Westside zazen?

We know that if you live across town from the Milwaukee Zen Center, it can be a challenge to find opportunities to practice with other sangha members. That’s why we’re exploring the possibility of offering evening zazen once a week on the west side of the city.

We can only go forward if there’s likely to be actual regular attendance, though, so if you’d be interested in participating at least once or twice a month, we need to hear from you.  Send us an e-mail (or give us a call) and let us know you’d like to hear more details as they develop. And, please indicate your preference for Wednesday, Thursday or Friday evening.

Rohatsu talks available online

The talks given during our three-day Rohatsu sesshin are now available for listening online.  If you were unable to attend one or more days of the sesshin, you can go here to catch up on what we discussed.

Members answer the call

Gifts of financial support started coming in immediately after our annual membership appeal letter landed in mailboxes.  MZC is grateful for these offerings, since our members underwrite a significant portion of our operating expenses.

Several membership levels are available, and members may choose the one that best fits their circumstances. Memberships are tax-deductible and may be paid on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis, by check or cash (and soon, online).  All members receive our bimonthly newsletter, sent with our gratitude for their ongoing support.

Sustaining: $30 or more per month
Supporting: $25 per month
Maintaining: $10 per month
Contributing: any affordable monthly amount

You can read our appeal letter online.

New online discussion event

Join our on-line discussion group as we consider Dogen Zenji’s Hachidainingaku, or Eight Awakenings of Great Beings, as it relates to current thinking in areas like sociology, economics, science and design.  Each week we’ll watch a short video presentation (20 minutes or less) from an engaging speaker on the leading edge of one of these areas. Then we’ll consider some discussion questions to get the conversation started, with group members sharing their reactions and insights.

For complete information, click on Eight Awarenesses of Great Beings at the upper left of this page.

A little snow

This morning, practitioners made their way to the zendo through a light dusting of snow for the first time this winter.   It’s definitely the end of the gardening season.

New bell for the new year

Our new inkin (引磬) arrived today, sent from our friends at Toshoji Senmon Sodo in Okayama, Japan.  It has a lovely, rich sound and we’ll be using it for kinhin (walking meditation) and chanting services.

MZC's new inkin as it's carried in the zendo

The first kanji in the word “inkin” means “to pull” (引), perhaps because one plays an inkin by striking the far side of the bell, “pulling” the striker toward oneself.  The second (磬) is the character for an inverted copper or iron bowl-shaped bell used while chanting sutras.  In China, this kanji represented an ancient kind of bell called a qing, a suspended gong or chime shaped like an inverted V.  The symbol at the bottom of the kanji (石) means “stone” or “jewel,” because the qing was indeed originally made of stone or jade.

Examples of qing

Rohatsu sesshin: day three

Mary Bernau-Eigen was our lunch tenzo today.

Today we wrapped up our Rohatsu sesshin, with seven practitioners joining in for some or all of the day.  The combination of old hands and new friends made this year’s sesshin both meaningful and enjoyable.

Hoko says:  When the last of the practitioners had left today, I walked around the suddenly-empty temple, turning out lights and making sure everything was closed up or put away.  Afterward, I passed the door of the zendo, where we had all spent most of the last three days together, and I found myself stopping to make a small bow to Buddha.  Good night, Buddha.  Good night.  And thank you.

Rohatsu sesshin: day two

A dozen folks came together to practice on this second day of our Rohatsu sesshin.    One more day to go!

Tonen, Bob, Linda and Chuck

Andrew, Jim, Pete, Kevin and Hanh

Rohatsu sesshin: day one

Susan Winecke and Bob Balderson take a break before evening zazen

Our Rohatsu sesshin began at 6:15 this morning.  Over the course of the day, seven souls participated in zazen, formal meals, temple cleaning and a dharma talk, ending our day at 8:50 pm.  We’ll do it all again tomorrow.

For more information on our Rohatsu sesshin, click here.

Tonen honored at luncheon

MZC resident priest emerita Tonen O’Connor was honored today at the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee‘s annual luncheon.  She was recognized for her many years of work with the conference’s Milwaukee Association for Interfaith Relations (MAIR) and her other contributions to the community, including prison outreach.  Tonen was invited to offer a reflection at the start of the luncheon, and she shared with the group the chant we do here at MZC during our formal meals.  Sangha member Susan Winecke and interim practice director Hoko Karnegis were also on hand for the event.