Toledo Zen Center

Multifaith picnic feasts on diversity

2009-07-13T21:35:00.000-07:00

Karen Do'on Weik, a Zen Buddhist, and Ed Heilman, minister at Park United Church of Christ, preside over a moment of silence at the gathering of almost 100 at the seventh annual event.
( THE BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTH )

Karen Do'on Weik, co-founder of the Toledo Zen Center, said she believes the picnic is a great way for people to come together.
"The important thing is that we come together to share our stories, for fellowship, and to enjoy each other's company," she said, adding that she was enjoying herself, and the food, immensely.

The full article from the Toledo Blade is available online HERE.

An Invitation from Rinsen

2009-07-03T17:00:00.000-07:00

There Is No Other Thing.

2009-06-25T19:32:00.000-07:00

Jay Rinsen Weik gives a talk and leads discussion at the Toledo Zen Center on October 8, 2008.

When Ch'an Master Wu-yeh of Fen-chou went to see the Ancestor (Ma-Tsu), the Ancestor noticed that his apperance was extraordinary and that his voice was like (the sound of) a bell. He said, "Such an imposing Buddha hall, but no Buddha in it."

We-yeh respectfully kneeled down, and said, "I have studied the texts that contain the teachings of the Three Vehicles and have been able to roughly understand their meaning. I have also often heard about the teaching of the Ch'an school that mind is Buddha: this is something I have not yet been able to understand."

The Ancestor said, "This very mind that does not understand is it. There is no other thing."

- The Teachings of Ma-Tsu.

Summertime!

2009-06-20T19:08:00.000-07:00

Summertime and the livin' is easy
Fish are jumpin' and the cotton is high
Oh you Daddy's rich and you ma is good lookin'
So hush little baby, don't you cry

One of these mornings
You're goin' to rise up singing
Then you'll spread your wings
And you'll take to the sky
But till that morning
There's a nothin' can harm you
With daddy and mammy standin' by

Thoughts Don't Originally Exist

2009-06-16T20:19:00.000-07:00

Jay Rinsen Weik gives a talk and leads discussion at the Toledo Zen Center on September 24, 2008.

"A Layman asked: 'I'm grateful for your teaching of the unborn, but I find that thoughts easily come up as a result of my ingrained bad habits, and when I'm distracted by them, I can't wholeheartedly realize the unborn. How can I put my faith totally in the unborn Buddha Mind?'

"The Master said: 'When you try to stop your rising thoughts, you create a duality between the mind that does the stopping and the mind that's being stopped, so you'll never have peace of mind. Just have faith that thoughts don't originally exist, but only arise and cease temporarily in response to what you see and hear without any actual substance of their own.'"

- From Master Bankei's Hogo Instructions: Duality.

Listen to the podcast HERE.

Artless Arts of Zen: A Summer Workshop Series

2009-06-15T10:43:00.000-07:00

For a fuller overview of this series, registration information and complete details on each of the events be sure to click here.

July 17
The Artless Arts of Zen:
An Introductory Talk
with Rinsen and Do'on Weik
7 to 9 pm Free

July 18
Just Eating: The Art of Oryoki
w/Rinsen & Slow Food Maumee Valley
9 to 5
www.slowfoodmaumeevalley.blogspot.com

July 19
Musicianship and the Spiritual Path
with Rinsen and Kyomon
9 to noon and 2 to 5pm

August 1,2
Shaped by Earth: The Art of Tea Bowls
with Mitsuo Kakutani
9 to 12 & 2 to 5 pm

August 8
The Stone Woman Speaks:Poetry as Spiritual Practice
Dr. Larry smith
9-noon and 2-5pm

August 15, 16
Brush Mind, Brush Heart
with Kaz Tanahashi
9 to 12 & 2 to 5pm

August 21, 22, 21
First Steps: An Introduction to Zen Practice Weekend Retreat
with Rinsen and TZC sangha at Lourdes College

New Drinking Gourd Podcast

2009-06-11T22:22:00.000-07:00

What Is It That Is Difficult For You To Accept?
Jay Rinsen Weik gives a talk and leads discussion at the Toledo Zen Center on September 17, 2008.

"Well, the interesting thing is, that where that difficulty is, when
you're honest, is the edge of our practice. That's where the edge is
for you."
- Rinsen

For more information about the Toledo Zen Center, please visit toledozen.org.

New Drinking Gourd Podcast

2009-06-10T21:49:00.000-07:00

Shih-T'ou's Song of the Grass Roof Hermitage (2 of 2)

Jay Rinsen Weik gives a talk and leads discussion at the Toledo Zen Center on September 3, 2008.

