Archive for the ‘General Events’ Category
Charles River Zen moves
Charles River Zen, which is the name that we gave our group that meets in Watertown, has moved again – but not far from where the first meeting place used to be. The new location is in the Watertown Center for Healing Arts, 17 Spring Street, Watertown, Ma 02472. The schedule for the remainder of 2013, starting with September, has also changed and is Monday and Wednesday, 7:30 pm – 9 pm. Please visit the Charles River Zen website for the schedule and for directions.
Charles River Zen Schedule
Please visit the web site of Charles River Zen to learn about the latest events, schedule, and what is going on in our Watertown location.
The calendar of events on unsui.org is supplied by the same source as CRZ, however, please have a look at the new site.
Important: Sangha Meeting April 3, 12:00 pm
We are faced with an important challenge of having to find a new home for our temple, although we are not able to speak further about the details at this time. Therefore we are calling an all sangha meeting for Sunday, April 3, at 12:00 pm, directly following the Hanamatsuri ceremony. The meeting is called by the Board of Houn-an, Dharma Cloud Hermitage, and will be chaired by Peter Crawley, the President of the Board.
We invite you to attend this meeting to learn more about these impending and significant developments regarding Dharma Cloud Hermitage and the future of Zen practice offered by our temple. Your participation is vital and will offer an opportunity to help steward us through a very important transition. We realize that this is a last minute announcement and that everyone may not be able to attend this first meeting. There will be additional meetings open to the wider sangha and public at a later date. However, if possible we urge those who are able to attend.
Hanamatsuri: Buddha’s Birthday Retreat April 2-3
Please join us to celebrate the historical Buddha’s Birthday with a day retreat on Saturday, April 2nd. The retreat starts at 9:00 am with formal tea, followed by morning chanting. At noon a formal vegetarian meal will be served in the traditional manner, eating in the Zendo.The afternoon schedule includes more seated meditation, walking, chanting, and the opportunity to meet with the abbot individually. The day program concludes at 5 pm.
Sunday morning the schedule begins at 9 am with the traditional Sunday program: chanting, sitting, walking. At 11:30 am there will be the Hanamatsuri ceremony, in which the Baby Buddha is bathed in sweet tea by everyone who wants to participate. Please come and participate in this yearly event that has been tradition at the CBA for the last seven years. It is a unique experience that nobody should miss!
Open House: Moved to 2/9/2011 – Sitting CANCELED
Due to the inclement weather predicted for Wednesday, February 2, 2011, we are moving the February Open House to Wednesday, February 9. Since the weather forecast indicates the very high likelihood for dangerous travel condition the Wednesday night sitting is canceled. We rather cancel the sitting than putting those who plan to come here in danger.
Fall/Winter Schedule 2010
Weekly Schedule
The Fall 2010 schedule starts on Monday, September 13, 2010. The schedule is like last year’s schedule, offering Monday and Wednesday evenings from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm, and the traditional Sunday morning schedule from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. The Sunday schedule includes chanting the entire Sutra Book, including Chapter 25 of the Lotos Sutra. Tuesday morning sitting from 7:00 am to 8:00 am is held as announced in the schedule listing.
At the bottom of the current schedule page the events for the upcoming 30 days in advance are displayed. The list updates automatically. Please check the schedule should you be unsure if there is sitting, like on Monday holidays or holiday weekends.
Open House
Once a month the Open House offers guests and newcomers a glimpse of formal Zen training. An abbreviated schedule is followed by refreshments and the opportunity to ask questions and chat with sangha members. The dates for the Open House events are: October 6, November 3, and December 1. The Open House begins at 7:30 pm and ends around 9:00 pm. Everyone is welcome, no prior arrangements need to be made, just stop by and bring a friend along!
Urban Rohatsu Retreat
The monastic practice of celebrating the historical Buddha’s enlightenment is by sitting seven days in the most severe retreat of the yearly calendar. In the urban setting that Hōun-an serves, we adjust the format and offer our first “Urban Rohatsu” from Monday, December 6 through Sunday, December 12. The commemoration of Buddha’s enlightenment will begin with the Monday evening schedule, at 7:30 pm. Throughout the work week sittings will be offered from 5:30 am to 7:30 am in the morning, and every evening from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm. Saturday will be a full day of sitting, starting at 6 am through 9 pm (including three meals), Sunday will begin at 7 am (with breakfast) and end in the celebration of Jodo-e at 11 am.
Participation in the weekday sittings of the Urban Rohatsu is on a donation basis, no registration is required. The weekend portion of the retreat requires registration and a deposit to participate. Details about the requested contribution will be posted.
Summer Schedule: July – Mid-September 2010
Weekly Schedule
Wednesday, 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm Evening Zazen
Doors will open 15 minutes prior to the scheduled meeting times.
During the summer we reduce our schedule to a once-a-week meeting on Wednesday nights. The reduced schedule lasts until mid-September, when the full schedule will resume. We will have one occasion for a longer sit this summer, which yet remains to be determined and which will be announced here as well as by an email update.
Have a great summer!
Open House
Once a month the Open House offers guests and newcomers a glimpse of formal Zen training. An abbreviated schedule is followed by refreshments and the opportunity to ask questions and chat with sangha members.
The dates for the summer Open House events are:
July 14, August 4, September 1, all occur during the regular Wednesday time. We start at 7:30 pm and end about 9:00 pm.
Schedule 2010
Our regular schedule consists of
- Monday, Wednesday 7:30pm – 9pm (except Monday holidays)
- Tuesday morning 7am – 8am
- Sunday 10am – 12pm (please note the new start time)
Open House: The first Open House will be on January 6, 2010.
Fall/Winter 2009 Schedule
| 2009 Fall Schedule |
|---|
| Monday, 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. (except Monday holidays) |
| Tuesday, 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. |
| Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. |
| Sunday, 9:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. (except Thanksgiving weekend) |
| Open House First Wednesday of the month, 7:30 p.m. Please join us! October 7, November 4, December 2 |
Monday, Wednesday Evening Zazen
Weekly, 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. formal practice. Instruction is available by appointment. Late comers are asked to seat themselves in the second Zendo and join the main Zendo during Kinhin.
7:30 p.m. Zazen (sitting meditation)
7:55 p.m. Kinhin (walking meditation)
8:00 p.m. Zazen
8:25 p.m. Kinhin
8:30 p.m. Zazen
8:35 p.m. Sarei (formal tea)
9:00 p.m. Kai-chin (closing with chanting)
Tuesday Morning Zazen
Weekly, 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. formal sitting practice.
Sunday Morning Zazen
Weekly, 9:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. formal practice.
Formal tea, a full chanting service is followed by Zazen and Kinhin; occasionally a Dharma talk or the opportunity to meet privately with the abbot is offered. The morning concludes with a brief cleaning period.