Syrian refugees: chan buddhists....can you help?

Syrian refugees:

Comox Valley Zen Chan would like help sponsoring a family. I have a house with two extra bedrooms that would be amenable to a share-house situation. I could take in a family of three. There would be no charge for the space.

I would need financial help with food and anything extra associated with the family’s living expenses. 

As well as Chan, I have also studied Sufism for 15 years prior to my involvement with Chan, so I am quite familiar with Islamic practice, if indeed the three invitees would even practice. Religion is not ‘hot topic’ issue in my life. 

Do you have any  community members who would be interested in co-sponsoring  3 Syrian refugees, and willing to commit the time to organize this process. Can you forward this email to possible helpers?

Please contact me:

adrian symonds

1460 grieve ave.

courtenay, bc

v9n 2v9

250 650 9055

Master Chi Chern: Self Nature is Immaculate and official start for Comox Valley meditation is Sept. 10

...."Buddha-Nature is a generality while self-nature is realized through individual practice. Thus in the Platform Sutra, he (Venerable Dao Sheng) talked especially about “self-nature” as immaculate, which is our Buddha-Nature. Many people think that this teaching of his belongs to the Tathagathagabha system. However, we find that when he talks about it, in addition to the fact that all Buddhist sects established in China emphasize this idea in Mahayana Buddhism, he also marvelously integrated the thoughts of both Mādhyamika School and Consciousness-Only School. When people study about Tathagathgarbha system, often there are discussions regarding the question, “The nature of all sentient beings is pure and immaculate, but why do we suffer and transmigrate?” The explanations are that “this Buddha-Nature is covered by defilements and therefore Buddha-Nature cannot manifest”. In traditional teachings, we often hear that our practice is to realize our original nature, or if we constantly clean our vexations, at the end, our Buddha-Nature will become apparent. Our understanding about Buddha-Nature has the two opposing aspects of pure and impure. But in the thoughts of the Sixth Patriarch, it is not that there is a “pure nature” being covered and unable to manifest. Rather, he said that the commonly believed “pure” or “impure” nature is only in a thought of clarity or delusion — When one is awakened and enlightened, one’s self-nature is pure; when one is deluded, it is impure. Thus, enlightenment and ignorance are the manifestation of pure or impure functions."...more from The Writings of Master Chi Chern at http://masterchichern.org/

Chan Meditations will continue at 1460 Grieve Ave 7 to 9pm Thursday evenings until the schools open. 

When the tomatoes are ripe, it's salsa time. When causes and conditions are ripe...

1. MAIN WEBSITE: Cosmos Chan Zen Community at http://www.cosmoschan.org/

2. Master Cheng Yen in Facebook;

3. Listen to dharma talks with Gilbert Gutierrez http://dharmatalks.riversidechan.org/

4. Listen/download audio talks from the Tallahassee   Chan group at http://www.tallahasseechan.com/talks.html

5. the Western Chan Fellowship at  http://www.westernchanfellowship.org/

6. Questions?  Adrian at 250 650 9055; adrian2@shaw.ca and this blog http://comoxvalleyzenchan.blogspot.ca/

July 18 Chan Bethlehem Retreat changed to Sunshine Coast

Very Important News:
The Bethlehem Retreat Centre in Nanaimo has changed ownership and the centre may not be able to guarantee our retreat date on the 18th of July. We have been very fortunate to find another centre, and at a third of the cost.

This retreat is a 7 day retreat. However, if that time period is unattainable, register instead for a 3 day retreat. It is suitable for both seasoned and beginners.

Place :
Sunshine Zen Centre 日光禪寺11148 Sunshine Coast Highway / HYW 101Halfmoon Bay, B.C.V0N 1Y2, Canada
* Time :      July 18 - 25* Fee :        C$ 250 (as donation for food & board)* Optional : 3-day (C$ 100)* Register : (1) Adrian : <adrian2@shaw.ca>                   (2) Lisa Su : <exedust@gmail.com>   Please Register ASAP 

