“We are each other’s harvest;
we are each other’s business;
we are each other’s magnitude and bond.”
The tradition of the intensive practice period goes back to the time of the Buddha when, during the rainy season, the Buddha and his disciples gathered in one place to meditate and study together. As our own rainy season approaches here in the Pacific Northwest, we will hold our 19th annual Mountain Rain practice period.
In Zen monasteries intensive practice periods traditionally last for three months, but ours is shorter, designed to support participants to intensify and strengthen their practice while living in the midst of family and work responsibilities. This year's practice period will be led by Guiding Teachers Myoshin Kate McCandless. and Shinmon Michael Newton.
Our theme this year will be Right Relationship: Healing and nurturing connection. Right relationship is not one of the “spokes” of the Noble Eightfold Path (right understanding, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration), and yet the path itself is one of profound inter-relationship. We’ve lived through many months of pandemic restrictions on face-to-face, embodied relationship. We’re still emerging from relative isolation into uncertain norms. Many of us may be feeling the impact of harsh words, misunderstandings, or differences of view, without the softening effect of tea and snacks, hugs and smiles—the small acts of generosity that communicate care and respect.
During this practice period we’ll look at healing and nurturing relationship at many levels: self/body/mind, family, friends, workplace colleagues, community, the natural world— relationship across differences of race, ethnicity, class, gender/sexuality, religion, ability, species. We’ll draw on various Buddhist and Zen teachings and practices, as well as some for other wisdom traditions.
Wednesday evenings will be dharma seminar format with two 25-minute zazen periods, an informal talk and small-group talking circles.
Sunday mornings will be start at 9:30, rather than 10:00.
9:30 zazen
10:00 kinhin
10:10 zazen
10:40 kinhin
10:50 dharma talk with small group talking circles
11:50 chanting service
12:05 announcements and closing
Thursday evenings we will offer a practice and study group on Right Relationship with Indigenous Peoples facilitated by Kate along with Shinsen Reamick Lo. Please see the Events posting for this group for a detailed description and registration.
Other events offered by practice leaders include a daytime movement and meditation class with Kakuko Kaye Simard on Wednesdays, 11:30-12L30 and a mindful birdwalk at Boundary Bay with Nin-en Susan Elbe, Saturday October 23.
Kate and Michael will lead the opening weekend retreat September 24-26, which will begin on Friday evening with a shuso-entering ceremony. Practice period culminates in our annual Loon Lake six-day residential sesshin, November 13-19. Sesshin follows the ancient rhythms of the monastic daily schedule, including meals with oryoki, the traditional three bowls used by Zen monks. We are planning for both these retreats to be offered in-person, with limited numbers, as well as on Zoom. Please see event listings for any updates due to changing Covid restrictions.
How to Participate
There are no specific requirements for participation, though we encourage you to register (see below). It helps to structure your practice period and affirm your commitment. Various possible components are listed below as suggestions. Please take into consideration your family and work commitments and decide what commitments from the list below will best nourish your practice.
· Home sitting practice
· Practice at the zendo and/or on Zoom
· Dokusan (individual meetings) with Mountain Rain’s teachers and practice discussion with sangha leaders. (See below.)
· Participation in a practice period dyad/triad. (See below.)
· Participation in practice period retreats
· Participation in weekly Wednesday evening dharma seminars
· "Zen Arts" practice (This can be broadly defined as any art/craft practiced with mindful awareness.)
· Family and/or work as practice
· Engaged Buddhist practice (service/activism)
· Commitment to simplify or restrict personal lifestyle
· Specific personal mindfulness practices
Practice Period Dyads/Triads
We'd like to encourage local and long-distance participants to join a Practice Period Dyad/Triad. This is a small group of two or three people who ideally will meet, in-person with due precautions, or by phone or Zoom, at the beginning, mid-point and end of the practice period for discussion and support.. If you would like to join a dyad/triad please sign up on the registration form below. You can form a group with someone you know, or we'd be happy to match you up.
Particularly if you are relatively new to practice we can match you with 1-2 other new people and one of our practice leaders. Please request this on your registration.
Dokusan (discussion with a teacher about your practice) with guiding teachers Shinmon Michael and Myoshin Kate will be offered in-person at the zendo, or by phone or Zoom. If you would like to schedule a phone/Zoom dokusan please contact teachers@mountainrainzen.org and the teacher will contact you to arrange a time.
Practice Discussion
Informal practice discussion will be offered by phone or Zoom practice leaders, who have been shuso for a past practice period. To schedule a practice discussion, please contact the individual practice leader if you already know their email, or contact info@mountainrainzen.org and specify who you would like to contact if you know, or else you will be matched with someone who is available.
Dana: Dana is an ancient Pali word that means generosity. It is an important part of our practice and has many aspects, one of which is supporting teachers so that they can give their time and energy to sharing the dharma with the sangha. Dana is completely voluntary and the amount is up to your discernment, considering your circumstances. Dana to the teachers may be made by e-transfer to teachers@mountainrainzen.org or cheques sent to 29582 Berg Ave, Mission, BC V4S 1B9, or Paypal using the link on the website Teacher Dana page.
Dana to practice leaders can be made by e-transfer to their personal email, or by cheque sent to Mountain Rain Zen Community 2016 Wall St. Vancouver, BC V5L 1B1.
REGISTRATION
The registration form below will help you plan your practice period and clarify your intentions in advance. Anyone is welcome to participate in the events during practice period, but if you register as a participant, it will affirm your overall commitment, and you will receive weekly email updates, resources and suggestions for discussion. Participants are invited to send in reflections, questions, photos, or poems to share with other participants, and we’ll post them in the weekly newsletter.
Practice period is a wonderful way to strengthen and nourish your practice, supported by the sangha. We hope you’ll be able to participate in whatever way is best for you.
CLICK HERE TO OPEN THE REGISTRATION FORM:
2021 Practice Period Registration Form
