Clouds in Water Zen Center

Clouds in Water Zen Center WINTER 2012 MEDITATION CLASSES WORKSHOPS 308 Prince Street, Suite 120 Saint Paul, Minnesota 55101 651-222-6968 cloudsinwater.org As a human being or a dog, there is no other place to be but in our skin bags. Joshu and Dogen discuss: Does a dog have Buddha-nature? Yes and no. (From the Bussho fascicle of Shobogenzo) by Byakuren Judith Ragir Ordinary minds are caught between yes and no. All of Zen is directed towards learning to hold the paradox of non-duality. Life is happening; we exist. At the same time, if we look deeply into time and place, even the physicists are finding that we don t exist as we thought we did. We are not just the appearance of things. This koan is directed at blowing our discriminating mind in order to understand the dynamism of the moment. Both form and emptiness (being and non-being) are expressed simultaneously as one. A group of us were discussing this koan, and a practitioner was insistent about her absolute position that a dog has buddha-nature. Yes! How could I (the teacher), or the ancestors, insinuate that her beloved dog didn t have buddha-nature? Didn t Buddha say, All sentient beings without exception have the buddha-nature!? Ah, well, what do we mean by buddha-nature? This is precisely the topic of Dogen s fascicle Bussho, (buddha-nature). As a teaching technique, we can talk about two types of buddha-nature recognizing that in truth, they are not two. In Bussho, Dogen describes mu-buddha-nature, the no, (emptiness or non-being) and u-buddha-nature, the yes, (form or being). The fourth patriarch in a dialogue with a practitioner says, You have no buddha-nature. Dogen reads this passage, as You are mu-buddha-nature. This differentiation between have and are is very important to Dogen s linguistics. When you use the word have, it implies that there is a subject and object. I have buddha-nature. But for Dogen, this language does not point to the truth. There is no I as an isolated unit and a separate self. There is only entire being. Entire being is the completely inter-related functioning of the universal energy and I. It is the expression of interdependence with no boundary that distinguishes an I from a them. From Bussho : Whether you speak of living beings, sentient beings, all classes of living things or all variety of living beings, it makes no difference. The words entire being mean both sentient beings and all beings. In other words, entire being is the buddha-nature. I call the whole integral entity of entire being sentient beings. Dogen is being very specific about the inter-being of all things. Inter-dependence itself is buddha-nature. So this buddha-nature deconstructs the I, or even dog, in terms of time and space or inside and outside. It cannot be spoken of in terms of have and have not, yes and no, in that moment or this moment. It is the completely integrated moment. It is the pure working of the moment. He writes that this dynamism and inter-being is none other than the ordinary objects of our life and ourselves. Entire being is a buddha s words, a buddha s tongue, the pupils of a buddha-ancestor s eyes, the noseholes of a Zen monk. Nor does the term entire being mean emergent being, or original being, or mysterious being, or anything of the like, much less conditioned being or illusory being. It has nothing to do with such things as mind and object, substance and form. Buddha-nature, the essence, or nothingness is not a thing or a mystery that is outside of our ordinary reality. What does it mean that entire being is a buddha s words, a buddha s tongue, the pupils of a buddha-ancestor s eyes, the noseholes of a Zen monk? This is Dogen s way of pushing us back into realizing that the present moment appearance is the functioning moment. He says in Fukangi, Going forward is after all, an everyday affair. The coming together of the causes and conditions that produce this moment is, after all, all we have, and is the manifestation of life itself. Right here! Right now, whether we know it or not. Buddha-nature is not a metaphysical thing; it is the very dynamic here and now. Dogen writes, They are the ordinary, rice-eating, tea-drinking occurrences in the lives of Buddhas and ancestors. He also writes: Look!!! Temporal conditions!!! Look!!! Buddha! Buddha! Look!!! Nature!! Nature!! Dogen s expression in this fascicle also works Continued on page 2 Byakuren Judith Ragir

