Do not spend this moment in vain. These moments pile up & become a lifetime!- Venerable Beopjeong
As usual, we have our Tuesday night Beginners' Class, held in the hermitage from 7-9pm. We've also got some great special events coming up for you this month.
All events are free of charge. Donations to support the Baltimore Zen Center's work are always appreciated.
Date: Tuesday, March 16th, 2010
Time: 7pm to 11pm
Join us tomorrow night from 7pm to 9pm in the hermitage for our weekly Beginners' Dharma Class. We'll continue discussing Bodhidharma's Bloodstream Sermon, a fundamental text that provides beginners' a foundation of what Zen practice is all about. Come for tea & light snacks, with discussion lead by JB MuSsang Jaeger.
After Beginner's Class, stick around for a Skype session with the Baltimore Zen Center's Founding Teacher, the Venerable Pohwa-seunim. Pohwa-seunim will be joining us from Hwagye Temple in South Korea to give a Dharma talk, and possibly gongan interviews, time depending.
After Seunim's discussion, anyone willing is welcome to stay & practice Sitting Meditation with MuSsang until 11pm.
Date: Tuesday, March 30th, 2010
Time: 7pm to 11pm
Parinirvana is the day Buddhists commemorate Shakyamuni Buddha's death. It is a day to reflect on impermanent and interdependent nature of our own lives, and our loved ones. Not a pessimistic or nihilistic experience, rather it brings value to each moment of our lives, finding our life and death in each and every breath.
Join us for our Tuesday night Dharma study this Parinirvana Day in the hermitage from 7pm to 9pm. We'll continue our study of Bodhidharma's Bloodstream Sermon, in particular his urging to practice, since life is short! We'll also read a selection of the work of Beopjeong-seunim, a monk who passesd away last week and who's words are an encouragement to dedicate ourselves to our practice.
After Beginner's Class, stick around for a Skype session with the Baltimore Zen Center's Founding Teacher, the Venerable Pohwa-seunim. Pohwa-seunim will be joining us from Hwagye Temple in South Korea to give a Dharma talk, and possibly gongan interviews, time depending.
After Seunim's discussion, anyone willing is welcome to stay & practice Sitting Meditation with MuSsang until 11pm.
Date: Thursday, April 8th, 2010
Time: 7pm to 9pm
Gwanseum, or Avalokita, is known as the Bodhisattva of Compassion & Mercy. Represented by the figure of a beautiful woman, she is said to have a thousand hands with which to help all those who suffer. The metaphor means that each of us are two hands of compassion, working in this world.
During this evening practice session we will alternate periods of sitting meditation with chanting, two of the primary practice exercises at the Baltimore Zen Center. We will ponder teachings of selflessness & compassion as we chant the Heart Sutra and the Thousand Hand Sutra.
The evening will begin with the evening bell meditation liturgy, and will include a brief Dharma talk by JB MuSsang Jaeger.
Date: April 10th, 2010
Time: 11am - 3pm
The Sakura Matsuri is the annual Cherry Blossom Festival Street Bazaar. It is one of the largest displays of Japanese culture in the nation. It is a "friends and family" event full of things to do and see.
There are 5 stages with over 30 hours worth of performances and entertainment total, marketplaces selling traditional Japanese products, modern Japanese pop music and anime, four street markets full of Japanese food and drink, and a children's area full of traditional Japanese games and activities!
Come hang out with the sangha of the Baltimore Zen Center as we roam the Matsuri, viewing the cherry blossoms, watching martial arts exhibitions, listening to taiko drummers, and of course...eating way too much awesome Japanese food.
Don't stay too late though, because after the Matsuri, it's back to the Baltimore Zen Center for a talk with special guest, Brad "Hardcore Zen" Warner!
Date: April 10th, 2010
Time: 7pm to 9pm
Brad Warner, Zen monk, Japanese monster movie film maker, punk rocker, and author of "Hardcore Zen", "Shit Down & Shut Up", & "Zen Wrapped in Karma Dipped in Chocolate", will be stopping by the Baltimore Zen Center on his cross-country trek.
Brad is known for his bare-bones, no nonsense approach to Zen. A student of Gudo Nishijima-roshi, Brad spent many years living in Japan making monster movies...and studying Zen.
Come out to the Baltimore Zen Center for an evening of discussion and talk with Brad Warner and the rest of the BZC crew.
Donations will be accepted to help cover Brad's travel expenses.
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