“When your mind is deluded, you are turned by the dharma blossoms. When your mind is enlightened, you turn the dharma blossoms. When you thoroughly experience this, it is dharma blossoms turning dharma blossoms. ”
Dogen Zenji brought Soto Zen practice from China to Japan in the thirteenth century. His writings have come to be known world-wide for their poetic and paradoxical language, and penetrating depth.
In Japanese a gathering to study Dogen's writing is called a Genzo-e. Our annual Dogen weekend retreat has grown into a five-week practice intensive. Studying Dogen together we can widen and deepen our perspectives on practice.
Dogen often used the imagery of flowers in his writing to express the bursting forth of life, awakening, a moment of being-time, ephemeral beauty. During this Genzo-e we will read and practice with some of Dogen’s texts that feature blossoms: Dharma Blossoms Turn Dharma Blossoms, Flowers in the Sky, Plum Blossoms, Udumbara Blossom. We will draw on sections from each of these texts, and have copies available, but if you would like to read in advance an online translation by Kazuaki Tanahashi can be found HERE.
Wednesday evenings will consist of two 25-min. zazen periods, and informal talk, followed by reflection questions and talking circles, and sometimes writing exercises. Please feel free to bring a notebook and pen.
Sunday mornings will consist of two 30-min. zazen periods, a dharma talk, and chanting service.
To sign up for a practice intensive peer group, of 2-4 people who will meet twice during the five-weeks, click HERE. You can indicate someone you would like to form a group with or we can match you with 1-3 others.