2 Byakuren Judith Ragir continued from page 1 with the version of Joshu s Mu koan in The Book of Serenity : Monk: Does a dog have buddha-nature? Joshu: Yes Monk: Since it has, why is it then in this skin bag? Joshu: Because he knows yet deliberately transgresses. Another monk at another time asks: Does a dog have a buddha-nature or not? Joshu: No Monk #2: All sentient beings have a buddha-nature why does a dog have none? Joshu: Because the dog exists in karmic consciousness. This koan continues to explore that u-buddha-nature, does not hinder or is not in opposition to mu-buddha-nature. Yet one cannot see the other. Mu-buddha-nature does not have the mind to see form. U-buddha-nature cannot see emptiness but is the manifestation of its suchness. Dogen calls u-buddha-nature, the emancipation of suchness. Form is the active expression of mu. It is the present moment blooming and exhausting itself into freedom. It is the creative moment of mu-buddha-nature. This is the reverse of how we usually think. Usually, we think that form itself, seen through karmic consciousness, obstructs mu. But the understanding of mu and u completing each other is very radical and life-affirming. There is nothing to get rid of or to think of as a façade. THIS is it! Form and emptiness, u and mu, inter-embrace in the dynamism of this working moment in life. Our Rinzai dharma brothers and sisters emphasize realizing mu. In fact, in the Gateless Gate, this koan only has the answer of no and does not have any mention of yes. This is a very important point. It is very difficult to be concentrated and silent enough to break open our ordered consciousness. Our perceptions have to drop off or open, in order to have an actual experience of vastness and infinite silence. This mu experience informs our expression of the inter-embrace and interrupts our belief in the solidity of our stories and our self. This insight changes how we live our life. But the yes is also important. It is what prevents Zen from becoming cold and indifferent. The yes expresses our understanding of he knows but deliberately transgresses or because the dog exists in karmic consciousness. We know about vastness, and yet, we deliberately take care of the stories (our karmic effects or temporal conditions) with care and precision. Realizing the impermanence and insubstantiality of form, we still take care of it with an ungrasping attitude and with kindness. How do we take care of it? In the moment of its arising. As a human being or a dog, there is no other place to be but in our skin bags. The image of a skin bag has reference to Shih-t ou s Grass Roof Hermitage poem. Shih-t ou writes: If you want to know the Undying Man in his hermitage, you must not leave your own bag of skin. If you want to know mu, you must not, or cannot, leave u. We realize and practice the ancient law of cause and effect within the field of impermanence. This is non-duality. From The Gateless Gate, Mumon s poem: The dog! The buddha-nature! The truth is manifested in full. A moment of yes-and-no Lost are your body and soul. Getting Started Orientation for Beginners We offer simple tips about meditation to help you feel more at ease. Designed for those new to Zen practice, this orientation is suggested but not required. Every Sunday morning, 8:15 8:45 a.m. Meditation Instruction Includes basic instruction on sitting and walking meditation to help you begin a meditation practice. Second Wednesday of every month 6:30 8 p.m. and 11:30 a.m. noon introductory classes The Noble Eightfold Path with Sosan Theresa Flynn and Kyoku Tracey Walen We all want to be happy; none of us want to suffer. How our hearts long for liberation! Just like of all of us, Śākyamuni Buddha sought the way of non-suffering. He discovered that non-suffering IS possible in this life and that we are all completely capable of realizing it. How is this possible? The Buddha s answer to this question is The Noble Eight-Fold Path which he embodied and taught. Many beings have kept this teaching alive that we might also realize it in our lives. In this class, for beginners and experienced alike, we will delve into the eight elements of the Path. We ll explore the details and subtle implications of each part of the Path and experiment with walking the Path in our own lives. Thursdays, March 15 May 10 (no class April 19) 7:00 9:00 p.m. $150/ $120

