As the Buddha neared death, Ananda, his faithful attendant, feared that if the Buddha died before appointing a new leader of the community, the Buddha’s lifework would die with him.
Continue reading Make Your Life A Refuge
Buddhist Practice
Saturday, July 18, Day of Practice on Zoom
Co-hosted by One Heart Zen, Monmouth Zen Circle, and Sweeping Heart Zen
Everyone is welcome!
There will be three meditation sessions. One in the morning. One in the afternoon. And one in the evening. Each session will have three, half-hour seated meditations. There will be 10-minute “breaks” of mindful motion (walking, standing, Qi Gong, Yoga) in-between each period of seated meditation.
You are welcome to participate in the entire schedule or any part thereof.
The idea is, as we are able, to create an entire day of meditation and contemplative awareness practice.
Participants are encouraged to plan in a period of silent work (cleaning, gardening, cooking); silent mindful meals; a mindful walk around the neighborhood or in the woods, time for ourselves to be with everything and ourselves.
This is the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87003578063
Meeting ID: 870 0357 8063
Phone: +16465588656
Art by Torbahopper here.
The Schedule
(Eastern Standard Time)
Please aim to arrive at least 5-minutes early for the first sitting of each session. Thank you!
9:30 to 10:00: Zazen (Seated Meditation)
10:00 to 10:10: Kinhin, Walking Meditation, Mindful Motion
10:10 to 10:40: Zazen
10:40 to 10:50: Kinhin
10:50 to 11:20: Zazen
11:20 to 11:30: Morning Service
Break: House Cleaning, Lunch
1:30 to 2:00: Zazen
2:00 to 2:10 Kinhin
2:10 to 2:40: Zazen
2:40 to 2:50: Kinhin
2:50 to 3:20: Zazen
3:30 to 4:20: Dharma Talk and Discussion
Break: Dinner, Contemplative Walk
7:30 to 8:00: Zazen
8:00 to 8:10: Kinhin
8:10 to 8:40: Zazen
8:40 to 8:50: Kinhin
8:50 to 9:20: Zazen
All the events and practice opportunities at Sweeping Heart Zen are offered freely. There is no suggested donation for the Day of Practice. Your dana is alway welcome, of course. There is a donation button on the Sweeping Heart Zen FaceBook page. Sweeping Heart Zen is a 501(c)(3) organization and donations are tax deductible.
Awareness Unprompted
Awareness Fresh as a High Mountain Stream
If awareness was like a high mountain stream in mid summer, wouldn’t it be lovely to rest by the cool freshness of that high mountain stream?
The connection to awareness that we attentively explore and genially nurture in our seated meditation links to an awareness unprompted like that high mountain stream. Just like the whole of nature, this awareness is clear and fresh, constantly renewing and unprompted.
What’s more, we don’t have to travel to a high mountain to find it. If we’re awake, it is always already present. I wonder… do you wonder… Was this knowing quality in experience already here, even before our parents were born?
Continue reading Awareness Unprompted