Eon Zen Center

12/26/2024

Dear friends, in this season of giving, we are happy to share that we are now just over 85% toward our goal for our Fall Fundraiser with artworks from the Eon Zen Collection. Thank you to all who have donated already!

Your tax-deductible contribution before the end of the year will help us meet our goal and support us immeasurably in continuing to offer the teachings and a strong community to all who seek to practice Zen.

This is a meaningful opportunity to share in supporting Eon Zen Center and the creative spirit of our sangha.

Please visit eonzen.org/donate for more details and to make a contribution -- and to read Gyodo Sensei's overview of our sangha, programs and growth in 2024.

We are grateful for all contributions at any level. Thank you for your support. 🙏

12/09/2024

Winter Break Dec 9-Jan 5: Now that our Ango Practice Period has ended, Eon Zen Center will move to a lighter schedule for the next three weeks. We will not gather at Shambhala or online this evening — our Monday evening program is on hold until January 6th when we will welcome our new year of practice.

We will have one 30-minute period of morning zazen online at 7am Mon-Fri and 8am Sat-Sun during the break. Please visit eonzen.org/daily-practice details and the link to join online.

Kind thanks to everyone for your continued presence and practice.

We wish you a peaceful December, Winter Solstice, and holiday season in the coming weeks. 🙏

12/09/2024

On Bodhi Day, Sunday December 8th, we shared a heartfelt Shuso Hossen ceremony to close out our Ango practice period. Head Trainee Jim Hōden Fricker offered a talk on Case 46 of the Blue Cliff Record, "The Sound of Raindrops," followed by a dharma dialogue with the sangha, thus completing the step to become a senior student. Congratulations and deep bows to Hōden! 🙏🙏🙏

📸 photos by Sigman Myoshin Byrd

12/09/2024

This weekend the Eon Zen sangha concluded a deep Rohatsu Sesshin and Ango Practice Period. During the retreat we held a Jukai ceremony where four Eon Zen Center members received the Buddhist Precepts and dharma names, affirming their commitment to follow the Buddha Way. How auspicious!

One of the participants received Jukai virtually from Rochester, Minnesota. The Dharma pervades everywhere, throughout space and time, and the internet.

Congratulations to all the Jukai celebrants!

Nick Komyo (Ancient Seed) Huckins
Angie Enmei (Bright Circle) Currie
Rob Kundo (Pathless Path) O'Neil
Rain Seikai (Vow Ocean) Scherer (on screen)

Vast is the robe of liberation
A formless field of benefaction
I wear the Tathagatha’s teaching
Saving all sentient beings.
🙏🙏🙏

Thank you for Sigman Myoshin Byrd and Jim Hōden Fricker for taking such wonderful photos.

12/08/2024

Please join us for the Shuso Hossen (Head Trainee) Ceremony Sunday Dec. 8 at 10:30am MST at Willow Farm Contemplative Center. Our Shuso for this Ango, Jim Hōden Fricker, will present a Dharma Talk on the koan he has been practicing with this fall and then be challenged with questions from Sangha members.

This is typically a lively and moving ceremony and an important rite of passage into new responsibility and training as a senior student.

Hōden has been practicing Zen for over thirty years, and began his studies with Daido Loori Roshi as a resident at Zen Mountain Monastery. He is full-time staff with Zen Peacemakers and recently returned from assisting with their Auschwitz-Birkenau Bearing Witness Retreat in November.

We are grateful for Hōden's leadership this Ango. Please join and support him on this special occasion.

To attend in person, please RSVP to staff@eonzen.org and arrive by 10:15am.

To join virtually, use the link to enter the online zendo at eonzen.org/retreats-and-programs/sesshin-dec-2024.

12/06/2024

Join us on Saturday December 7th at 10:45am MST for a Jukai Ceremony for four Eon Zen members during Rohatsu Sesshin in person at Willow Farm Contemplative Center or online.

Jukai means “to receive/transmit (ju) the precepts (kai)” — it is a process of preparing for and then formally taking refuge and receiving the precepts as an ongoing path of life through a ceremony for Lay Zen Buddhist Ordination.

For Jukai, practitioners hand-sew their own rakusu, which represents the robe of the Buddha, and hand-write the names of our Buddha ancestors in a ketchimyaku (lineage chart), connecting them with our lineage of practitioners all the way back to Shakyamuni Buddha. At the ceremony, they will also receive a dharma name from the teacher, representing qualities and aspiration of their practice.

To attend in person, please RSVP to staff@eonzen.org and arrive by 10:35am.

To join virtually, use the link to enter the online zendo at eonzen.org/retreats-and-programs/sesshin-dec-2024.

