February 2018

As our Kyol Che (winter intensive practice period) begins, I’ve been thinking about a form of practice that all of us can subscribe to, whether we’ve signed on to do a formal Kyol Che or not. We can do this without adding anything to our schedules at all.

In fact, it would be the opposite of “adding”. But it would be the opposite of “subtracting” too! What could possibly be the opposite of both adding and subtracting? Resting in openness…..

Many of us have heard the teaching phrase: Rest in openness to the totality of present moment awareness. But here’s an experiment, a challenge that any one of us could try. Periodically, in the midst of your working day, maybe when you are in transition from one kind of activity to another, just sit where you are, in the office chair, on the sofa, on the bus, for one to three minutes. Let your hands rest on your lap. Let your eyes rest in front of you. Relax everything in your body. Rest the mind. Don’t even latch onto particular practice techniques. Resist the idea that you have no time. Rather, adopt, for one minute, the notion that you have all the time in the world. Let the operating principle be that of resting in openness.

Try it, and in a very practical and simple way, all of us regardless of circumstances can create this kind of Kyol Che. Or this kind of life, for that matter. 

Yours in the total timelessness of the dharma’s light,
Jeong Ji
Easy Chair
photo by Eric Nord, JDPSN
February Events
Kong-An Interviews:

1st Tuesday with Zen Master Jeong Ji: see Kyol Che Schedule

2nd Sunday with Zen Master Jeong Ji or Eric Nord, JDPSN: February 11

3rd Wednesday with Zen Master Jeong Ji: February 21

3rd Thursday with Eric Nord, JDPSN: February 15

Consulting Interviews: Thursday, February 1st with Senior Dharma Teacher Paul Gulick

Special Chanting: Sunday, February 4

Tacoma Saturday Meditation: Saturday, February 10 with Eric Nord, JDPSN

Please visit the  website calendar for complete and current details of these events and for the weekly practice schedule. 
Kyol Che 2018

Tuesday, January 23rd through Tuesday, April 24th

Please join us as we begin our annual Blue Heron Kyol Che. The special nature of Kyol Che is that it offers us an intensive “coming together” practice, when we can re-invigorate our training with the support of our sangha and teachers. The Kyol Che theme is The View From Here: a look at Korean Zen and its manifestations in the world today.

January/February Schedule (open to all, regardless if you are signed up for Kyol Che)
Tuesday, January 30, February 13, February 27: Workshop
Tuesday February 6 & February 20: Kong-An Interviews

Check out the Kyol Che web page for more information.
Fundamentals of Zen

Sunday, February 11: 1pm to 4pm

Discover the true nature of reality. Engage with the deepest questions about who we are and how we might be of service to this troubled world. Blue Heron Zen Community invites you to take up the challenge of training a beautifully clear mind in this free, three-hour Fundamentals of Zen workshop. Pre-registration is not necessary.
Note from Abbot Tom

Thank you to the Sangha for being patient with our construction process and our three week closure in January. It was especially gratifying to see so many turn out to unpack and clean out all of the drywall dust. It is everywhere! Our construction efforts will continue over the next two months with paving of our driveway, the addition of outside steps to our dharma room and other handicap accessibility improvements. We don't anticipate any more closures of the Zen Center, just some minor inconveniences with bathrooms and different doors to use for accessing the Zen Center. We hope to be done with this process soon. Special thanks to Chris Coker for his electrician talents in replacing lights and outlets! 
Back Door Entrance

The back door entrance is now available to use again. Please use this entrance instead of the front door until paving work begins.
Residential Openings

The Blue Heron Zen Community has a residential opening starting in February 2018 for students who are serious about their Zen training practice. This is a wonderful opportunity to deepen one's meditation effort by living in our beautiful Zen Center.

If you, or anyone you know, is interested, please read the residential guidelines and send a note with your interest to Abbot Tom Campbell at info@blueheronzen.org .
Looking Forward

Dharma Talk, Thursday, March 8

Three Day Retreat with Jeff Tipp, JDPSN: Friday-Sunday, March 9-11