Pine Wind Zen Community Audio

Historically it is said that after his elightenment experience, The Buddha's first discourse was defined as the First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma. He offered the first teaching of the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Noble Path to five fellow seekers, who at first denied him an audience...but after noticing something different in him, sat and listened. They became the first Sangha; the community. These Truths are the very essence and core of the Buddhadharma which asks us to return to them time and time again, taking refuge in the lived experience of what they offer: a way to perceive and participate in the great reality. So, understanding and practice leads to wisdom, and wisdom leads to actualization...to make it real.

Vasubandhu was a 5th century Buddhist monk who, along with his brother Asanga formulated the teaching called Yogacara. It arose as means of finding balance between the two major paths of the Early Buddhist teachings and The Mahayana teachings. Vasubandhu and Asanga sought to bring harmony to the vast differences in these two practices, showing that both of them have very important roles in freeing us from suffering and delusion. This talk with be an introduction only...the Thirty Verses are complex; but more importantly, an eye opening into the nature of the Egoic birth and ultimately, its overturning.

Because food is life, it is of upmost importance that we receive it with deepest gratitude. When we eat, we consume life. There isn't a meal that is taken without the expense of another lifeforce — "the practice of eating is the essential truth of all Dharmas. At the very moment of eating, we merge with ultimate reality” — Dogen Zenji. When we eat a meal we enter into the process of merging with everything that surrounds us. Eating becomes a celebration of the Dharma, with no separation between us and the universe.

CLIP: You Have to Come in to Win (Community) by Jizo-an Zen Community

From Saturday, June 15th, 2019

More Together Than Alone by Jizo-an Zen Community

A Passover and Easter Minute to Change the World by Jizo-an Zen Community

Getting Beyond Fear & The Illusion of Differences initiative arises directly from the Great Bodhisattva Vows: to alleviate the suffering of every human being; to put an end to all self-serving desires; to profoundly study and realize the Dharma; and to perfectly manifest this real truth in every aspect of our lives. Tonight we will examine how the Dharma can illuminate the persistent forms of bias that shape our experience of the world. The Dharma teaches that all beings are equal, and yet each day we encounter injustice, hatred, and violence that stem from a sense of self and other as divided and unequal. Transformation emerges from cultivating and nurturing awareness in every moment of our lives. When we clearly see how our preconceived notions and deep conditionings are functioning in our relationships with others, we can begin to dissolve the boundaries that we create between ourselves and others. Then we can relate to each other from the recognition that all beings, regardless of our apparent differences, share the same essential nature, all beings possess "Basic Goodness".

“And the simple fact that by being attentive, by learning to listen (or recovering the natural capacity to listen which cannot be learned any more than breathing), we can find ourself engulfed in such happiness that it cannot be explained: the happiness of being at one with everything in that hidden ground of Love for which there can be no explanations.” - Thomas Merton To "Hold Space" for ourselves and others, especially during this current uncertain and rapidly changing time in our world. The single most important gift we have to offer ourselves and others in "times of uncertainty" and in life itself is the wisdom, and the art of "Holding Space," being "A Place of Refuge." Tonight through a series of mental and physical exercises familiar in Zen Mind-Body Training and a Dharma Talk about about the Three Refuges of The Buddhadharma and how to develop a tender and open heart for ourselves and others, we will begin to lay the ground for being "Community" for our family, friends, neighbors, and the world during these troubling times.

Creating Clarity Through Morality & Mindfulness by Jizo-an Zen Community

As Spiritual and Religious Americans how do we respond to increasing violence, and the current rise of injustice, discrimination, racism, anti-semitism and hatred we are witnessing in our Country and around the World today? What would the Buddha do? What would Jesus do? What does the Torah teach us to do? Join Seijaku Roshi, Rabbi Simon, and Deacon Jim Casa for this most Inspiring, Educational, and Enlightening discussion!

The Truth will set you free, and the closer we get to our freedom, the more synonymous the effort and the reward. Spirituality or Training is about what Chogyam Trungpa called, "Cutting Through our Spiritual Materialism," both our cultural and social conditioning about being spiritual, ending our consumer oriented approach to being spiritual. Join Seijaku Roshi and Rabbi Richard Simon as they discuss "The Truth About Being Spiritual."

