Observing: A Midsummer Retreat – A talk by Madelon Bolling, (July 9, 2017)
The predecessor of this midsummer retreat was called “Ancient Bones.” They say it was discontinued because fewer and fewer people could attend at all. Even with allowances for our limitations, it had become too arduous for those with ancient bones. I bought pre-paid cremation services for my dad a couple weekends ago and we scattered my brother-in-law’s ashes on the Fourth of July. We’re all of us facing death from the instant we are born. We can’t face away from it since it is part of life itself. Death is seen as an end, the ending of everything. No more fun and no more...
Read MoreGoing to Abandoned Grassy Places – Introduction to long walking meditation (July 8, 2017)
The purpose of going to abandoned grassy places and doing zazen is to search for our self-nature. Now, at such a moment, where is your self-nature? This is the outdoor dojo. Unlike the indoor dojo: NO BELLS NO STRICT TIMING we rise and settle like geese – each alert to the others NO LOOKING INWARD INSTEAD, we walk in continuous attention to the moving intersection of time and space: where PAST meets FUTURE INSIDE meets OUTSIDE . . . at the constantly moving intersection of NOWHERE (now-here) Staying with clear heart and open mind in the openness of this intersection, we practice...
Read MorePurify – Already Pure, A Talk by Leland Shields (July 8, 2017)
In Red Pine’s translation of the Platform Sutra, it begins with these words of Hui neng and then those of a narrator within the text: “Good friends, purify your minds by reciting the teaching of Mahaprajnaparamita.” Then the Master stopped speaking, while he purified his own mind. (Red Pine, The Platform Sutra: The Zen Teachings of Hui-neng, 2006, p. 73) This can be a simple introduction, including a moment of Zazen meditation, or chanting one of the Prajnaparamita Sutras silently or out loud. The Prajnaparamita sutras are the Diamond Sutra and the Heart Sutra. Red Pine believed it...
Read MoreSeven-Day Zen Retreat (Sesshin) with Jack Duffy (April 16th-April 23, 2016)
Three Treasures Sangha holds two, seven-day meditation retreats (Sesshins) each year at Mountain Lamp, a rural practice center near Bellingham, Washington. See our Sesshin page for more information.
Read MoreTwo-Day Gardening and Facilities Retreat (March 12-13, 2016)
2016 Facilities retreat schedule March 12 & 13, 2016 This schedule applies to both Saturday and Sunday. Sunday is the beginning of Daylight Savings Time so be sure to set your clocks ahead or you will miss sitting on Sunday. Please feel free to attend any portion of this retreat. No need to attend it all. This is a chance for all of us to take care of and improve our meditation ‘home’ in community with others who use it. 8:30 – 9:30 Meditation. 9:30 -10:00 Orientation to jobs and stretching, change clothes. 10:00 – 12:00 Work (Silence). 12:00 – 1:00 Lunch and rest. (Quiet talking...
Read MoreTwo-Day Zen Retreat with Jack Duffy (February 13,14 )
On February 13,14 , Three Treasures will host its monthly retreat. The two days include meditation, teisho (talks) and dokusan (interviews) with teacher Jack Duffy Roshi. The schedule is below. SCHEDULE Saturday, February 13th 9:00am — Chanting 9:30am — Zazen (Meditation) 10:10am — Dokusan (Interview with Jack Duffy) 12:00pm — Lunch/Work Period (Informal, bring your own lunch) 1:30pm — Zazen 2:00pm — Teisho (Talk by Jack) 3:00pm — Zazen/Dokusan 4:20pm — Closing Ceremony 4:30pm — End Sunday: 6:00am — Opening ceremony/Tea 6:45am — Zazen...
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