Tag Archives: upcoming

Half Day Sitting – April 26

Led by Burt Quinn

You are invited to join this half-day sitting suited both for beginning and experienced meditators. There will be alternating periods of zazen (seated meditation, usually thirty-minute periods) and kinhin (walking meditation, usually ten minutes).

If you have questions, please email info@stonecreekzen.org.

Sliding scale donations, all are welcome regardless of resources.

Burt Quinn is a long-term Zen practitioner whose journey started in 1970 at the Berkeley Zen Center and moved through Sonoma Mountain Zen Center in the 90s, till he finally settled down at Stone Creek Zen Center in 2011. He recently received entrustment as a lay Dharma teacher from Jisho Warner.

Sign Up Here

Training in Compassion – A Four Week Course

with Edmée Danan

Part 1: Compassion Training

May 24, May 31, June 7, June 14 – 1 pm to 2:30 pm

This compassion training is designed to foster connection and support among participants through lively discussions, interactive exercises, guided meditation practices and meaningful activities to try out in your daily life. We will explore techniques to deepen our compassion for others, embrace the vital role of self-compassion, and cultivate a life filled with kindness and openness. This offering is open to Zen practitioners as well as anyone in the community.

Sign Up Here

Suggested reading:

Training in Compassion: Zen Teachings on the Practice of Lojong by Norman Fischer

Start Where You Are: A Guide to Compassionate Living by Pema Chödrön

Schedule

Week 1: What is compassion?

Understand the difference between sympathy, empathy, and compassion. Learn how to cultivate compassion skills and overcome potential obstacles to compassion.

Week 2: Practicing compassion: Opening our heart to others and to ourselves

Empathy is feeling with another. It can be painful, and excessive empathy can lead to burn out. Compassion is feeling for another: it is empathy plus an active wish to relieve suffering.

Learn how to switch from empathy to compassion, thereby feeling energized and inspired instead of depleted or overwhelmed. Discover the spirit of tonglen (sending and receiving) meditation.

Week 3: Self-compassion 

Having compassion for others starts with having compassion for oneself and treating ourselves as we would our best friend.

Learn how to develop kindness and gentleness towards yourself.

Week 4: Bringing compassion into our daily life

Use inspiring practices to bring compassion into your everyday actions and live your life with joy.

 

Part 2: Practicing compassion in daily life

The compassion training course detailed above will be followed by a three-month workshop series consisting of on-hour meetings. The schedule will be determined after the conclusion of Part 1.

This workshop series is designed to build up connection and support among participants to strengthen our intention to practice bodhicitta – opening our heart to others and to ourselves. We will do this by having conversations and sharing our experiences in a small group. We will use the 59 slogans of lojong  (mind training). This offering is open to anyone with some meditation experience or as a follow up after completion of the four classes of the compassion training.

Suggested reading: 

Training in Compassion: Zen Teachings on the Practice of Lojong by Norman Fischer

Start Where You Are: A Guide to Compassionate Living by Pema Chödrön

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Edmée Danan was led to Zen practice after living for three years in an ashram in India. Her first teacher was Robert Aitken Roshi when she lived as a resident of the Diamond Sangha zendo on Maui, Hawaii for two years. After moving to California, she continued practicing with Jakusho Kwong Roshi at the Sonoma Mountain Zen Center until she met Jisho Warner Roshi in 1995, who authorized her to teach in April 2023. As a psychiatrist and psychotherapist, she is interested in determining when it is helpful to consider therapy to support Zen practice. She teaches meditation to both patients and health care professionals.

Buddha’s Birthday Celebration – Sunday, May 4

Come celebrate the birth of the Buddha!

On Sunday, May 4 we’ll have a short Dharma talk followed by a flower pagoda ceremony and the bathing of the Baby Buddha. All-sangha potluck to follow!

During the ceremony, everyone will be invited to bath a statue of the baby Buddha with sweet tea. This ancient practice symbolizes the celestial rain that cleansed the Buddha after he was born. It is thought to bring prosperity, health, happiness, longevity, and to lead us towards our true Buddha nature. 

Children are especially welcome!

Learn More about the Buddha’s Birthday

Buddha’s Birthday program: 

8:00am            Zazen (meditation)
8:30am            Informal breakfast and conversation
9:10am            Cleaning/work practice
10:00am         Zazen (meditation)                                                                  10:30am         Short Dharma talk and ceremony                                             

Potluck to follow.