winter classes 3 The Wheel of Life and Death with Flying Fish Barbara Murphy and Byakuren Judith Ragir In this nine week class we will explore the Buddha s teachings in a visual format. The image of the Wheel of Life and Death appears early in Buddhist history and was said to hang in the entrance way of the early monasteries. The Visuddhimagga, a classic manual of Buddhist doctrine and meditation, states that all the teachings from the sutras are represented in this one image. Unlike the written word, which is linear, an image presents a simultaneous teaching which is more reflective of our lived experience. We will investigate how these images work together to describe our karmic life and how we can use this image to work with written Buddhist teachings. This winter, allow the Wheel of Life and Death to open your heart to the mind of the Buddha. This is Flying Fish Barbara Murphy s Shuso offering to the community. She will be supported in this class by Byakuren Judith Ragir. Her Shuso ceremony will be Sunday, March 11. Wednesdays, January 11 March 7 6:30 8:30 p.m. $195 / $156 (members) Engaged Buddhism: Opening Our Hearts and Ears To The Cries Of The World With Byakuren Judith Ragir, Laura Kennedy, Dayna Wolfe and guests If you have come to help me, then you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your freedom is bound up with mine, then let us work together A quote of an Australian aboriginal woman Meeting on the first and third Mondays, we will deeply contemplate the questions and issues that arise as we explore the Bodhisattva ideal of serving others. This group learning experience will expand our sense of purpose while serving the larger community and will culminate in a service project. Can we begin to recognize and shape the work we already doing into an expression of service? What practices develop our capacity to stay present while bearing witness to suffering and atrocities? What skills do we need to enter into a culture that may not be similar to our own? How do we stay fresh while serving those who suffer? Mondays: February 6 and 20, March 5 and 19, April 2 and 16, May 7 and 21, June 4 6:30 8:30 p.m. $60/$48 (members) J Full Moon Ceremony Precept Reflection & Recitation following Sunday morning meditation January 8 February 12 March 4 April 8 May 6 Historical Sources of Our Practice: Sakyamuni Buddha And Early Indian Buddhism with Ken Ford An understanding of the historical record of the Buddha, his teachings, and the development of these teachings in various cultures over 25 centuries is an important grounding for our continuing practice. In this course, we ll explore the historical record of the life of the Buddha, his community, and the development of the earliest schools of Buddhist practice up to Mahayana, including an introduction to the roots of the Zen tradition. Wednesdays, April 4, 11, 18, and 25 6:45 8:45 p.m. $85/$68 (members) Need financial aid? See page 7

4 It is with our flesh and bones that we actualize the reality of the self. Kosho Uchiyama Workshops & Retreats Intention and Vow: The Direction of the Present Moment. With Byakuren Judith Ragir Our present direction is clearly defined but without having a goal. When we stop projecting goals and hopes in the future, and refuse to be led around by them, yet work to clarify our lives, that is, the direction of the present, then we discover an alive and dynamic practice. Uchiyama Roshi This workshop will help clarify what direction we are guiding ourselves toward in our lives. This is not like a New Year s Resolution, which may never come to fruition. Intention and vow are not our goals. We will clarify our hearts desire. What is the deepest longing and meaning of our lives? If we followed our hearts desire, what would that look like in the coming year? Can a vow come out of our deepest longing? Saturday, January 7 9:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. $70/$56 (members) Embodied Presence: Feeling The Body From Within with Byakuren Judith Ragir Being able to feel our bodies as a direct sensory experience is one of the ways we can enter into the raw sensations of the present moment. Rather than getting lost in our reactive thoughts and actions, we can become directly aware of what is happening in our bodies and reconnect to presence. Many of us live from the neck up. People are often so accustomed to being out of touch with the body that they live entirely in a mental world. With mindful attention, we can begin to experience the moment-to-moment awareness of body sensation. In this one-day workshop, we will use slow-motion movement and body meditations to reconnect with ourselves, and the changing stream of sensations living through our bodies. Saturday, April 14 9:00 a.m 4:00 p.m. $70/56 (members) Embracing the Present Moment with No Escape: A 12-Step & Buddhism Retreat Team lead by Byakuren Judith Ragir and other practitioners A tremendous transformative process can occur with the weaving together of 12-Step work and support and Buddhist meditation and principles. For many, the combination of these two paths has proven to be an unshakable program for living with serenity. In this