August 2022
Dear Sangha,
As we all know, there will be unintended consequences. Cause and effect cannot be foreseen. Why? Because in the mysterious infinitely entangled web of being, one event begets 10,000 others. For example, in ancient China, Taoist monks searching for the elixir of life accidentally discovered gunpowder. In a head-scratching twist of time and space, what began as a search for ever-lasting life turned into a discovery of how to kill. We’ve seen similar phenomena occurring over and over again in the history of our world—politically, environmentally, and, no doubt, in the unfolding of our personal lives.
How will we keep our center when, in spite of our best efforts, the master plan veers way off course? What do we do next, when Don’t Know permeates the present, the future, and even the past? Naturally, we have a perfect kong-an in which to explore this matter:
The whole universe is on fire. Through what kind of samadhi can you escape being burned?
In other words, through what kind of alchemy of body, heart, and mind can you find the true elixir of life?
Please, for the sake of our fragile world, and at your earliest convenience, show the world…
Yours in the dharma,
Jeong Ji
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Photo by Eric Nord, JDPSN |
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August Online Sessions
You are welcome to join in on any of these sessions. No sign up necessary. Just join the online group practice at the appropriate time for any of our group practices. If necessary, entering late is okay, as is leaving early. If it’s your first time trying this out, come early if you can. The Head Dharma Teacher will be available to help you get started.
Sessions:
- Sunday 9am (Hybrid practice)
- Monday - Saturday 7am
- Tuesday 7pm
Sessions with Dharma Talks:
- Sunday, August 7 9am "Inka: What It Means and Where It Comes From" by Zen Master Jeong Ji
- Tuesday, August 16 7pm Eric Nord, JDPSN
Sessions with Dharma Dialogues with Senior Dharma Teachers:
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August In-Person Events
All in-person practices are open for walk-in attendance (no need to sign up in advance).
Sessions:
- Sunday 9am (Hybrid practice)
- Thursdays at 10:30am
- Fridays at 10am
Zen Master Jeong Ji will attend alternate Thursday and Friday sessions and is available for Dharma Dialogues after practice. If you would like to schedule a dialogue please email her.
Book Club:
To attend, simply show up 5-10 minutes before any practice time. The building will be open for those practices. Use the ground floor entrance from the back yard.
Attendees are asked to have full Covid vaccinations and to wear masks inside the building.
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An Invitation to Join the Just Show Up Sangha for a Dharma Talk
Friday, August 12, 7:15pm
Our work on rewording the Four Great Vows has generated some interest from other sanghas. Zen Master Jeong Ji has been invited to give a talk on our sangha’s process of revision. The Just Show Up sangha, led by Zen teacher, Ava Stanton, has invited anyone from our community to join them for this talk and sangha discussion.
They will gather informally on Friday, August 12 at 7:15 am on zoom, begin chanting at 7:30am, followed by a short period of sitting and walking. After the brief dharma talk there will be plenty of time for sangha-wide discussion. Session ends at 8:45pm with the Four Great Vows.
Meeting ID: 836 7943 0131
Passcode: 662517
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Abstract Art Exhibition
Showing through August 18
Our own Christie Cave is exhibiting her wonderful art in a show near the Zen Center! North Seattle College Art Gallery (on campus just down the hill from the Zen Center) has an exhibit of 50+ abstract works by Continuing Education students. Great opportunity to practice “What is this?”
Details:
July 19 - August 18
Tuesday through Friday 12-2pm
Tuesday and Wednesday 5-7pm
9600 College Way N, Seattle, WA
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Precepts Ceremony
Saturday, August 20 9am
Please join us as members take precepts and affirm their connection to the Zen path with the Blue Heron Zen Community. Everyone is welcome to attend the ceremony either online or in-person. Please see our website if you plan to attend in person.
Because this ceremony includes a number of group recitations, we encourage you to have see the ceremony program available on our website so you can join in with us. We hope to see you there to support our preceptees.
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Inka Ceremony for Greg Eisen |
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It is with deep appreciation, joy, and gratitude that we will be acknowledging Senior Dharma Teacher, Greg Eisen, with the title of Inka on the Precepts Path at our upcoming Precepts Ceremony. Greg will be the first student in the Golden Wind Zen Order to receive this special recognition, and we couldn’t be more thrilled about it! The brief ceremony will occur at the end of our Precepts Ceremony, which begins at 9am on Aug 20. This will be a hybrid event, streamed on Zoom. We will be holding the ceremony outdoors at the Zen Center so there will be plenty of room to accommodate all. Please join us in celebration! Our founding teacher, Zen Master Ji Bong, will speak on Greg’s behalf via Zoom, as well as Zen Master Jeong Ji and Eric Poep Sa Nim.
Greg has been a shining example of how to embody the Zen teachings. Thank you, Greg, for your 100% commitment to Only Go Straight, Don’t Know, for 10,000 years nonstop.
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9-Day Retreat with Ann Pepper, JDPSN and Zen Master Jeong Ji
August 20 - August 28
On Saturday August 20, we'll gather our online and in-person communities for a nine day immersion in group practice, a Dharma talk, and personal Dharma dialogues with Ann Pepper, JDPSN and Zen Master Jeong Ji. Please join us to deepen our practice for the sake of all beings.
This retreat will be conducted online using Zoom, with a concurrent opportunity to practice together in person in the Blue Heron dharma room. Please register here by Wednesday, August 17. Note that Greg Eisen is the registrar for this retreat.
To Join Online: join our usual Zoom meeting up to 10 minutes before the retreat starts each day at 7am. The Zoom details are: Meeting ID: 228 228 1938, Password: 0108 01.
To Join In Person: come to Blue Heron by 6:50am on each day. Attendees should be vaccinated and wear a high-quality, well-fitting mask. Those meeting in person will observe the online practice from the dharma room, and will meet the teacher online for kong-an dialogues. Please bring a phone, tablet, or laptop to serve as a backup device if needed. No food will be served; bring a lunch for the lunch break.
The fee for this retreat is $35/day for non-members, $25/day for members. Please register using this form by Wednesday, August 17. A voluntary gift of dana* to the teacher will be accepted with gratitude.
*dana is a voluntary donation to our teacher.
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Online Dharma Dialogues
Our senior dharma teachers are offering Online Dharma Dialogues if you would like to discuss your practice and any questions you may have. Please get in touch with them individually to schedule an appointment if you would like a one-on-one Zoom meeting.
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