12/04/2024

Join Eon Zen in both morning and evening meditation online this week from 6:00 to 7:30am and 7:00-8:25pm, leading up to Rohatsu Sesshin. See more details and link to join at eonzen.org/retreats-and-programs/rohatsu-week-zazen

Rohatsu Sesshin begins Friday evening, Dec 6th with zazen online and then Saturday and Sunday in-person at Willow Farm and online. See more details and register at eonzen.org/retreats-and-programs/sesshin-dec-2024

This is a wonderful opportunity to hold "sesshin-mind" together for the final week to end our Ango Practice Period.

Sesshin will include a Jukai ceremony Saturday at 10:45am MT, and Shuso Hossen (Head Trainee Ceremony) at 10:30am MT Sunday. You may join in sesshin full-time or part-time, in person or online, or just for the ceremonies.
📸 by Lisa Gakyo Schaewe

11/13/2024

...Shishin Roshi's new book, The Five Ranks of Zen, is now available. 🙂
From Great Mountain Zen Center: to celebrate publication month, use the code FIVERANKS30 and receive 30% off when purchasing through Shambhala. Go to https://www.shambhala.com/the-five-ranks-of-zen.html to purchase and enter the code when you check out.

(This code is valid on shambhala.com through December 12, 2024. Enter code in shopping cart. Cannot be combined with other offers.)

Happy Publication Day to The Five Ranks of Zen: Tozan's Path of Being, Nonbeing, and Compassion by Gerry Shishin Wick!

The great Japanese Zen master Hakuin once exclaimed, “How priceless is the merit gained through the step-by-step practice of the Five Ranks of Master Tozan!”⁠
⁠
In The Five Ranks of Zen, American Zen teacher Gerry Shishin Wick offers a comprehensive and accessible entry point to this pinnacle teaching of Zen Buddhism. Wick presents multiple translations and offers thoughtful commentary on both of Zen Master Tozan’s formulations of the Ranks — the Five Ranks of the Relative and the Absolute and the Sequence of Merit — as well as offering guidance on the applications in contemporary life and Zen practice.⁠
⁠
Zen students and practitioners of all levels will benefit from this essential guide to Tozan’s exploration of relative and absolute reality.⁠

→ Learn more: https://www.shambhala.com/the-five-ranks-of-zen.html

11/13/2024

There is still room to join in our November Zazenkai this Saturday, Nov. 16. Sitting together in extended meditation retreat during this time of transition in our country will support us in many ways in our lives, relationships, and service to others.

Join in person or online, full-time or part time. All are welcome.

Learn more and register at eonzen.org/2024-retreats.

11/08/2024

Even if the sun were to rise from the west, the Bodhisattva has only one way. - Shunryu Suzuki Roshi

The way to support the beings and causes we care about is to — surprise! — directly care and support them. - Paul Gyodo Agostinelli Sensei

That reflection was offered by our teacher, Gyodo Sensei, the day before the US election in his post "Democracy is Messy." It is just as relevant today.

He also shared the Five Commitments of the Zen Peacemakers:

1. I commit myself to work towards a culture of non-violence and reverence for life.

2. I commit myself to work towards a culture of solidarity and a just economic order.

3. I commit myself to work towards a culture of inclusiveness and a life based on truthfulness.

4. I commit myself to work towards a culture of equal rights for all people, respecting and appreciating human diversity.

5. I commit myself to work towards a culture of sustainability and care for the earth.

The Bodhisattva has only one way.
Our Dharma practice lives in the gap, amidst causes and conditions.
Pay attention to what matters.

In this time of great change and uncertainty, may we offer our love and care — and action! — in this spirit, today and everyday, with wisdom, courage and compassion.🙏
Image by Mark T. Morse, Gateless Gate Studio

Don't kill the cat ....

10/25/2024

We have a wonderful group signed up for next Saturday's Enter Here Zazenkai on Nov. 2nd. Register at eonzen.org/2024-retreats to join.

Though geared toward those new to practice, all are welcome and encouraged to attend. This is a wonderful opportunity for those new to Zen practice and seasoned practitioners to deepen together in the fundamentals.

The retreat includes Zazen (seated meditation) and Kinhin (walking meditation) instruction, shorter meditation periods, Zendo forms + movement instruction, Zen principles and history, work practice, group sharing and more.

Please note, Enter Here Zazenkai are offered in-person only at Willow Farm Contemplative Center due to the nature of the space and instruction provided.

10/09/2024

Our intertwined paths of personal, professional, relational and spiritual growth are rich areas for practice. Join in next Wednesday October 16th for the first in our 4-session Zen Life Path series led by Gyodo Sensei, online over zoom.

You can sign up for 1 class at a time or the full series.
All are welcome.
Learn more and register at eonzen.org/sangha-practice-groups