This Week @ RMC
The Newsletter
REGULAR RMC SITTINGS THIS WEEK: Sept. 23rd-29th
MONDAY, Sept 23rd 7-9pm – 5th Monday Group of 6!
Exploring the Precepts:
A Path to Cultivating the Empty Field with David Weinstein & Cindy Marteney
6 consecutive Monday evenings, 7-9pm.
Drop-in’s welcome.
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WEDNESDAY, Sept. 25th, 7-9pm: The Frog Zen of Poet Basho with Jon Joseph
Kawazu tobikomu A frog jumps in
Mizu no oto Plop
In the world of Zen poetry, when Basho wrote the above poem, the frog’s Plop resonated throughout the universe. And it is still resonating. Basho took Japanese poetry out of its lofty, elite heights and brought it down to the world of the common people; down to the ordinary life, ordinary mind. As one translator commented: “He wrote of dusty roads, bird songs, and cool breezes; of ideas, emotions, and of recollections; of folk lore, ancient poetry, and Japanese history–playing with these forms and their words in a way that resonates deep experience.”
The word “Haiku” means “Play verse.” So along with our meditation we will play with writing verse; playing with the universe. We look forward to seeing you this Wednesday night at RMC.
Jon
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SUNDAY, Sept. 29th, 9:30-12pm: Needling You to Awakening with David Weinstein
The Acupuncture Needle of Zen helps us realize the essential function of awakening, which is to know without touching things and illuminate without encountering objects. Then, the water is clear right down to the bottom, fish lazily swim on. The sky is vast without end, birds fly far into the distance. – Hongzhi
In traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is linked to the belief that disease is caused by disruptions to the flow of energy, or qi, in the body. Acupuncture needles stimulate points on or under the skin, releasing this qi. The acupuncture needle of Zen that Hongzhi talks about is similar to the acupuncture needle of Chinese medicine, in that they must be placed at the right points in order to be effective. In Zen, as in life, there is a characteristic paradox.
That paradox is that the difficulties and disease we suffer from arise from our attention being stuck and not flowing freely and it is that very attention that is brought to bear on the points where it is stuck to restore the free flow and provide relief from the disease. When asked what meditation is, one teacher said “Attention”. When pressed further the teacher replied, “Attention, attention, attention”.
When pressed yet further by the questioner as to what attention meant, the teacher replied “Attention means attention!”
When another teacher was pressed to answer what meditation is they said, “Not meditation”. When that teacher was pressed further to explain, they explained, “It’s alive, it’s alive!”
It is because of that aliveness that Hongzhi ends his poem with the images of water that is clear to the bottom, right through the earth, and a sky so vast that it goes all the way to heaven.
David
Photo – Wei Senchu, 60, displays 800 acupuncture needles in his head! oy! – CBS
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Creating a Culture at PZI – Articles, Talks, Blogs & Notes from Our Larger Community:
Uncertainty Club PZI’s Online Magazine of Zen & the Arts
Special Issue: Summer Lightning & The Goddess Dreams:
House of Fire by Chris Gaffney
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PZI Open Mind Retreat: Conversations With the Masters
John Tarrant in Santa Fe
When you walk through the gate, you meet the old masters. They were ancestors and adventurers who explored consciousness and handed down a tradition of freedom. You see these old men and women face to face or even more, see with their eyes, know for yourself the way they moved in the world. You can learn a different way of listening to your life, and even the dark bits of life become luminous.
This late fall retreat offers residency at a lovely venue in beautiful, historic Santa Fe. Join us!
November 14-17, 2019 IHM Retreat Center Santa Fe, NM
Register Now
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Rockridge Meditation Community Gatherings:
Days & Times:
NEXT Saturday Conversations Sept 28th with David Weinstein, Roshi on your personal meditation practice. Dana gratefully accepted.
OUR SCHEDULE: RMC’s REGULAR WEEKLY PROGRAMS:
MONDAY 7-9 pm evening special groups and live streamed talks from SRCZC as listed.David will host Practice as Precepts – a 6 week Monday evening group began August 26th
WEDNESDAY Evenings, 7 – 9pm, Community Night: 3rd Wednesday of every month. Next Community Night is Oct. 23rd and the talk will generally be recorded and live streamed on YouTube.
SATURDAY Sept. 28th 8-10:30am There is no requirement to have a conversation, and the meditation room is open from 8:00 to 10:30 for all to use. Dana gratefully accepted.
Note: Because of the number of people desiring a conversation we have changed the procedure.
If you are a member of PZI, and would like to have a conversation about your meditation practice with David Weinstein, schedule online for the next Saturday.
SUNDAYS, 9:30am – 12pm
You are welcome to arrive any time. The first meditation period begins at 9:30. If you arrive after that, put your shoes in the shoe rack in the waiting room which is to the left at the end of the entrance hallway..
Introduction to Koan Meditation To Be announced – Sunday 12:30 -1pm – A free class held once every month with David Weinstein.
Give Teacher Dana
Dana is a longtime tradition in spiritual communities for thanking or honoring your teacher and their teachings.
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