"I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity." - Dwight D. Eisenhower Dedicated to the healing of Our Veterans Serving Around The World: A Day of Serene Meditation and Silence for The End of War in Our World Characterized by silence and deep introspection, sesshin is recommended to anyone who is sincerely interested in experiencing authentic Zen meditation training. We begin at early dawn to engage in a schedule that includes extended periods of zazen (seated meditation), kinhinn (walking meditation), chanting (liturgy), silent meals, silent work practice and Dharma talks. Sesshin is a unique opportunity to experience "training like a monk while not being a monk," draw from the tremendous strength of people practicing together and experience the deep stillness that lies within each one of us.

"Underneath all we are taught, there is a voice that calls to us beyond what is reasonable,and in listening to that flicker of spirit, we often find deep healing." Central to Authentic Spirituality (Zen) is the teaching that, "We are not who we think we are, or who we think we should be." Therefore the aim and objective of Zen is to "Awaken from a lifetime of Ego-Delusion" to discover who and what we truly are. In discovering our "True-Self" we discover all that we have spent our lifetime seeking to know and understand. This "Discovery" is always with us calling to us waiting for our "Yes". Tonight we make our way down an ancient path home.

Mindfulness and Meditation and washing the dishes, making the bed, doing the laundry go together. They always have gone together. How we hold the mundane speaks loudly about how we hold life. Sen Rikyu taught, "All can find peace in a bowl of tea." If you know how to make and drink a bowl of tea, if you know how to hold the tea bowl in your hands. Tonight we will explore how we can find "our Zen" at home and in the workplace. How we can "Be Home and Awake". If we can learn to appreciate the mundane, to appreciate our life, this is "The True Dharma Eye and Subtle Mind of Nirvana."

Life is always “urgent,” we are challenged everyday to meet demands on our time, responsibilities, and the unexpected; and whether we are aware or not, the truth of suffering or discontentment. What might support us to meet the challenge of everyday living? The Three Tenets are powerful skillful means for working with our emotions and meeting daily challenges with all victorious mastery. The Three Tenets are: Not Knowing, Bearing Witness, Compassionate Response

At the moment we fully appreciate the Power of Living Authentically, everything changes and nothing is ever the same again. Opportunities never available to us before become possible. The past, the present, and the future all at once is transformed. We will explore the impact of living as Shakespeare described it "The Life of an Actor" has on our physical, mental, and emotional health, and how we can transform a lifetime of conciliation and return to our hopes and dreams we were meant to realize and enjoy.

Self-confidence is an essential ingredient in living an inspired and effective life. Cultivating confidence in yourself and about your life requires living in harmony with the real nature of life, clarifying what is really important and aligning your daily living activities and choices with what is important including the people, places, and activities which support you. Join Seijaku Roshi & Rabbi Richard Simon as we explore the Dharma of Living Fearlessly.

Ultimately the goal of any authentic Spiritual Path especially The Path of a Spiritual Warrior is "Communion"; First with Mystery, call it God or Dharma, or Buddha, it is that which is larger than ourself; next with the Teachings (Dharma) manifested in myriad forms of energy that make the Universe what it is, and finally with Others (Community or Sangha). Tonight we will discuss the concept of - The Three Jewels or Refuges of Buddhism and how it contrasts with faith-based beliefs such as, The Trinity, and how this concept when fully understood empowers anyone to create a conducive environment at home, in our relationships, in the workplace and in our daily lives for real "Community" what the Ancient Mystics referred to as "The Communion of Saints", and what Buddhism calls "Sangha". If Communion is not our Intention then truly we are destined to "wander from dark path to dark path". "Community may very well be the only antidote for a society where individualism has reached the level of the pathological."

"Even if the Sun were to rise in the West, the Bodhisattva knows One Way." For many Americans the Sun indeed rose in the West on Election Day and the reaction has left us with age old questions. Who are We? Who do we want to Be? Tonight we will explore The Way of the Bodhisattva - The Spiritual Warrior in the face of disappointment, grief, and impermanence. (Seijaku Roshi, Rabbi Richard Simon)