"Turn around the light to shine within, then just return.
The vast inconceivable source can't be faced or turned away from.
Meet the ancestral teachers, be familiar with their instruction,
bind grasses to build a hut, and don't give up.
Let go of hundreds of years and relax completely.
Open your hands and walk, innocent."
- Shih-Tou

Liturgy council

2009-06-10T19:09:00.000-07:00

Sangha,

Rinsen has tapped me to head a liturgy council. If you've ever wanted to add to your practice by doing instruments, leading the chants, or even learning how to ush better as an usher, this is the time to step forward. We will be setting up a time soon to do a training session of an hour or so some afternoon/evening. Please, despite all the humor we interject into the subject of liturgy, and there are lots of opportunities for THAT, consider the practice. We need to have enough people that are comfortable with the entire spectrum of service positions so we are not enlisting someone at the last minute. Leave a comment on this blog, see me next Wednesday, or let Rinsen know of your interest, but I would like this to happen soon before we are into the lecture/workshop series. Rinsen, please start looking at available times for this to happen with you, as I think it's vital you are there.

Gassho,

Chuck Greer

Sesshin just past

2009-06-09T14:33:00.001-07:00

What a wonderful weekend. I almost picked up and left on Saturday, but somehow made it through the doldrums. Damn monkey mind!! Besides, I would have missed hearing a drum made out of an old 5 gallon plastic bucket, or realizing that the thing the Buddha figure in the interview room was sitting on was, in fact, an upside-down soup pot with a cloth covering it...gotta love it!! As Rinsin said in the talk, the ancients crossed seas and traversed mountains for the chance to hear a phrase or two, so we should be able to sit our zazen and suffer a little and maybe catch a glimpse of...something words don't touch.

Life and Death are of Supreme Importance:

2009-06-02T22:00:00.000-07:00

Made over 100 years ago, this footage shows a number of scenes shot around central London.

Drink from the newest Drinking Gourd Podcast HERE

Yogis of Tibet

2009-05-30T21:28:00.000-07:00

Amazing footage at 39:40, but watch the whole thing when you can!

Winter's Tang

2009-05-26T05:53:00.000-07:00

is nowhere

to be found

on the sweet

honeysuckle breeze

Just yesterday

these leaves

were all tender

and droopy

Now

they hold up the tree

Zazenkai - Weekend Intensive June 5-7

2009-05-23T09:15:00.000-07:00

Already, its closing in on retreat time again. Please register with a comment below if you plan to attend.

Some information on the upcoming TZC Community Retreat:

Location:

Regina Center on the campus of the Sisters of St. Francis, Sylvania, Ohio at Lourdes College.

A Pdf map is HERE We are in building 17, just behind building 12 on this map. General directions to the Lourdes College campus are HERE.

What to Bring:

Bowl (Cereal bowl size), Napkin, Coffee/Tea Mug, Spoon. Zafu & Zabuton (bring extras if you have them). Toiletries.
No books or reading material.

How to Register:

Send an email to Rinsen@toledozen.org, leave a comment to this post, or call (419) 861-1163.

Schedule:

Friday

05:30-06:00pm Check in
06:00pm Orientation
07:00pm Precautions/Opening Comments
07:30pm Kinhin
07:40pm Zazen
08:10pm Kinhin
08:20pm Zazen/Bodhisattvha Vows/Evening Gatha

Saturday

06:00am Wake up
06:30am Zazen
07:00am Kinhin
07:10am Zazen
07:40am Kinhin
07:50am Zazen/Verse of the Kesa
08:30am Morning Liturgy
08:50am Morning Meal
09:35am Caretaking
10:50am Zazen
11:20am Kinhin
11:30am Zazen
12:00pm Afternoon Liturgy
12:20pm Midday Meal
01:00pm Rest Practice
02:00pm Zazen
02:30pm Kinhin
02:40pm Zazen
03:10pm Kinhin
03:30pm Rinsen's Talk
03:50pm Practice Discussion
04:10pm Extended Outside Kinhin (Weather Permitting)
04:30pm Zazen
05:00 Evening Liturgy
05:20pm Evening Meal
06:00pm Rest Practice
07:00pm Zazen
07:30pm Kinhin
07:40pm Zazen
08:10pm Kinhin
08:20pm Zazen/Bodhisattvha Vows/Evening Gatha
09:00pm Open Zendo
09:30pm Lights Out

Sunday

06:00am Wake Up
06:30am Dawn Zazen
07:00am Kinhin
07:10am Zazen/Verse of the Kesa
07:50am Kinhin
08:00am Open Sozan
08:30am Daikaijo
08:40am Informal Breakfast
09:35am Caretaking
10:00am Morning Service
10:30am Zazen
11:00am Kinhin
11:10am Rinsen's Talk
12:oopm Finish

Please note that a few have asked if they may join in a portion of this schedule, and the answer is that while participation in the whole weekend is preferable, you may join for any part of the retreat, so yes. We just need to know in advance so that arrangements can be made for you. If you would like to do a part of this retreat, leave a comment below, and be sure to include your email address so we can be in touch to confirm the detials.

