June and July: Lecture Series at Daiyuzenji, Chicago

For June and July, our post-zazen time on Tuesday nights will be devoted to a series of informal talks on basic Buddhist concepts.  These will consist
of a presentation followed by discussion/Q&A.

This series of talks is distinct from the Sunday morning Buddhist study group. The talks will not be tied to a particular text and the are not
coordinated with the Sunday study.  No prior background assumed; no preparation necessary. Just show up.

The presenters will be Linxweiler Roshi, Moore Roshi, and me.  We are still finalizing the topics; the following definitely will be covered:

1. Three Marks
2. Four Noble Truths
3. 8-Fold Path/3-fold Discipline
4. Dependent Origination

We take requests:  please come with your questions, and contribute to the discussion.

The talks will follow zazen, at 8:15 pm on Tuesday nights.  Feel free to come only for the talks or to join us for zazen at 7:00 or 7:45 pm.

Korinji Land Search Announcement, and Urgent Appeal

The Korinji Foundation has made the following announcement, and is appealing for donations. Please consider helping!

Dear Korinji Friends,

We're excited to announce that our dream of founding a new Rinzai Zen monastic training center in North America’s heartland – Korinji – is closer to coming true. In recent months our land search committee has reviewed piles of real estate listings, and visited a dozen properties that appeared promising. It’s been exhausting, but very exciting! Now, we’ve identified several "final candidate" properties in the beautiful wooded hills of southwest Wisconsin…including one on which we've begun negotiation.

Think of it: we've had the incredible good fortune to receive the precious Zen teachings, passed down through centuries by a long line of Indian, Chinese and Japanese masters. But if this treasure is to survive, we must help it take root in our own soil. If all goes well, we may be only weeks away from having a home for our dream.

Will you join us in this crucial work?

Why is a residential practice center so important? A Zen temple is not a cloistered hermitage cut off from the world. It’s a vibrant place of training and community, conducive to deep meditation practice. The people who train at Korinji will take their experience back out into the world, to improve their lives and relationships, perhaps eventually to found other Zen centers and create new aways of expressing Zen wisdom that we haven’t even dreamed of.

The premise of Zen Buddhism is simple: there is a fundamental human wholeness and sanity which lies at the very root of what we are. It can be recognized and realized. It can be manifested and embodied through practice. Its authentic expression is compassion and tolerance. Our society will benefit from this stream of wisdom we’ve now inherited…provided we can keep it alive and help it grow. This will be the gift of Zen to our future.

Currently there are major Rinzai Zen residential training centers on the West and East coasts of North America – but not in the Midwest. This is the “shining forest” (Ko-rin) we intend to plant here in the heartland with Korinji.

We urgently need your help today.

Though we’ve successfully raised enough funds for a down payment to purchase our property, obtaining a mortgage has become more challenging these days for everyone. It’s crucial that we not only show periodic large donations and successful fund raising events, but also regular donations from a community of supporters

This is where you can help. Will you consider signing up for a tax-deductible, automated monthly donation to Korinji?

Any donation is appreciated and useful: 10 people donating 100.00 a month can nearly pay a mortgage. 20 people donating 50.00 a month will do the same. Even a monthly donation of 15.00 (the price of three or four beverages from the local coffee chain) can help pay to feed resident monks at the future Korinji, to sponsor university student retreats as part of Korinji’s Collegiate Zen Initiative, to plant trees or a vegetable garden…in short, to ensure that Korinji is founded and continues onward through the years as a viable center.

We need help now. We are committed to purchasing land this year - before summertime.

If you’ve ever contemplated donating to Korinji or to promote the spread of the dharma, now is the time. Please consider signing up today. All donations are tax-deductible (we’re designated a 501c3 public charity by the IRS). Anything you can give will go directly to our new temple fund - and thus to our work of preserving and spreading Zen, for now and for the future.

You can instantly and securely donate to Korinji online using PayPal by going here. You’ll see options there to sign up for automated monthly donations, as well as information on many other ways to donate to Korinji.

Another way you can help us is by forwarding this message to anyone and everyone. Send it out to your list, and ask others to do so. The more people know about Korinji and our temple project, the greater our community strength. Talk us up, and help awareness of Korinji to snowball!

We believe that now, more than ever, the world needs the compassionate, tolerant perspective of the Zen teachings. Now, more than ever, Korinji needs your help to become something real. Please consider signing up for a donation today.

Thank you for caring about Zen, and for believing in Korinji. We look forward to hosting you at the future Korinji temple.

With gratitude,

Enmei Hunter
Treasurer
The Korinji Foundation

Please click here to see ways you can contribute to the founding of Korinji

May 24 Lecture with Andy Fergsuon

We're pleased to announce a talk to be given at Daiyuzenji in Chicago on Saturday, May 24th, 10 a.m. by a special guest: Andy Ferguson, author of Zen's Chinese Heritage.