retreat, we will help make the translation from the mainly Christian-based language of the 12 -Step programs to the non-theistic language of Buddhism. In sharing our experience and strength with each other we can: learn how to dismantle old destructive behaviors get support from sangha/community deepen our meditation and mindfulness practices Using silent meditation, interactive exercises, talks, and discussion, the emphasis will be on bringing mindfulness to all our activities. Participants will practice Noble Silence outside of the interactive exercises and discussion periods. Participants are welcome to sleep at the center (sleeping bags on the floor cushions) or commute. Thursday, March 8, 7 p.m. 9 p.m. Friday, March 9, 6:30 a.m. 9 p.m. Saturday, March 10, 6:30 a.m. 9 p.m. $120/ $96 (members) Need financial aid? See page 7

Guest Teacher Reverend Val Szymanski Calligraphy Workshop Rev. Val Szymanski will offer two calligraphy workshops to guide you in exploring new dimensions in your Zen practice using brush, ink and paper. Learn to focus your energy through the brush as a meditative and creative practice. Pre registration is required for both events to ensure supplies for all who attend. Friday evening: Heart Sutra Writing Shakyo is a traditional Japanese practice of writing the Heart Sutra. There will be a brief introduction followed by 45-60 minutes of writing in either Chinese or English. Shakyo is considered a meditative practice that anyone can do. This evening is open to the entire community, whether or not you can attend Saturday s workshop. Friday, March 30 7:00 9:00 p.m. $30/ $24 (members) Saturday: Exploring Chinese Scripts On Saturday, we will concentrate in-depth on using the brush. We will explore Chinese scripts (like fonts) dating back to the early stone carvings. Our brush work will include examples of Buddhist words from Zen Masters like Bankei, Hakuin, Dogen, and phases that are written in the different scripts. In addition, we will explore interpretive brush writing. Lunch will be provided. Saturday, March 31 9:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. $125/ $100 (members) About Val: Van was ordained December, 2002 and transmitted as a Dharma Heir on June, 2010, by Roshi Diane Martin in the lineage of Zen Master Dainin Katagiri. For the past 10 years she has led Bamboo in the Wind. She is a regular guest Teacher at Jikoji Zen Retreat Center in the Santa Cruz Mountains and has guest taught at several other Zen centers including Tassajara Zen Center. Since 2006 Rev. Val has been leading Writing the Heart Sutra quarterly sessions at EastWest Books in Mountain View. She is a student of the Zen arts, Chinese Calligraphy and ceremonial tea. You can learn more about Val on her website: bamboointhewind.org Youth Practice Program Spring Semester Youth Practice The Six Paramitas: Building Blocks for Spiritual Life This year our students are exploring the six paramitas (virtues or ideals) of Zen Buddhism: Dana (generosity), Kshanti (patience), Virya (effort and perseverance), Shila (moral behavior), Dhyana (meditation), and Prajna (wisdom). In the fall semester we explored Dana, Kshanti and Prajna by using experiential learning opportunities and exploring music, movement, meditation and mindfulness as ways to become more joyfully aware and connected to others. We have wonderful plans to explore Virya, Shila, Dhyana, and Prajna in the Spring, including community events, strengthening our meditation and yoga practices, completing a giant mala for the community, and a service learning project for the entire Sangha (community) to participate in. Parents are welcome to join us for singing from 8:45 to 9:15 a.m. and to sit in on classes at any time. Our teachers are parents in the program who bring their own love, respect, and dedication to children s spiritual education to our program. We would love for your family to join us as we learn to play with the gifts of Buddha s teachings and bring them into our lives to lay the ground work for compassionate action and meaningful relationships. Classes: Nursery (6 months 3 years; newborns by arrangement), Preschool (ages 3, 4 and some 5s), K 1 (kindergarten and grade 1), Early Elementary (grades 2 and 3), Upper Elementary (grades 4, 5 and 6), Middle School (grades 7 9) Winter Session Dates: January 8 and 22, February 5 and 19, March 4 and 18, April 1, 15, and 29, and May 13 Time: 9:00 a.m. 10:35 a.m. Register for winter only* (10 classes) per child Register before January 2: $120/ $96 Register after January 2: $145/ $116 *Only for those who did not register for the entire year in September. 5 Need financial aid? See page 7

