Archive
May 2006
The board of directors met after the spring retreat and decided on the summer schedule for 2006. The reduced summer schedule will consist of morning zazen from 6:00 a.m. - 7:10 a.m. every Wednesday, and evening zazen from 7:30 pm - 8:45 p.m. also on Wednesday. Zendo activities will be suspended the week of July 4, 2006. The summer schedule will go into effect on June 12, after the season closing retreat and ceremony.
April 2006
The Spring retreat was well attended and gave ample opportunity to participate in all aspects of formal Zen practice. The retreat ended with the celebration of Buddha's birthday, Hanamatsuri. For a good number of participants this was the first opportunity to experience extended practice.
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The Hanamatsuri ceremony includes the formal circumambulation of a Baby Budhha statue. The altar is covered with petals gathered from the magnolias and flowers in the CBA's garden. |
| Spring Weekend Retreat, April 21 - 23, 2006 |
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| Friday 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. |
| Saturday 6:00 a.m. - 8:45 p.m. (breakfast, lunch, dinner) |
| Sundays, 6:00 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. (breakfast) |
| Sunday 11:00 a.m. Hanamatsuri Celebration |
| Cost: full-time $80 ($60 members), Friday donation requested, Saturday $60 ($45 members), Sunday $25 ($20 members) |
The beginning of the month marks Joshu Roshi's traditional birthday sesshin which is followed by the Hanamatsuri celebration of Buddha's birthday. Joshu Roshi will celebrate his 99th birthday with this 7-day Dai-sesshin which is the fourth Dai-sesshin he leads this year. Just a few days before starting the April Dai-sesshin he returned from a weeklong retreat he led in Puerto Rico.
Shuko and Dokuro will be participating in the Dai-sesshin from April 1-7.
March 2006
We had a great month of March and were able to have Kim Amlong teach us some Yoga stretches that are especially helpful with seated meditation. We also had a nice evening with the members of BABU (Buddhist Association of Boston University) who paid us a visit on March 30.
Dokurô Osho continues to serve as the Buddhist chaplain at Boston University where he leads meditation with the BABU group on a bi-monthly basis.
February 2006
Below you can see the schedule for the Winter retreat which was received very well. We had a total of fifteen participants during the weekend. Most of the participants were full-time and took advantage of the extended practice opportunity. We are looking forward to the next weekend retreat which will be our Spring retreat.
| Winter Weekend Retreat, Feb. 3 - 5, 2006 |
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| Friday 7:15 p.m. - 8:45 p.m. |
| Saturday 6:00 a.m. - 8:45 p.m. (breakfast, lunch, dinner) |
| Sundays, 6:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (breakfast) |
| Cost: full-time $80 ($60 members), Friday no charge, Saturday $60 ($45 members), Sunday $25 ($20 members) |
Our first weekend retreat for the year will start with the evening schedule on February 3rd. The retreat continues until Sunday the 5th at 12 pm. We are planning on at least four weekend retreats during the year.
Dokuro went to Los Angeles to attend the monthly Osho meeting. Joshu Roshi spoke at the meeting and some important developments around Rinzai-ji will be forthcoming. Sasaki Roshi is in fair health and will lead another Dai-sesshin at Mt. Baldy Zen Center starting February 8.
January 2006
Happy New Year!
Shuko and Dokuro went to celebrate New Years with Joshu Roshi at Rinzai-ji in Los Angeles. Roshi is walking his 98th year and just had returned from Mt. Baldy Zen Centers Rohatsu Dai-sesshin.
The Cambridge Buddhist Association will be starting a series of events under the title "Growing a Lotus" which presents different topics that relate to Buddhist practice, including mind-body topics, Yoga for sitting meditation etc. Please check the schedule for announcements of programs.
December 2005
The weekend retreat Dec. 2-4 was well received. Eleven participants shared the time together in this non-residential retreat. More retreats are planned for the upcoming winter and will be announced in the scheudle section.
The highlight of the retreat was a Jukai ceremony for Jonathan Briley and Franco Deangelis. Jonathan received the Dharma name Shôgen (清 原 ), and Franco Jôdo (情努).
