“The Way has nothing to do with knowing and not knowing. Knowing is an exaggeration; not knowing is stupidity. When you enter the Way you see it is as vast and boundless as space. What does this have to do with yes-and-no thinking?”
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 26th 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 Myōshin Kate McCandless. and Shinmon Michael Newton with shuso Unmon Jacob Butula.
Our theme will be Koans of Knowing and Not-Knowing: practicing with uncertainty. In these times of great political, social and environmental instability many around the world are living with uncertainty, not knowing if they will have food, shelter, medical care, clean water, or safety from one day to the next. Even those of us who live in a country of relative stability, with enough stability in our own lives that we can take up and maintain a dharma practice live with the uncertainty of what the future holds. How can we make good decisions in the midst of not-knowing? What does it even mean to “know” something?
The old stories and dialogues of the Zen koan literature grapple with the paradox of knowing and not-knowing, and give us clues as to how to navigate through uncertainty in our daily lives. During this practice period we will draw on several koan collections, as well as contemporary perspectives to help us to live with uncertainty without being paralyzed and overwhelmed, to expand our capacity to respond to the ever-changing world around us.
During practice period, the shuso or "head monk" is a long-time practitioner whose role is to support the sangha by offering dharma talks and Wednesday dharma seminars, along with the teachers, meeting for tea with participants, and cleaning washrooms, a traditional practice of humility. This year, we are happy to welcome Unmon Jacob Butula shuso. He will be assisted by benji (attendant) Miles River.
Unmon Jacob’s bio: “After growing up in Vernon BC, I spent my 20s and 30s working and studying across western Canada, before settling into life in the Greater Vancouver area. My Zen interest was piqued at 18 by a Kerouac-carrying beatnik and epee duels. It grew while thrifting Zen books in Kelowna during my philosophy BA. Practice became more than a set of compelling theories when I attended my first 10-day Vipassana retreats in 2007-2008, and became a part of daily life after a series of Rinzai sesshin and a 2.5 month practice period 2010-2014. Soon after my first visit to an inviting ZenYU sit in 2015, I was determined to anchor my practice at Mountain Rain. Since joining MRZC, highlights of my involvement include countless inspiring friends and mentors, Ino-ing a retreat for the first time on two days notice, co-leading ZenYU through the COVID era, 8 months of living at Bright Stream temple, receiving jukai in 2018, four years with MRZC’s board of directors, and ~20 MRZC sesshin (they never cease to amaze).
Beyond the zendo, I am grateful to be working as a clinical supervisor for Fraser Health’s group therapists, slowly improving my rock-climbing practice, and generally appreciating my supportive partner, family, and friends. Amidst the above, I am dedicated to daily morning zazen, knowing in my gut how pivotal it is to navigating the boundless complexities of our era. I look forward to sharing this practice with our community throughout the fall practice period.”
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 which commitments from the list below will best nourish your practice. You can use the registration form below to write your commitments.
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 peer group. (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, a Zen sensibility.)
Family and/or work as practice
Engaged Buddhist practice (service/activism)
Commitment to simplify or restrict personal lifestyle
Specific personal mindfulness practices
Registration
This FORM 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.
During practice period you will receive a weekly newsletter with 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 newsletter. Please send contributions to admin@mountainrainzen.org.
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.
Please note: Registration for retreats and events is separate from the form, and is available on the event page for each event.
Tea with the shuso (links will be live soon)
The shuso traditionally meets with practice period particpants for informal tea and discussion, often in small groups.
Click HERE to sign up for in-person tea.
Click HERE to sign up for virtual tea over Zoom.
Dokusan
Discussion with guiding teachers Shinmon Michael and Myoshin Kate is offered in-person at the zendo, or by phone or online for out-of-town sangha members.
To sign up for online dokusan with Shinmon Michael Newton CLICK HERE
To sign up for online dokusan with Myoshin Kate McCandless CLICK HERE
Recommended Reading:
Will be posted HERE.
Key EVENTS
Wednesday, October 14 7:00-9:00 Practice Period Opening and Shuso Entering Ceremony Wall St. Zendo, Bright Stream Temple and online. Each participant will have an opportunity to share their intentions for the practice period. Everyone welcome.
Saturday-Sunday October 17-18 Practice period opening weekend retreat. Wall St. Zendo, Bright Stream temple and online. For residents and those who are able to commute from home.
November 14 One-day zazenkai Details TBA
December 12-18 Rohatsu Sesshin at Loon Lake and online. Information HERE Please note: during sesshin, Bright Stream Temple will be closed. Wall St. zendo will be open for regular practice times. Sunday morning and Wednesday evening sesshin dharma talks will be live-streamed to Wall St. For those attending online please use the sesshin Zoom link available HERE.
December 20 10:00-12:00 Practice Period Closing Ceremony Wall St. zendo and Bright Stream temple. As part of our regular Sunday morning schedule, practice period participants will be invited to share a reflection, poem, song or visual image that expresses something of their practice period: in this body, in this lifetime. Everyone welcome!
December 20, 1:00- 2:30 PM Holiday Potluck at Wall St. Zendo
Practice Period Peer Groups: We'd like to encourage local and long-distance participants to join a Practice Period Peer Group. This is a small group of two to four people who will meet, in-person, 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 peer group please sign up on the 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 other new people and one of our practice leaders. Sign up for a peer group HERE
Practice Discussion: Practice discussion will be offered by phone or Zoom practice leaders TBA. You can find their contact emails HERE to schedule a time.
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 guiding teachers may be made by e-transfer, or Paypal HERE, or cash or cheques in the dana box are either location.
Dana to practice leaders can be made by e-transfer to email addresses given HERE.