6 CENTER-BASED practice Intensive Meditation Week Please join us for a week of. Be able to commit to this sitting schedule for the whole week. Sunday, February 5 Sunday, February 12 $25 (additional registration required for the half-day sesshin with Byakuren on Saturday, February 11) Sun. Feb 5 Mon. Feb 6 Tues. Feb 7 Wed. Feb 8 Thurs. Feb 9 Friday Feb 10 Sat. Feb 11 Sun. Feb 12 6:00-10:35am 6:00-7:45am 6:00-7:45am 6:00-7:45am 6:00-7:45am No morning 6-noon sesshin 6:00-10:35am 7:00-8:30 pm or class 6:30-8:30pm 7:00-8:30 pm or class 6:30-8:30pm 7:00-8:30 pm Sesshin Sesshins are silent intensive meditation retreats. Each day of sesshin typically includes ten 35-minute periods, dokusan (an individual meeting with the teacher), a dharma talk, formal oryoki meals, work practice and service assignments. You are welcome to sleep at the center (sleeping bags on the floor cushions) or commute. The fee for sesshins is $45 per day ($36 per day for members) and payment in full is required at the time of registration. Previous practice is required. Please contact the Ino at ino@cloudsinwater.org with questions, scheduling changes, dietary concerns or to schedule a pre-sesshin interview (required for those doing their first sesshin at Clouds in Water). We also recommend those new to sesshin attend the Introduction to Sesshin. Visitors are welcome to join sesshin participants for any scheduled meditation period, dharma talk or liturgy service. (Visitors do not participate in dokusan and meals.) Donations are welcome. Sesshin Schedule January 21 with Flying Fish Barbara Murphy Half-day retreat from 6 a.m. noon on Saturday. February 11 with Byakuren Judith Ragir Half-day retreat from 6 a.m. noon on Saturday. This retreat is part of the week long intensive. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. February 24-25 with Kyoku Tracey Walen Beginners Mind Sesshin. Details below. March 17 with Kyoku Tracey Walen Half-day retreat from 6 a.m. noon on Saturday. April 19-22 with Sosan Theresa Flynn Three day retreat will start on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. and end at noon on Sunday. Beginner s Mind Sesshin With Kyoku Tracey Walen We have a deep hunger for stillness, for crystal clarity, for wholeness. The Zen sesshin was created to care for this hunger a gift of the ancestors. Beginner s Mind sesshin is a gentle introduction to the profound possibilities of extended meditation in the company of excellent friends. It is well suited for those new to sesshin and those who may not be able to participate in longer retreats. (Experienced practitioners are also welcome and encouraged to attend.) Friday February 24 at 7:00 9:00 p.m. Saturday, February 25 at 6:00 a.m. 9:00 p.m. $75/60 (members) Need financial aid? See page 7

Becoming A Member Becoming a member is making a spiritual and financial commitment to this community. We hope you will consider nurturing and being nurtured by Clouds in Water through membership. To become a member you make an annual pledge which can be paid monthly, quarterly or all at once. The size of the pledge is completely up to you (guidelines are available if you are interested). You can become a member online. Questions? Contact membership@cloudsinwater.org or call Sosan at 651-222-6968, ext. 2. Not ready for membership? You can join as a Supporting Friend. daily meditation You are welcome to come for one sitting or the entire schedule. Please enter or leave the zendo during walking meditation. When you arrive for morning, or any time you find the lobby doors locked, you can enter our space through the back door, located off Broadway Street, through the iron gate and up the stairs. This door enters directly into the zendo. Sunday Morning Meditation Sunday activities are free and open to everyone. You are welcome to participate, whether or not you have practiced meditation previously. The schedule is: 6:00 Meditation period 6:35 Walking meditation 6:45 Meditation period 7:20 Full liturgy (chanting service) 7:50 Light breakfast and short work period 9:00 Meditation period 9:30 Welcome, announcements, opening chant 9:35 Dharma talk 10:35 Tea and conversation in our social hall On the last Sunday of the month, the 6:45 meditation period will be a guided compassion meditation for the community. Weekday Morning Meidation Monday through Thursday 6:00 Sitting 6:35 Walking 6:45 Sitting 7:20 Liturgy (chanting service) 7:35 7:50 Soji (light temple cleaning) Weekday Noontime Meditation Monday through Friday, 12:00 12:30 p.m. registration You can register for classes online using a credit card at cloudsinwater.org. You can also mail your check to Clouds in Water Zen Center, 308 