An Introduction to Zen, March 24

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Photo: Shundo David Haye

Sunday, March 24, 1 pm – 4 pm

Find out how to use the teachings of Zen Buddhism to transform your life. During this introductory afternoon, you will:

  • Learn some simple techniques to help settle your mind
  • Find a sitting posture to maintain a quiet steadiness while you meditate
  • Design a meditation space to support a regular practice
  • Discover the path that can lead to an easing of anxiety and depression
  • Explore the practical aspects of the 11th step (for those in recovery)

We recommend loose comfortable clothing. The suggested donation is £10, but please donate whatever you can afford.

Settling the body and the breath cultivates a settled state of mind. Sitting in a balanced posture creates a quiet steadiness that can, with training, become our default state, a way to meet whatever happens with upright and calm awareness. When we regularly meditate in a space that is free from distraction and interruption, we can begin to discover a deeper level of stillness that stretches outwards from our limited self-absorbed world view. The preoccupations of our daily lives take up less space for a while as we give our active cognitive brains a rest and take the backwards step that turns the light inward.

 

Zazenkai: Sunday, March 17, 2019

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Join us in this peaceful space for a day of quiet meditation in community. We will meet a little before 10 am to start sitting at 10 am promptly. Lunch is from 12:20 to 1:10 pm; please bring vegetarian lunch to share as we will eat together in silence. We will sit for three 40-minute periods in the morning and three in the afternoon, ending with the Refuges in Pali, followed by a cup of tea. Our day ends at 4 pm.

Wear loose, comfortable clothing.

Suggest donation £10; nobody turned away for lack of funds.

Five-Day Sesshin, April 30-May 5, 2019

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Walking meditation in the grounds of Benburb Priory

Tuesday, April 30 – Sunday, May 5, 2019

Ryushin Paul Haller, the guiding teacher of Black Mountain Zen Centre, will spend the last week of April and the first week of May with us this year, culminating in a five-day sesshin at Benburb Priory.

This silent meditation retreat will start on Tuesday evening, April 30, and end on Sunday afternoon, May 5. Participants can either attend for the whole period or for the weekend from Friday evening to Sunday. The suggested donation to cover our costs is £​300 for the full five days, and ​​£​160 for the weekend, Friday to Sunday – this covers your single room and three vegetarian meals per day, plus unlimited tea and coffee during breaks. Please offer what you can afford, and if you can make a larger donation, that is also gratefully received.

Please follow the details on the application form in order to apply. The updated application form for 2019 is available here:  Word / PDF