1. MAIN WEBSITE: Cosmos Chan Zen Community at http://www.cosmoschan.org/

2. Master Cheng Yen in Facebook;

3. Listen to dharma talks with Gilbert Gutierrez http://dharmatalks.riversidechan.org/

4. Listen/download audio talks from the Tallahassee   Chan group at http://www.tallahasseechan.com/talks.html

5. the Western Chan Fellowship at  http://www.westernchanfellowship.org/

6. Questions?  Adrian at 250 650 9055; adrian2@shaw.ca and this blog http://comoxvalleyzenchan.blogspot.ca/

A new Contemplation group in Courtenay

Please Note:  The CHAN Thursday evenings at Courtenay Elementary School will be changed to 1460 Grieve Ave, Courtenay starting the 23rd of April

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CONTEMPLATIVE SITTINGS WITH MARIE BROSE

1.  The Name of the Meditation Group: CONTEMPLATIVE SITTINGS

2.  Date of Meeting: On the last Sunday of the month, starting May 31st.

3.  Time: from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm.

4.  Bring your mat & cushion - chairs will be provided

5.  Location: 2405 Back Road - someone will direct to parking & coffee till 8:45 am.

6.  RSVP : Before May 15. (To find new location if the group is too large)

7.  Format: Sittings (20 min.) slow walk (l0 min.) inside

8.  Break at 11:00 am: walk outside, weather permitting;11:30 am: short conference or individual interview. Meditation will continue with a volunteer TIME KEEPER during the interviews.

For me, meditation and contemplation are similar, at least in the first stage.. My practice is a Zen-style methodology (breathing in and out and counting from 1 to 10), but any other way is fine if it is helpful to you.  When thoughts and feelings come up, name them and start again. 

The conference or interviews may help you sort out problems in your practice or deep pains like recurring anguish.from the stories that the "monkey mind" spins in your head.  People meditate for a variety of reasons, from relaxation, to increase memory, to becoming more aware and stopping the monkey mind.  

Whereas Zen practice points to emptiness and eventually to Enlightenment, Contemplation seeks to find the deeper Self,  inner clarity, more authenticity, an ability to embrace a new way of "knowing" and a meaningful Truth that will lead to willing sacrifice and service for others.

A SHORT AUTOBIOGRAPHY

I have been meditating for more than 30 years and have trained with various masters of  SEVERAL traditions,  I have also trained in Clinical Pastoral Education in Ohio and am working as an on-call chaplain at St Joseph Hospital in Comox. I am  also a Certified Spiritual Director with a private practice in Courtenay.

      

1. MAIN WEBSITE: Cosmos Chan Zen Community at http://www.cosmoschan.org/

2. Master Cheng Yen in Facebook;

3. Listen to dharma talks with Gilbert Gutierrez http://dharmatalks.riversidechan.org/

4. Listen/download audio talks from the Tallahassee   Chan group at http://www.tallahasseechan.com/talks.html

5. the Western Chan Fellowship at  http://www.westernchanfellowship.org/

6. Questions?  Adrian at 250 650 9055; adrian2@shaw.ca and this blog http://comoxvalleyzenchan.blogspot.ca/

.

Chan meditation starts again this 16th of April

Time to start anew this spring...and from a Dzogchen Treasure Text of Nuden Dorje entitled The Mirror of Clear Meaning we gain some insight into the nature of Mind...

What is called 'mind' cannot be identified as this or that. It is not an entity and it has no defining characteristics. If you search for it, it cannot be found for it has baeen empty from the very beginning, without substantial essence. Empty is is beyond expression, untouched by birth, death, coming and going. It is not created by any cause nor destroyed by any condition. It remains untouched in emptiness, free of increase and decrease, development and decline, or any kind of change.....pg 74-75 translation/commentary by James Low.

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EDUCATION

Peaceful Resolution

Local mediation project trains residents in war-torn Africa to solve conflicts in a non-violent way

By Laura Busheikin • April & May 2015

“I saw that it was possible to survive, not just physically but also psychologically. I saw forgiveness. Seeing all that—you end up feeling awe,” says George Brose (left), of his time spent in Africa. Brose will be heading back to Rwanda with colleague Adrian Symonds this summer. Photo by Boomer Jerritt

We are looking for financial assistance fpr our trip to Rwanda this summer. You can receive a Canadian Charitable Receipt for your donation. Google http://www.infocusmagazine.ca/2015/peaceful-resolution/ for more information.