Cost:

Dana of $155.00 for the weekend covers retreat fees, room and board.

Current Participant List:

Rinsen Weik - All - Practice Leader
Do'on Weik - All - Tenzo
Jun'en - All - Officiant
Erik Knapp - All - Server
Victor Van Deilen - All - Server
Angela Macek - All - Percussion
Phil - All - Jisha
Leigh - All - Ino
Tim - All - Usher
Kathy Sorensen - All - Doan
Chuck Greer - All - Instrumentalist
Rob Bondy - All - Pm Jikido
Sou Fugon - All
Joya - All - Am Jikido

Rock Tea

2009-05-23T05:56:00.001-07:00

a poem sent to me by Debbie Goldberg, from "The Writer's Almanac". Enjoy.

Rock Tea
by Gary Gildner
At a hot springs in Sawtooth Mountains 8,000 feet above the level sea,
my two-year-old daughter enters the steamy shallows, and sings
I'm naked! I'm naked! And clings to herselfas if the pink body under her slender arms might slip away.
I do not want her to slip away, not ever,but I know one day she will. I know
one day she will put on her snow bootsand take up the trail in earnest—
and I will call out I am happy for her, very happy, but sad too,
and hope I will see her again.
From the pool's moony wash she brings me her cupped hands. Rock tea, Papa, you like some?
I cup her hands in my own, and drink. It is delicious, I say,
more delicious than air itself, than life, may I have another?
And perhaps you will have one too? Perhaps, thank you,
In this way, gently over rock tea,we celebrate how far we have traveled together.
"Rock Tea" by Gary Gildner, from Cleaning a Rainbow. © BkMk Press, 2007.

An open window

2009-05-15T08:20:00.000-07:00

garlands of incense

lift a quiet eye

on dappled green boughs

sweet whistle of birds

oh heart, tis a sunny day

Living the Bodhisattva Life: Transforming Anger, Awakening Patience.

2009-05-14T10:20:00.000-07:00

The Toledo Zen Center presents an afternoon workshop with Rinsen Sunday May 24th from 1:30-4:30pm. This is the second in a series of workshops in which we will work with the seemingly paradoxical way a Boshisattva lives in the world. This event is open to the public, no registration is required. The suggested free will donation is $25.

"With the thorn of anger still lodged in the heart, there can be neither peace, nor joy, nor true action."
- Rinsen

April in Ohio

2009-05-06T06:11:00.000-07:00

for us

tender green leaves

the green heart comes

gnats hang around

take a step

Everything Touches

Deep Bows to Kevin, James, Melissa and David!

2009-04-30T08:54:00.000-07:00

After our zazenkai retreat at Lourdes college, I was lucky to be able to travel to study with some really wonderful teachers.

First, I spent three days at St. Josephs Abbey in Spencer MA with Father Kevin Hunt Sensei. Kevin Jiun Hunt, OCSO, Sensei was certified as teacher of zen in 2005 by Roshi Robert Jinsen Kennedy, student of Bernard Tetsugen Glassman and Maezumi Roshi (White Plum Sangha). He is a deep and generous teacher of the Dharma, and can't say enough about being able to practice with him. Most of the time, I participated in the Cistercian Monastic schedule - which centers in the traditional western monastic practice of chanting the psalter. Once a day I was able to meet with Kevin in dokusan. In addition to the shikantaza/koan work we have been doing together, Kevin Sensei has a particular grasp of the Christian Mystical tradition and has helped me integrate my Catholic upbringing and the western traditions wisdom.

Then I joined the Boudless Way sangha for a three day sesshin held in New Hampshire. The sangha and teachers were most welcoming and the practice was wonderful. The three teachers James (not present in this picture), Melissa and David worked together as one with an incredibly generous spirit.

Deep Bows to all!

- Rin

A Post from Phil about Larry Smith

2009-04-29T06:54:00.000-07:00

I’ve included the poem (italicized below) I received from Larry Smith; could you post it the blog (I asked him, of course, and he was happy for us to do so).

Here’s a link to the sitting group Larry is involved with: Converging Paths Sandusky Bay Meditation Center

And a link to the Amazon page for Larry’s The Kanshi Poems of Taigu Ryokan

Maybe you could post this too?

Thanks,

-P

Here's a morning poem...which might set the tone of my talk in Toledo this summer, so you know me.

