Street Zen
from 
JoeUser Forums
JoeUser Forums
With palms together,
Good Morning All,
This morning my body is whispering to me, "I'm not as young and resilient as I used to be, get it?!" My hips, knees, and thighs are sore; my lower back and feet are sore, but the race was wonderful. Team Zen finished the 26.2 miles of the marathon! Congratulations to Jacob, Kajo, Julie, and Dai Shin!
Over the last couple of days I have been mulling over the implications of not having a Temple. I created Zen Center here in 2001. And even during my time in the mountains I visited the Center at least once a month. Yet, life evolves and in its evolution new things express themselves. I began thinking about my roots. The Buddha wandered, practiced Zazen, Oryoki, Kinhin, and offered Teisho on the streets, forests and parks of India, only taking monastic shelter during the rainy season. In this way his sangha was very visible yet, more importantly, they were close to the earth and its life, something we are exceedingly distant from.
I am not a mendicant. But, I think, there is value in practice without walls to enclose us. The value is heightened for practitioners of Engaged Zen.
So, for awhile, I will plan to practice Zazen in the open at public parks or on the city's streets.
These will be "Meditation for Peace and Non-violence" opportunities.
Tentatively in Las Cruces, NM:
Monday evening at 7:00 - 8:00 PM at the Veterans Park rotunda on Roadrunner.
Wednesday afternoon 4:00 - 5:00 PM at the Federal Building Peace Vigil.
Saturday Morning 9:00 AM in front of the Southwest Environmental Center at the mid-south section of the downtown mall.
If you are interested, please join me.
A bow to each of you.
Good Morning All,
This morning my body is whispering to me, "I'm not as young and resilient as I used to be, get it?!" My hips, knees, and thighs are sore; my lower back and feet are sore, but the race was wonderful. Team Zen finished the 26.2 miles of the marathon! Congratulations to Jacob, Kajo, Julie, and Dai Shin!
Over the last couple of days I have been mulling over the implications of not having a Temple. I created Zen Center here in 2001. And even during my time in the mountains I visited the Center at least once a month. Yet, life evolves and in its evolution new things express themselves. I began thinking about my roots. The Buddha wandered, practiced Zazen, Oryoki, Kinhin, and offered Teisho on the streets, forests and parks of India, only taking monastic shelter during the rainy season. In this way his sangha was very visible yet, more importantly, they were close to the earth and its life, something we are exceedingly distant from.
I am not a mendicant. But, I think, there is value in practice without walls to enclose us. The value is heightened for practitioners of Engaged Zen.
So, for awhile, I will plan to practice Zazen in the open at public parks or on the city's streets.
These will be "Meditation for Peace and Non-violence" opportunities.
Tentatively in Las Cruces, NM:
Monday evening at 7:00 - 8:00 PM at the Veterans Park rotunda on Roadrunner.
Wednesday afternoon 4:00 - 5:00 PM at the Federal Building Peace Vigil.
Saturday Morning 9:00 AM in front of the Southwest Environmental Center at the mid-south section of the downtown mall.
If you are interested, please join me.
A bow to each of you.