March 2024

Photo by Zen Master Jeong Bong

Dear Friends,

What is open? What is closed? What vistas and facades live within us and without? For the month of March, here is a poem offering for you: 

My Name Is Ah

As my body erodes in the golden wind, I practice extending the realm of being alive

into a more panoramic view.

As I breathe in mist, dust, and air, I marvel at how we mirror one other.

How is even possible, then, to find the beginning or end of anything?

Inhaling questions before they form into words,

I exhale this life like a breeze blowing through the clouds.

This borrowed breath, a prophet of so many mysteries yet to come. Ah…

Yours, in yet another season of wonder,

Jeong Ji

March In-Person Sessions

All in-person practices are open for walk-in attendance (no need to sign up in advance). Attendees are asked to have up-to-date vaccinations.

Sessions:

• Sunday 10am-11:30am (Also streamed online)
• Tuesday 7pm (Not streamed)
• Wednesdays at 10am
• Fridays at 10am

Newcomer Orientation:

• Sunday 9:30am

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.

3-Day Retreat with Chris Chapman JDPSN

Friday, March 15 - Sunday, March 17

We will gather our online and in-person communities for an immersion in group practice, Dharma talks, and personal Dharma dialogues with Chris Chapman JDPSN.

This retreat will be held in person in the Blue Heron Dharma Room and will be streamed on Zoom. Please register here.

To join online: join our usual Zoom meeting up to 10 minutes before the retreat starts each day at 7am. The Zoom meeting ID is 228 228 1938. The Zoom password is 010801.

To join in person: come to Blue Heron by 6:50am on each day. Attendees should be vaccinated. Those meeting in person will participate in practice from the dharma room. No food will be served; bring a lunch for the lunch break.

More information about the retreat is available here.

The fee for this retreat is $35/day for non-members, $25/day for members. A voluntary gift of dana* to the teacher will be accepted with gratitude.

*dana is a voluntary donation to our teacher.

Kyol Che 2024

Schedule for Dharma Dialogues and workshops

This year's focus will be on the Six Paramitas, the transcendent perfections. Every other Sunday, a workshop will be held focusing on one of the Six Paramitas. Dharma Dialogues will be offered on the alternate weeks:

• Feb 4 – Generosity (dana)
• Feb 11 – Dharma Dialogues
• Feb 18 – Morality/Precepts (sila)
• Feb 25 – Dharma Dialogues
• March 3 – Patience (ksanti)
• March 10 – Dharma Dialogues
• March 17 – Diligence/Energy (virya)
• March 24 – Dharma Dialogues
• March 31 – Meditation (dhyana)
• April 7 – Dharma Dialogues
• April 14 – Wisdom (prajna)

Schedule for retreats

Fri-Sun, January 26 – 28, 3-Day Retreat with Paul Gulick, JDPSN

Fri-Sun, March 15 – 17, 3-Day Retreat with Chris Chapman, JDPSN

Fri-Sun, April 19 – 21, 2-Day Retreat

You can find more Kyol Che details here.

Kyol Che sessions and workshops will also be streamed online. Join our usual Zoom meeting up to 10 minutes beforehand. The Zoom Meeting ID is 228 228 1938. The Zoom password is 010801.

Kyol Che will end on April 21.

In-Person Kyol Che Sessions

Whether you formally participate in Kyol Che or not, you are always welcome at all of our practice sessions and retreats.

During Kyol Che, we expect the Dharma Room to be crowded on Sundays. In light of the current trends with respiratory illnesses, we note the following:

• You may wish to consider masking when attending practice. Masking is optional. If you need a mask, there are masks available in the Dharma Room and inside the entrance to the building.
• If you have respiratory symptoms, please join us from home on Zoom. Kyol Che sessions and workshops will be broadcast at the Online Practice link here.
• If symptoms such as persistent coughing arise during practice, our form is the following: bow at your cushion, leave the Dharma Room, and attend to your needs. Return when you are able, or write a note for the Head Dharma Teacher who is leading practice.

Dharma Dialogues

Zen Master Jeong Bong and Zen Master Jeong Ji are offering online Dharma Dialogues. Sign up here with Jeong Bong Soen Sa or here with Jeong Ji Soen Sa.

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.

• Jeff Tipp JDPSN jefftipp@gmail.com
• Greg Eisen eisengn@gmail.com
• Paul Gulick JDPSN paul@blueheronzen.org
• John Craycraft johnc@blueheronzen.org
• Chris Chapman JDPSN chris@blueheronzen.org

Looking Forward

2-Day Retreat: April 19-20

Precepts & End of Kyol Che Ceremony: April 21