Prince St., Suite 120, Saint Paul, MN 55101, or place it in the dana box at the center. Members, to receive your 20% discount when registering online, please use code member2012. For all events with fees, please register at least one week in advance (unless otherwise noted). Note the name of the event on the memo line of your check. Refund Policy In order to receive credit for any of our events and classes not taken, please tell us of your decision to cancel at least one week in advance of the event. We will then record a credit on your account. If you wish to receive a refund instead of a credit, a processing fee of twenty percent of the cost of the class will be deducted from your refund. No refunds or credits will be given for cancellations received after the deadline of one week prior to the event. If there is a non-refundable deposit for the class, this deposit will not be returned unless the class is cancelled. Option to Set Your Own Price for Class Fees: It is our sincere wish that no one be denied access to the dharma due to inability to pay. If you would have difficulty paying the listed prices, the following options are available for most classes: Payment Plans If you cannot pay the full price all at once, just let us know at the time of registration how you would like to make your payments. Fee Waivers If you cannot pay the full price, let us know what you are willing and able to pay. Work-Study If you cannot pay the full price and would like to donate volunteer time as a way of giving back, that is an option. Just let us know when you register that you would like to volunteer. If you can pay more, please subsidize this option by paying more than the listed fee. Directions to Clouds in Water Clouds in Water is located in the Northern Warehouse, near the Saint Paul Farmers Market. For directions to the center visit our web site or call the office. How to Reach Us Please call us at 651-222-6968 with comments or inquiries. Register for classes on-line at www.cloudsinwater.org or by calling Amy at 651-222-6968 ext.1. Byakuren Judith Ragir Guiding Teacher 651-222-6968, ext. 3 byakuren@cloudsinwater.org Sosan Theresa Flynn Executive Director 651-222-6968, ext. 2 sosan.flynn@cloudsinwater.org Amy Horne Program and Communications Coordinator 651-222-6968, ext. 1 amy.horne@cloudsinwater.org Rachel Sear Youth Practice Program Manager 651-222-6968, ext. 5 rachel.sear@cloudsinwater.org Tim Perry Financial Coordinator 651-222-6968, ext. 4 tim.perry@cloudsinwater.org Kyoku Tracey Walen Ino/Temple Coordinator ino@cloudsinwater.org 7

A Program inmindfulness Offered at Clouds in Water Zen Center by the Compassionate Ocean Dharma Center The Total Dynamic Living Program in Mindfulness follows the Jon Kabat-Zinn (MBSR) model in presenting a thorough, carefully structured introduction to mindfulness practice and its integration into daily life. Incorporating meditation and gentle yoga, the course includes eight weekly 2-1/2 hour classes, a Saturday retreat, an individual interview, a book, CDs, and handouts. Instructor Michael O Neal is a guiding teacher of the Compassionate Ocean Dharma Center and has been teaching meditation for 25 years. He has studied with Dainin Katagiri-roshi and Thich Nhat Hanh, and completed a training for professionals with John Kabat-Zinn. Winter: January 19 - March 8 Spring: March 29 - May 7 Thursdays, 6:30 9 pm Fees: $295 + $35 materials fee Note: To register, call 612-825-7658 Classes are also offered in Minneapolis www.oceandharma.org meditate@oceandharma.org Seeds of Mindfulness Integrating Eastern practices into daily life Introductory Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Jon Kabat-Zinn original research-validated 8-week course Ongoing deepening classes Psychotherapy Retreats Individual Instruction Professional courses for those in education, nursing and mental health fields CEUs for all courses Classes offered October, January, March & June Judith Lies, LMFT 612-343-1623 Heartwood Mindfulness Practice Center 3706 E. 34th St., Minneapolis (N. edge of Longfellow Park) www.seedsofmindfulness.com Thank you to Rebecca Pavlenko for the photos on page 1- center, page 2-4, top of page 5, page 6 and page 7. Clouds in Water Zen Center 308 Prince Street, Suite 120 St. Paul, MN 55101 651-222-6968 Nonprofit Org. U. S. Postage PAID Permit No. 92551 Twin Cities, MN ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Receiving duplicates? Incorrect address? Let us know. Please mail all versions of duplicates, deletions and correct addresses to Clouds in Water. Note desired changes and we ll take care of them. Or, call 651-222-6968 ext. 1 or email info@cloudsinwater.org