Mr. Ferguson's presentation will consist of two parts, lasting approximately 2 1/2 hours: The first part is called “Five Aspects of Chinese Chan", and will examine very traditional Chinese views of Chan teachings based on traditional practice and Yogacara texts, particularly the Lankavatara and Samdhinirmocana sutras. Using the teachings of a contemporary Chinese teacher named Ding Kang, he will explore sixth and seventh century Chan and Mahayana cosmology. This part of the talk also goes into the development of the metaphors used in Zen literature to describe the nature of the mind.

The second part of the talk is entitled “The Symbolism and Architecture of Early Chan Temples.” In this part of the talk, Mr. Ferguson will discuss specifically how the “Five Aspects” discussed earlier dictated the architecture and iconography of early Chan temples, and how Chan teachings took concrete form in temple layout, forming a sort of physical “road map” of the Zen path to complete awakening. Also discussed in this context will be the specific roles of the traditional buddhas and bodhisattvas.

Mr. Ferguson's presentation will include slides of various Zen sites in China, taken during his travels. The recommended donation for the talk is $10.00, but anyone is welcome regardless of ability to donate.

There is no need to RSVP; just come! Please email Daiyuzenji if you have any questions.

A little bit more about Andy:

Andy Ferguson, the general manager of South Mountain Tours, is a widely acknowledged sinologist that has written/translated works on Chinese traditional culture and produced an acclaimed two hour video DVD on Chinese history designed for travelers. Andy worked as a ex-patriate manager in East Asia for various USA industrial companies and continues to do consulting work for companies setting up ventures, making acquisitions, or selling their products in China. In addition, Andy is well known for his wide ranging and acclaimed talks on Chinese culture and history. He frequently gives presentations to community, business, and educational groups about Chinese business, history, art, folklore, and other topics. He is a well known scholar of Chinese religious culture and the author of Zen's Chinese Heritage: The Masters and their Teachings. Andy travels to China frequently where he leads South Mountain's tours and carries out independent research on some fascinating facets of Chinese history.

Zazenkai in Chicago - April 5

The next zazenkai at Daiyuzenji will be this Saturday, April 5, 6:30 to 11:30 pm. We've been having really excellent attendance at recent zazenkai, including quite a few newcomers to zazen practice.

For those just coming off of sesshin, this is an excellent time to follow up on the recent effort.

"Zazenkai" literally means "a gathering for zazen." Zazenkai provide anopportunity to experience a little more concentrated meditation practice. It is an excellent preparation for those interested in experiencing sesshin, our longer meditation retreats.

Zazenkai is led by senior members of Daiyuzenji. There will be plenty of zazen. Other activities may be included at the leader's discretion. Zazenkai is open to anyone who has previously sat zazen. There is no need to reserve a seat: just show up!

Korinji Land Search - April 5

The land search committee will be traveling on Saturday, 4/5 to view properties of interest in the Driftless Region of SW Wisconsin. More information shortly!

Centering Training

During April and May at Daiyuzenji in Chicago, we will be devoting the post-zazen period on Tuesday nights to work on breathing and centering.

The breathing technique used in zazen relies on not collapsing the lower abdomen during exhalation in order to maintain stability of the base and relaxation of the upper body. We have a number of exercises that help develop sensitivity to breath movement and a deepening and lengthening of the breath.

Centering techniques build on the breathing techniques and look at the relation of breath to maintaining center and releasing stress in the middle of everyday activity.

The Tuesday night schedule for April and May will be:

7:00 - 7:45 pm Zen meditation
7:45 - 8:15 pm Zen meditation
8:20 - 9:00 pm Breathing and centering techniques

All are welcome to come for any part of the training on those nights.

Shiatsu (Massage) Seminar

We would like to announce a special seminar, "Dojo Massage", Thursday, March 13 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Daiyuzenji in Chicago (3717 N. Ravenswood #113, Chicago, IL 60613).

Dojo massage is an informal system of bodywork designed to relieve muscle stiffness accompanying Zen and martial arts training. Originally developed by Tanouye Roshi and the senior students at Chozen-ji in Hawaii, the techniques include meridian stimulation applied by foot to the lower extremities, and hand and elbow techniques for working the back and shoulders. Along with relieving tension in stiff muscles, dojo massage is a great way to develop sensitivity and connection to those you train with on a daily basis.

The Dojo Massage seminar is open to everyone and there is a suggested $10.00 donation. Participants should wear loose comfortable clothing.

Please sign up at the temple or email Daiyuzenji (go to www.daiyuzenji.org) to RSVP.