be back soon

I am starting the process of moving into Dallas proper from Grand Prairie, Texas. I hate moving, but when it’s over I will be in my own place (trailer) and very close to theMaria Kannon Zen Center where I will be practicing on a daily basis (that’s my intention anyway).

Moving tends to consume all my mental energy so there may be few or no posts until I get settled in at my new place. I’ll check in for comments from time to time.

Be well

jp

Practice at MKZC

I went to the second part of orientation at the Maria Kannon Zen Center today. I sat 2 rounds of both zazen and kinhin the first a 15 minute siting and the second for 25 minutes sitting – kinhin is 5 minutes.

Before I give the details of my experience today, I feel that I need to say that I am realizing that I have not given nearly enough of my spiritual “history” for everything I will be talking about to make sense. I will be working on correcting that by adding to the about page. Until then I’ll have to explain as I go along.

I am taking orientation at MKZC because (1) it is a formality for all students and (2)even though I practiced at MKZC for over 2 years, that was a long time ago. I feel that the orientation acts as a refresher and also, this is a new stage in my life. It’s another time of death and rebirth. I want this to be new- as in Shoshin or beginner’s mind.

That said, the orientation today was good to experience. It was enjoyable to see all kinds of people, including those new at zen and old hands as well as a young girl. I am thinking she might be 10 or so. That’s very unusual and delighful to see a child choosing to practice along with her parents. If it were not a choice, I wouldn’t be so happy about it, but again that has a lot to do with MY history.

During the talk, Helen Cortes, assistant Zen teacher, mentioned that she was available for dokusan. So I asked fora talk. What happens in Dokusan, stays in Dokusan supposedly, and it should IMO. But I did talk to her about my goal of making MKZC my “monastery” by moving close by and attending as regularly as possible. She was very receptive, so ’nuff said. I plan on moving within a mile or so of the center and making it my “work” as well as my practice. I can’t think of anything better for a 58 year old me to do.

I’m cutting it short there as I am tired. I just wanted to dash this down because I am happy about it.

Namaste and all that,
jpaul

Zazen at my old Zendo

I’ve talked about it for years. The man who introduced me to Zen and the Zen center he started. I actually visited it at its new and infinitely more peaceful location last Sunday. I am going back through orientation and that is fine. I and my body have changed. It’s HARD to sit now. I have to use a bench but I do have faith that I can reach half-lotus again given time. I so look forward to seeing Rubin again.

I can’t go into much more detail at the moment but the Maria Kannon Zen Center (hereafter referred to as MKZC) will probably be a popular subject in future posts. Take a moment to check out their site, it’s a good one.