==========

1. MAIN WEBSITE: Cosmos Chan Zen Community at http://www.cosmoschan.org/

2. Master Cheng Yen in Facebook;

3. Listen to dharma talks with Gilbert Gutierrez http://dharmatalks.riversidechan.org/

4. Listen/download audio talks from the Tallahassee   Chan group at http://www.tallahasseechan.com/talks.html

5. the Western Chan Fellowship at  http://www.westernchanfellowship.org/

6. Questions?  Adrian at 250 650 9055; adrian2@shaw.ca and this blog http://comoxvalleyzenchan.blogspot.ca/

Upcoming July Retreat in Nanaimo with Master Guohan William Tsao

Master Guohan William Tsao

There will be a seven day retreat this July 18 at the Bethlehem Retreat Centre in Nanaimo  http://www.bethlehemretreatcentre.com/ The cost is still being negotiated....approx $118/day for food and single room lodging. This is the cost the Bethlehem Retreat Centre charges each person.

The retreat will be a combined Silent Illumination and Huatou retreat.

Please register with adrian symonds 

250 650 9055

adrian2@shaw.ca

1. MAIN WEBSITE: Cosmos Chan Zen Community at http://www.cosmoschan.org/

2. Master Cheng Yen in Facebook;

3. Listen to dharma talks with Gilbert Gutierrez http://dharmatalks.riversidechan.org/

4. Listen/download audio talks from the Tallahassee   Chan group at http://www.tallahasseechan.com/talks.html

5. the Western Chan Fellowship at  http://www.westernchanfellowship.org/

6. Questions?  Adrian at 250 650 9055; adrian2@shaw.ca and this blog http://comoxvalleyzenchan.blogspot.ca/

Zen Master Seung Sahn...the goal of any meditation practice

the bees have started the spring garden

"But the correct practice of meditation means attaining one pointed mind without wanting anything. This is the goal of any mantra practice, not only Namu myoho renge-kyo. Any kind of mantra is the same. Even repeating "Coca Cola, Coca Cola, Coca Cola," if done with complete determination, will have the same result. The most important point is, How do you take away your thinking? How do you keep your mind? How do you keep your mind empty?  If you keep empty mind, that is the Absolute. We sometimes call that primary point. When you keep primary point for a long time, you can take away your primary cause. All your happiness and suffering come from primary cause. Then as you take away primary cause, your condition changes and you get a different result. You will change your suffering so that compassion and happiness can appear. This is the teaching of dependent origination.

So how do you take away primary cause? Only keep One Mind. When you are doing something, just do it. Just do it. In just-do-it mind, there is no subject and no object. Inside and outside become one. As a result, you can connect with universal energy. The name we sometimes use for that is primary point. When you keep primary point for a long time, then slowly, slowly, slowly primary cause disappears. Thinking makes your primary cause. So, taking away your opposites-mind takes away opposites energy, and primary cause disappears, like water when left out for a long time in the sun. It evaporates by itself. When you practice hard it is very easy to do this! But your thinking makes karma, and karma blocks the sun, so this primary cause water cannot evaporate as quickly."....pg. 148 in Seung Sahn's The Compass of Zen

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Back again for another Sunday retreat:

a half day or day of silent meditation/contemplation

For this retreat, if you are not a Chan (Chinese Zen) practitioner, you may bring your own silent meditation/ contemplation practice. If you do not presently have a practice, and want one, or are interested in Chan meditation practice, please contact Adrian a couple of days before the retreat.

Bring your own cushion; chairs are available. Bring a veggie lunch with a little left over to share, and eating/drinking utensils. There is a microwave but no drinkable water because of the water ban. 

Limited seating, please RSVP.
Contact Adrian Symonds: 250-650-9055 or adrian2@shaw.ca

March1, 2015 8:30 a.m to 12; 1:15 to 5 p.m. – Salish House, Lewis Park Recreation Centre, Courtenay Cost: by donation

1. MAIN WEBSITE: Cosmos Chan Zen Community at http://www.cosmoschan.org/

2. Master Cheng Yen in Facebook;

3. Listen to dharma talks with Gilbert Gutierrez http://dharmatalks.riversidechan.org/

4. Listen/download audio talks from the Tallahassee   Chan group at http://www.tallahasseechan.com/talks.html

5. the Western Chan Fellowship at  http://www.westernchanfellowship.org/

6. Questions?  Adrian at 250 650 9055; adrian2@shaw.ca and this blog http://comoxvalleyzenchan.blogspot.ca/