Annual Solstice Celebration (December 23)
Our annual Solstice celebration will take place on Friday, December 23, from 6:30-7:30 a.m., followed by a potluck breakfast and seasonally flavored ‘Buddhist Ballads’. The celebration includes candles, readings, bells and bows. Everyone is encouraged to bring a poem or reading to share. Please be on time; come a few minutes early to enjoy the luminary.
Read MoreAutumn appeal
“We have to seek God in error and forgetfulness and foolishness.” — Meister Eckhart I remember attending my first sesshin with Aitken Roshi in Hawaii as a younger man. I was drawn to be there because, well, it was Hawaii, but mostly because of Aitken’s encouragement, and my own deep questions about violence, injustice and suffering. However, after a few days I was sure I had made a great error. The rituals and chants were alien to me. The long hours of sitting wracked my body. The daily Dharma talks were incomprehensible. I had to forget everything I thought I knew about religion...
Read MoreThis Sunday: Commemorative stone dedication, October 26
Please join us this Sunday, October 26, for a special ceremony to initiate an area on the grounds that honors our root teachers, Robert Aiken and Thich Nhat Hanh, and members of our sanghas who have passed on. We will start with a half hour of sitting from 10:00 to 10:30 A.M. and then walk outside to the commemorative area, where stones will be placed for late members of MCPS and TTS. Members of their families have been invited to join us for this ceremony. Friends and families will be welcome to say a few words about our loved ones who have passed away. The regular Day of Mindfulness...
Read MoreRegister now for Broken Raven sesshin, September 20-27
On September 20 we begin our 7-day sesshin – an intensive meditation retreat with Jack Duffy Roshi. Sesshin is a wonderful opportunity to deepen practice with seven days of silent meditation, teishos and dokusan (talks and individual meetings) with Jack. In sesshin, we pick up practice early in the morning, and carry it with us in formal sitting, chanting, eating, and rest periods through the day. The ritual is all designed to support practice in all activities without distraction. If you haven’t done sesshin with TTS before and want more information, feel free to send me an email or give me...
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