Since inception, Zen Open Circle has regarded indigenous Australian understanding of being on country as an important part of the unfolding of Zen as it becomes native to Australia. This process, like the Dharma itself, is as old as hills. Something similar happened in China 1600 years ago as Indian Buddhism acculturated to Taoism in the formation of Chan, and 1000 years ago as Chan modulated to Japanese Shinto in the formation of Zen. Even the Buddha left the city-state to live and meditate in forests under trees, in affinity with more indigenous practice. Buddhism has been in conversational exchange with the earth-based indigenous soul in every human being since its inception, and we gladly honour and continue that interchange.
Remembering we belong.
In this spirit, in most years ZOC includes in its calendar of retreats a weekend of meditation and learning in the bush with a Yuin (south coast) elder, Dulumnmun, also known as Uncle Max Harrison, involving journeys into his country, as well as teaching weekends in other bushland settings.
Dogen said, ‘When you know the place where you are, practice begins’. Our continuing work with Uncle Max – including numerous occasions of public conversations in which Susan and Max have explored this overlap and exchange together – continually brings this home.