Reclaiming the Sacred
“To me, poetry is being here with you.”
-Ko Un (Korean poet)

Again and again we sit
along the edge of day
in solitude together…
Listening to all
that’s not being said:
mute heart’s song of silence,
soft breath of wind inside us.
-Larry

Larry Smith
BGSU Firelands College

Photos from TZC retreat and our travels

2009-04-29T06:47:00.001-07:00

Retreat Prep Help?

2009-04-16T07:49:00.000-07:00

If anyone is able, please meet at the zendo at 1pm to help transport things to the retreat site. Please leave a comment below if you are planning to help out.

Bows,

- Rin

Zazenkai - Weekend Intensive April 17-19

2009-04-10T20:41:00.000-07:00

Some information on the upcoming TZC Community Retreat:

Location:

Regina Center on the campus of the Sisters of St. Francis, Sylvania, Ohio at Lourdes College.

A Pdf map is HERE We are in building 17, just behind building 12 on this map. General directions to the Lourdes College campus are HERE.

What to Bring:

Bowl (Cereal bowl size), Napkin, Coffee/Tea Mug, Spoon. Zafu & Zabuton (bring extras if you have them). Toiletries.
No books or reading material.

How to Register:

Send an email to Rinsen@toledozen.org, leave a comment to this post, or call (419) 861-1163.

Schedule:

Friday

05:30-06:00pm Check in
06:00pm Orientation
07:00pm Precautions/Opening Comments
07:30pm Kinhin
07:40pm Zazen
08:10pm Kinhin
08:20pm Zazen/Bodhisattvha Vows/Evening Gatha

Saturday

06:00am Wake up
06:30am Zazen
07:00am Kinhin
07:10am Zazen
07:40am Kinhin
07:50am Zazen/Verse of the Kesa
08:30am Morning Liturgy
08:50am Morning Meal
09:35am Caretaking
10:50am Zazen
11:20am Kinhin
11:30am Zazen
12:00pm Afternoon Liturgy
12:20pm Midday Meal
01:00pm Rest Practice
02:00pm Zazen
02:30pm Kinhin
02:40pm Zazen
03:10pm Kinhin
03:30pm Rinsen's Talk
03:50pm Practice Discussion
04:10pm Extended Outside Kinhin (Weather Permitting)
04:30pm Zazen
05:00 Evening Liturgy
05:20pm Evening Meal
06:00pm Rest Practice
07:00pm Zazen
07:30pm Kinhin
07:40pm Zazen
08:10pm Kinhin
08:20pm Zazen/Bodhisattvha Vows/Evening Gatha
09:00pm Open Zendo
09:30pm Lights Out

Sunday

06:00am Wake Up
06:30am Dawn Zazen
07:00am Kinhin
07:10am Zazen/Verse of the Kesa
07:50am Kinhin
08:00am Open Sozan
08:30am Daikaijo
08:40am Informal Breakfast
09:35am Caretaking
10:00am Morning Service
10:30am Zazen
11:00am Kinhin
11:10am Rinsen's Talk
12:oopm Finish

Please note that a few have asked if they may join in a portion of this schedule, and the answer is that while participation in the whole weekend is preferable, you may join for any part of the retreat, so yes. We just need to know in advance so that arrangements can be made for you. If you would like to do a part of this retreat, leave a comment below, and be sure to include your email address so we can be in touch to confirm the detials.

Cost:

Dana of $155.00 for the weekend covers retreat fees, room and board.

Current Participant List:

Jay Rinsen Weik- All
Karen Do'on Weik- All
Elizabeth Jun'en Allen - All
Simon Monsho Morgan-Russell- All
Angela Macek -All
Timothy Okapal - All
Philip Andrew Dickinson - All
Rob Bondy - All
Donna Diekoff- ?
Anne Marie Fauser - All
Rob Bondy - All
Victor Van Deilen - All
Jim Sorensen - All
Joya D'Cruz - All
Travis Ross - All
Ron Waxell - All
Kirk Kennedy - All
Joel Devonshire- All
Sara Worley - All
Deb Goldberg - Sun
Hadgu Hadgu - Fri
Andy Lesniewicz- Saturday
Susan Purviance - Fri, Sat.
Eric Knapp - Sun
Leigh - Sat pm, Sun
Mark Hollyday - ?

Bodhdharma's Shoe

2009-04-10T20:24:00.000-07:00

A nice 23 minute documentary about Zen retreats. Thanks to James Ford for sharing it on his blog Monkey Mind.

The Loving Wood

2009-04-09T12:11:00.000-07:00

when some say winter
heaven and earth shake

others curse it
search in vain
for spring

the forest bed
holds it all

so quiet

as dragons
and snakes

find
their
way