Zazenkai: September 26th & 27th

 Cloud Mountain is situated on the rim of magnificent Kangaroo Valley, two hours from Sydney, and 7 km from Berry township.

You are warmly invited to apply to join a Zazenkai (intensive period of formal Zen practice, for committed Zen students), taking place on Saturday September 26th – with the possibility of camping and staying on overnight through to the morning of Sunday September 27th.

We traditionally bring simple food to share share, pot-luck style, for lunch and supper, and manage our own breakfast on the Sunday. On some occasions, we agree to have someone create a simple main meal on Saturday evening, and share food costs for that. (separate to registration fees) If so, details will be provided. 

We end with an early morning sit on Sunday, after enjoying shared silence from late afternoon Saturday through to breakfast on Sunday.

Schedule

Saturday:

Arrive from 9.30 in time for a 10am start.

MORNING

9am to 9:30am ___Gather for a for 10am start

10:00am _________Short sutras

10:30am _________Zazen, kinhin + Encouraging Words

11:00am _________Zazen, Kinhin (+ dokusan 11am to 12:30pm)

12:30pm _________(Social) Lunch, then clean-up, samu, rest

AFTERNOON

1:50pm ___________Re-gather for Zazen

2:00pm __________Zazen, kinhin

2:30pm __________Dharma talk and Koan Inquiry

3:30pm __________Kinhin, Zazen

3:55pm __________Dedication, Great Vows

4:00pm__________End - for people not staying overnight

4pm to 5:30pm__ Enter silence - Setup tents, walk, rest, supper prep

5:20pm__________ Re-gather for supper (use han)

5:30pm__________ Supper

EVENING

6:20pm___________Re-gather for Zazen

6:30pm__________ Zazen, kinhin (+ dokusan)

8:00pm__________ Bed

Day Two: Sunday

MORNING

5:50am __________Gather for Zazen.

6:00am __________Zazen, kinhin (+ dokusan)

7:30am __________Social Breakfast

8:30am __________Begin clean-up, pack up

9:30am to 10am__ Depart

Need to know:

This is a rare opportunity for a period of intensive Zen practice, including the opportunity for zazen, Dharma talks and dokusan (private interview) with Susan Murphy Roshi, while sharing the warm and welcoming company of Sangha members of Zen Open Circle.  

If not already a member, you can take out Trial Membership for $25 for one year in order to attend.  For membership details and sign-up, please visit our membership website page: https://www.zenopencircle.org.au/membership

If you have any questions about attending this event, including membership, don’t hesitate to contact the Zazenkai Coordinator,  Jazz Andrews, who will get back to you on jazz@hey.com or 0479 167 129 as quickly as work commitments permit.

When your place is confirmed you will be added to a Yarning Circle where we can coordinate with each other, if needed, for transport from Sydney or from Berry station, and for logistics around food etc.

Places are limited to 15, so don’t delay your application.

🙏🙏🙏 P.s. a note about Dana. The ticketed cost of this event covers the costs associated with our use of Cloud Mountain and maintaining that facility. It is customary to also offer Dana following the event, with love from our heart, as our means allow, to express gratitude for the teachings directly to Susan Roshi, which you can do via direct bank transfer if you already have the details or by using this Ko-Fi link: https://ko-fi.com/susanmurphy