Cloud Mountain Autumn Zazenkai, Saturday June 29, 2024

Perhaps we’ll find a theme in the words of Yunmen (whose name means Cloud Gate, by the way).  A monk asked him “When the leaves wither and fall away, what is that?”.  Yunmen replied “Golden Wind is manifesting herself.”

Golden Wind is the female deity of late autumn, early winter, as the last leaves fall to the ground and leave the trees bare against the empty sky.  Another translation of Yunmen’s words, is “The body exposed in the autumn wind”.

What is this body that is so utterly exposed by all things dropping away?  What is this Golden Wind manifesting herself when there is little or nothing left ‘sticking’?

Full day attendance is, of course, strongly encouraged -- but you can also attend for just the morning if necessary, and the entire day is offered on a Dana-only basis, to help support the teaching and the temple.

Cloud Mountain is at Wattamolla Rd, Woodhill.  Train times can be found at South Coast Line timetable here: https://transportnsw.info/routes/details/intercity-trains/sco/02SCO

Warren Summers has nobly offered himself as ’point person’ for enquiries, and possibly to help you find a way to car-pool from Sydney.  It is always a lovely addition to the day to travel in sangha company.

Contact Warren at  [warren dot summers at gmail dot com]

There’s a word about the importance of Dana, below.  Please read it carefully

The shape of the day

Morning:

10.30    Gather over morning tea (please bring something small to share)

11.00    (Periods of) zazen (Zen meditation) kinhin (mindful walking), with Encouraging Words

12.45    Finish for the morning

Afternoon: (optional but strongly encouraged)

1.00      Shared lunch (bring food to share)

2.00       Zazen

2.30       Dharma talk and koan inquiry

3.45       Finish for the afternoon – pack up, clean up.

4.00       Depart

Our first Summer Zazenkai was deeply enjoyed by all of us, including Betz the frisbee-dharma dog, so if you can make your way here, you will discover all over again that you are welcome here…

Register using the button at top,   so we can know to expect you.

Cost is free, entry by what you can offer by way of dana in return for the gift of the day.

Dana – The practice of generosity.:  In accordance with the 2,500 year-old Buddhist tradition of Dana, this entire day of practice and teaching is provided free of charge, relying on your gift in return, in the form of financial support according to your means, to help sustain the teaching and the temple. Dana, pure giving, is non- compulsory and has no prescribed rate, but thrives in the spirit of gratitude and generosity. Offering and receiving complete each other, in one warm move of the heart.

Dana can be offered on the day at Cloud Mountain.

()

Susan