Dharma Bum

Retreat

Friday I escaped to the Five Mountain Zen Order's winter retreat. It was exactly what was needed, and It was great to connect with my Dharma family. If you're interested in exploring a meditation practice, the HB Meditation/Ocean Eyes Zen sitting group will be meeting on Feb 12th at 5:30. Conact me for details. Here's a few photos from the weekend, we're actually a pretty casual Zen crew, but we do robe up every once and a while. Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Update: HB Meditation/Ocean Eyes Zen - Feb 12th

Meditation is old and honorable, so why should I
not sit, every morning of my life, on the hillside,
looking into the shining world? Because, properly
attended to, delight, as well as havoc, is suggestion.

Can one be passionate about the just, the
ideal, the sublime, and the holy, and yet commit
to no labor in its cause? I don't think so.

All summations have a beginning, all effect has a
story, all kindness begins with the sown seed.
Thought buds toward radiance. The gospel of
light is the crossroads of - indolence, or action.

Be ignited, or be gone.
- Mary Oliver

I'm going away this weekend to sit with the Five Mountain crew. But will be back next week ready to reconvene the Sunday night sitting group, aka HB Meditation/Ocean Eyes Zen. If you haven't been we meet at 5:30 at my place and anybody interested in exploring meditation, with a little bit of Zen thrown in for good measure, is welcome. Beginners especially welcome. Contact me for directions. I hope to see you on Sunday Feb. 12th!

Learn To Be Quiet

You need not do anything.
Remain sitting at your table and listen.
You need not even listen, just wait.
You need not even wait,
just learn to be quiet, still and solitary.
And the world will freely offer itself to you unmasked.
It has no choice, it will roll in ecstasy at your feet.

— Learn to be quiet by Franz Kafka

Wandering Late at Kulin Temple

The single sound of the bell
brings out the whole hall's monks.
Golden glint of the Buddha's face
almost the flash of a lamp.
The Bodhisattva Dragon Tree is silent,
the wind has died away . . .
The robes of the monks cast shadows,
as the moon begins to rise.
No need to chant the Sutras
to make the flowers giggle . . .
As I lean and listen carefully
even the stones respond.
How can the Buddha, King of Emptiness,
boast of setting the whole world free?
Here, when Spring comes,
he hasn't freed even half this pond
from thinking long on love.
- Yuan Mei
I Don't Bow to Buddhas

Sit

Tonight we kicked off the first sit of the re-start of HB Meditation/Ocean Eyes Zen. It being Mothers Day, a few people that wanted to come couldn't make it, but I was fortunate to have Susan, Samantha and Kai in attendance. Practicing in community makes such a difference, and they made it great. I look forward to catching up next week with those that weren't able to make it tonight. Please feel free to drop in on us anytime, just email me for details. Some pics..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meditation - This Sunday!

I wanted to post a reminder that this sunday is the re-start the sitting group that meets at my house at 5pm. I've already had a few RSVP's so it looks like we'll be off to a great start.

The format will be a little talk about meditation, a sort of "how to" for the beginners, and then a 20/25 minute meditation followed by conversation.

So if you have been looking to start a meditation practice, have heard about all the benefits of meditation and don't know how to get started, or have been looking for a community to practice with, please come join us and bring a friend. We have plenty of room. Shoot me an email for directions, etc.

We also have a Facebook page for more info. I hope to see you on May 8th!  Following is a few pics from the past group..

Huntington Beach Meditation - Redux

I wanted to let everybody know that I will be re-starting the sitting group that meets at my house on Sunday nights. Over the last several weeks I have received a few emails asking about the group, so I thought now was a good time as any to get it going again.

We will meet on Sunday's at 5pm, starting on May 8th. The format will be a little talk about meditation, a sort of "how to" for the beginners, and then a 20/25 minute meditation followed by tea and cookies and conversation.

So if you have been looking to start a meditation practice, have heard about all the benefits of meditation and don't know how to get started, or have been looking for a community to practice with, please come join us and bring a friend. We have plenty of room. Shoot me an email for directions, etc.

We also have a Facebook page for more info. I hope to see you on May 8th!  Following is a few pics from the past group..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meditation as Relational Practice

I really enjoy how this short video, produced by the Here & Now Project, visualizes how meditation is a social activity, or relational practice.

The video also makes the case for the way social media is going to change spiritual practice. I am still trying to sort out how to most effectively use social media to enhance my spiritual practice, without the distraction of it all, having the opposite effect.

I suppose I'll have a future post of some of the resources I have found particularly helpful along my journey. Stay tuned.