase ($40) at the Dharma Hall. There will also be guidance during the meals. If you do not have a chance to get training it will be okay.
Note to out-of-town retreatants: If you wish to arrive in Bellingham the evening before please indicate this in your registration. We have some spaces at the Dharma Hall and with sangha members' homes for spending the night.
Check back again for registration information.
Friday June 17, 4:00pm - Saturday June 25, Noon
Samish Island
Should we live so long we'll have our annual summer sesshin at Samish Island camp in 2011 from Friday June 17th at 4pm to Saturday June 25th at noon.
Check back again for registration information.
Saturday August 06, 6:00am - 9:00pm
Red Cedar Dharma Hall
Join us in the middle of summer for a new annual event: an all day Zen sesshin (formal Zen retreat) with Dharma Talks and opportunity for private meetings with the Red Cedar Zen Community's teachers.
There will be three oryoki (formal three-bowl) meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
The full day runs from 6am to 9pm. We encourage you to attend the full day - watching the sun rise in the morning and set in the evening from your seat in the zendo is a powerful opportunity. Sitting a full day is do-able with a little training and experience. The day includes alternating sitting and walking meditation, Dharma Talks, optional private meetings with the teachers, meals, breaks, and afternoon tea.
Part time attendance is also fine. Please indicate in the COMMENTS section of your registration which of the four sections of the day you will be there for. We need to know for meals. The day is broken into four parts: early morning, morning, afternoon, and evening.
Schedule Summary Early Morning 6am - 8:45am: zazen, kinhin & service, oryoki breakfast
Morning 9:30am - 1:00pm: zazen, kinhin, dharma talk by Tim, service, oryoki lunch
Afternoon 2pm - 6pm: zazen, kinhin, tea, zazen, oryoki dinner
Evening 7pm - 9pm: zazen, kinhin, dharma talk by Nancy, refuge chant
Exact schedule from previous sesshin (subject to change) is available here online at the workgroups site.
Note on oryoki: training can be arranged in advance and oryoki sets are available for rent ($10) or purchase ($40) at the Dharma Hall. There will also be guidance during the meals. If you do not have a chance to get training it will be okay.
Note to out-of-town retreatants: If you wish to arrive in Bellingham the evening before please indicate this in your registration. We have some spaces at the Dharma Hall and with sangha members' homes for spending the night.
Check back again for registration information.
Sunday October 16, 9:00am - 1:00pm
Red Cedar Dharma Hall
An introductory class and retreat with lay teacher from Red Cedar Zen. The basics on sitting and walking meditation and other ritual forms. On the spirit of living a life of healthy discipline with the guidance of Zen Buddhism. Designed for new students or those wanting to renew and deepen their understanding. There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion.
Check back again for registration information.
The Red Cedar Zen Community maintains close relationships with other nearby groups in our lineage, the Seattle Soto Zen sangha and the Mountain Rain Zen Community in Vancouver, BC. Current events and additional information is provided on their respsective websites.