Upcoming Events September 11------------------------Intro Zazenkai |
Ways of Participation
Everybody is welcome to attend the regular daily schedule, to participate in full-time retreats (sesshins) and to join community events. People from the local area usually choose for evening meditations or study classes, whereas those from further away mostly prefer to come for a whole day, weekend, a week or longer. In fact an average of one third of participants, especially during sesshins, are from abroad. Although sesshins will always be popular because of their compact schedule and strong atmosphere, the number of people joining the regular daily schedule in between for a period of time is growing steadily, as it offers an evenly balanced schedule of zazen, dokusan, dharma talks, study groups and services as well as more time for social interaction. Please call the office to see how best to choose between the various options of participation.
Regular Daily Schedule
Saturday - Wednesday:
4:55 am Wake up / 5:30 am Zazen / 7:30 am Service /8:00 am Breakfast / 9:00 am Samu / 1:00 pm Lunch / 2:00 pm Rest /4:00 pm Study / 5:00 pm Exercise / 6:00 pm Supper /7:30 pm Zazen / 9:15 pm Four Vows / 10:00 pm Lights outSunday: 11:00 am Dogen Study group / 7:00 pm Public Service
Monday: 7:30 pm River of Zen continuation class
Tuesday: 4:00 pm Right Speech class /7:30 pm Introductory class
Wednesday: 7:30 pm Zazen & Teisho
Public ServiceSundays 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
A public service is held every Sunday night at 7:30 pm. Newcomers are requested to give a call first and arrive around 7:00 pm so as to get acquainted with procedures. After the service there is opportunity to join the evening meditation with residents and members (8:00 - 9:00 pm) and to be introduced to abbot Tenkei Roshi. These evenings are free of any charge. If one would like to continue on and make a real start with Zen practice, an appointment for further instruction can be made on a Tuesday evening
For more info, please contact the office
tel: + 31 (0) 595 435039
Introduction
Tuesdays 7:30 pm - 9:15 pm
Introductions into Zen practice are given on every Tuesday night by senior students of Zen River from 7:30 pm until 8:30 pm (Contribution €12,50). Afterwards one can join the residents and members for the last period of the evening meditation in the Zendo (until 9:15 pm). Although all parts of the programme are open to everybody, it is wise to attend at least some of these introductory meetings first, especially before participating in the "River of Zen" continuation class on Monday nights.
September 11, 2010
10:00 am - 6:00 pm
In the Dojo
This Intro Zazenkai is held just three times a year and is led by Roshi. This is an all-day instruction course addressing the four elements of training, including posture work, a guided meditation, ritual practice, study and a discussion on the value of sangha, with lots of time for questions and answers. Perfect for newcomers to Zen River who would like to get acquainted with the style here before attending a sesshin, to meet Roshi, or just to brush up on old skills.
Zazenkai's at Zen River are conducted in Dutch, with some English translation if needed. Contribution includes lunch, tea and coffee. For a little extra, participants are also welcome to stay overnight and attend the Sunday programme; the two days together add up to a nice practice weekend.
See the FAQ page for directions and contributions.
Monday 7:30 pm
Ongoing series of evening sessions for those who have received instruction in zazen and zendo procedures. The class is mostly attended by local members and offers an historic overview of buddhist texts - from the Indian Sutras and the Chinese classics to the Japanese literature and works by contemporary masters - focusing on their relevance for actual practice. Language: Dutch / English. At 8: 50 pm participants join residents and members for the last period of evening zazen in the zendo (until 9:15 pm). The River of Zen class is lead by Roshi or Sensei and continues during sesshins.
Sunday Dogen Study Group
On Sundays 11:00 am - 12.30 pm (during the regular daily schedule) Tenkei Roshi leads a study group that explores Buddhist master works, particularly from Dogen Zenji. Participants first read parts of these texts aloud in turn and are then invited to express whatever strikes them as particularly interesting or inspiring. A mondo with the Roshi follows as to deepen one's understanding.
Right Speech Class
Tuesdays 4:00 pm
The Right Speech Class held Tuesday afternoons at 4:00 pm during the regular daily schedule. Participants are given the opportunity (5 -10 minutes) to present their understanding of a text that they studied beforehand (often from the Indian Sutras) or an issue that Roshi raises spontaneously at the start of the class. Afterwards Roshi shares his understanding of the topic, followed by a question and answer session. It is a way for everyone to practice speaking up and to learn expressing the dharma in alive words.Please call ahead of time if you would like to join.
Teisho
Wednesday 7:30 pm
Every Wednesday evening during the regular daily schedule Tenkei Roshi gives a Teisho (Dharma Talk), usually on a koan or a short excerpt from Zen classics like the "Eihei Koroku" of Dogen Zenji.
Sesshin
Sesshin (lit.: to connect the mind/heart) is a silent Zen retreat, with an intensive schedule of zazen, services, dharma-talks, dokusan and samu (work practice). The format offers an excellent opportunity to really focus on practice without any distractions. And it is no secret that the heightened samadhi of the whole group stimulates participants to break through barriers of the conditioned mind faster than usual. At Zen River sesshins of 2, 5 or 7 days are held every month. In August the whole month consists of sesshins (three 5-day and one 7-day sesshin). Although beginners may prefer to start with a Zazenkai or by attending some of the daily schedule first, it is also perfectly okay to start with one of these sesshins - depending on one's motivation. A relatively large group of participants are resident monks and members who attend sesshin regularly and their experience allows newcomers to readily trust the process and learn accordingly. Usually the following schedule is being maintained:
4:25 Wake up / 4:30 Tea & Coffee / 5:00 Zazen (3 periods) / 7:00 Morning Service / 7:30 Breakfast / 8:45 Samu /work / 10:15 Exercise / 10:30 Tea & Coffee / 11:00 Zazen & Kinhin / 11:35 Dharma Talk /12:40 Zazen / 13:10 Noon Service / 13:20 Lunch / 15:30 Tea & Coffee / 16:00 Zazen (3 periods) / 17:50 Evening Service / 18:00 Supper / 19:30 Zazen (3 periods) / 21:15 Four Vows / 21:20 Tea / 22:00 Lights out