November 2005
The vice-abbess went to Bodhi Manda Zen Center to serve as Inji for Joshu Roshi. The Kessei at Bodhi Manda included two Dai-sesshin and also included a meeting of the Rinzai-ji Oshos. The abbot, Dokuro, travels once a month to the West Coast to participate in the Osho meetings in which Joshu Roshi addresses all Rinzai-ji Oshos.
September 2005
Our enhanced schedule started just after Labor Day. We increased the formal practice to three meetings a week, please see our current schedule.
Dharma talks will be given on Sundays and during the week. In mid October we will also offer an introduction class that runs for four weeks. Please contact us if you are interested in attending the class.
August 2005
On August 7 Cindy & Warrick took their marriage vows in a wedding ceremony at the CBA. Dokuro performed the service with the help of the vice-abbess Shuko. It was a very festive occasion attended by some twenty participants of all age groups. We wish the couple all the best in their marital life.
Plans for the Fall are forming and will be announced shortly on this site. Please check back, and, until then, enjoy the rest of the summer.
July 2005
Our first year at the Cambridge Buddhist Association has ended. Without any advertising we gathered a core group which faithfully attends the formal sittings. A Zazen-kai weekend and a day sit were great successes with more than ten participants each. Some of our core members attended Dai-sesshin with Joshu Roshi in California.
For the coming year we are looking at offering sittings as before on Mondays and Sundays, but also adding an additional night on Wednesday. An introductory class for newcomers and people interested in meditation is planned and will be advertised during late summer.
Many thanks to the CBA for the use of the premises, all contributors, and friends. Please keep up the good work and we'll have another great year to come.
June 2005
Please join us for our one day retreat on Sunday, June 19, from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cambridge Buddhist Association. Formal lunch will be served. This is another great opportunity to engage in more extended meditation practice. Please contact us for more information.
May 2005
Shuko and Dokuro went and participated in a five day Dai-sesshin at Rinzai-ji Zen Center, the main temple of the Rinzai-ji organization located in Los Angeles. Joshu Roshi is holding another seven day Dai-sesshin there starting May 15.
Beginning May 1st we are asking participants of the Zen meetings to contribute a donation (suggested: $5). It will help us to cover advertising and operational costs as well as sharing the contributions with the CBA. There is an option for monthly membership in the Hôun-an Zen Circle, $30 for individuals, $50 for couples, students and seniors rate is $20. All donations to Hôun-an are fully tax deductible and a receipt is furnished upon request.
April 2005
The first weekend Zazen-kai was offered April 1 - 3, with a full schedule from Friday evening through Sunday noon at the CBA. The schedule ended with the Hanamatsuri ceremony, celebrating Shakyamuni Buddha's birthday. The weekend was held to honor Joshu Rôshi's birthday and was a great success. A total of eleven Zen Students joined for a wonderful time.
On April 8 Kyozan Joshu Roshi completed his 98th year and stepped into walking the 99th. Roshi has been very energetic lately and the six Dai-sesshin he was scheduled to lead between January 1st and April 8th are a sign for his amazing devotion and energy. We wish Roshi health and well being.
March 2005
On March 5th Peter Crawley and Wen Hao Tien got married in an interfaith ceremony at Swedenborg Chapel. Dokuro Osho participated in the service, offering a few words, plenty of rings on the chapel's wonderful gong, blessings, and a chant of the Shigu Seigan Mon, the Four Great Vows. We all from the Dharma Cloud Hermitage wish Wen Hao and Peter all the best for their spiritual journey as a couple.
February 2005
Please be aware that we will not be meeting on February 6th. Franco, Peter, and Dokuro will be going to the Mt. Baldy Zen Center Dai-sesshin with Joshu Roshi in that week and Shuko will not yet have returned from the Rinzai-ji Dai-sesshin.
January 2005
On January 30 we had six visitors from the University Lutheran Church. Three 6th grade students, their teachers, and the father of one of the girls came to participate and learn about the kind of practice we do. It was a nice experience to have visitors participate in our sitting. We shared tea, did some chanting and later went to the library for a question and answer session. Thank you for choosing us from all the Buddhist groups in the Boston area!