With Lee Shields and Madelon Bolling
Many of us have regimented lives, with infrequent opportunities to ask, with an open mind, how we might deepen practice. Traditionally, Zen training included disciplined training periods alternating with periods of greater free time or travel, even as the spirit and dedication of practice continued.
A personal retreat has potential for profound richness that can be taken home thereafter. And a personal retreat has its own practice challenges: how will you express your practice if you are released from aspects of form? Separate from good and bad student, beginner or seasoned, dedicated or slacker – what action reflects the hunger that inspired your original interest in sitting and attending zen retreats?
Three Treasures is sponsoring a retreat intended to support your practice, and support you finding your way. Meals, chanting, formal practice periods, talks, and meetings with teachers are provided. Some participation will still be asked as a minimum joint practice. Beyond that, it is up to you to try things and see for yourself what brings depth.
This retreat will be held by zoom and at Dharma Gate, our practice center in Seattle located at 1910 24th Ave. S.
Full-time and part-time attendance is welcome.
This retreat we have a particular opportunity for a perspective from guest speaker, Susan Murphy. The talk on Sunday, July 12th, will be at 4:00pm to accommodate our guest speaker, Susan Murphy, who will join us from Australia by Zoom (9:00am her time). Susan is a Diamond Sangha teacher who has written many books, including recently published, A Fire Runs Through All Things; Zen Koans for Facing the Climate Crisis. She also wrote red thread Zen; humanity entangled in emptiness, which was used for and appreciated by the TTS book club a few years ago.
Dokusan and interviews: Madelon and Lee will be available during dokusan/ interviews to collaborate or guide. To maintain some connection to the group we ask that participants attend a meeting with a teacher at least once a day; the meeting can be a short check-in, or an engaged encounter.
Zazen Formal and Informal: There are some periods we will ask all to join in formal sitting (practice in the dojo with bells and leaders). At other times participants are invited to practice as moved, while careful not to disturb the practice of others. A list of examples includes formally, sitting on one’s own, walking, gardening, Yoga or Tai Chi (in library or outside), napping. If your practice at the time is writing, on paper or computer, do it.
Guidelines for In-Person Attendance
To keep all of us in the dojo as safe as possible, we ask those having symptoms of cold, flu, or Covid to join by Zoom rather than in person. We encourage those attending in-person to be up to date on vaccines and to feel free to wear a face covering to reduce any risk of air-borne pathogens.
Cost
Suggested fee is $25 per day for those attending in-person. If you cannot afford $25 please feel free to pay what you can afford. Fees for partial days can be prorated. Payments can be made through our website or by check to TTS, PO Box 12542, Seattle, WA 98111.
Event Registration
Contact Mike Blome for registration – ttssangha@gmail.com, (206) 395-5226
Please feel free to drop in even if you have not pre-registered.
Schedule
Saturday, July 11
6:30 AM Open dojo, Five Remembrances, zazen
7:30 Breakfast (silent, food provided), retreat introduction
Opening meal chant 7:40; closing meal chant 7:55
Clean up, rest
8:15 AM Work period
9:00 Opening ceremony / sutras
9:30 Zazen
10:00 Teisho / dharma talk
11:00 Dokusan / interviews
12:00 PM Lunch (silent, food provided)
Opening meal chant 12:10; closing meal chant 12:25
Work period, rest
1:30 PM Dojo available for stretching, Yoga, Tai-Chi, informal sitting
2:00 Zazen
2:30 Informal practice
4:00 Zazen
4:20 Closing ceremony
Sunday, July 12
8:15 AM Work period
9:00 Opening ceremony / sutras
9:30 Zazen
10:00 Informal practice
11:00 Dokusan / interviews
12:00 PM Lunch (silent, food provided)
Opening meal chant 12:10. Closing meal chant 12:25
Work period, rest
2:00 PM Zazen, dokusan / interviews
3:00 Informal meditation (dojo and library open for practice)
3:30 Zazen
4:00 Dharma talk by Susan Murphy, followed by open inquiry
5:30 Closing ceremony
Light cleanup