WEEK OF DECEMBER 30, 2012 - JANUARY 5, 2013

Schedule of Events

SUNDAY:     
10:00 AM Dokusan (as arranged)
10:30 AM Meditation & Dharma Service
 

WEDNESDAY:

(no meditation this week)

 
FRIDAY:   

No Class this week. For the next class, please visit www.lotustemple.us/classsignup.html for details.

  

Sangha Announcements & News

Zen Studies
It is very important to understand that Zen is not just meditation per se, but rather a process of uncovering unconscious habits, patterns and ways of seeing our life. This is extremely difficult to accomplish without a teacher, as the teacher helps us to explore what we normally are not aware of. For opportunities, including the study of Koans, please visit www.lotusblossom.us/zentraining.htm

Classes

Classes on Zen Buddhist and meditation topics will be scheduled throughout the new year on the last Friday of every month.

Winter Zen Retreat 

Once again, we will hold our winter retreat. This year, it is scheduled for Sunday, January 20, 2013  –  9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. For details and registration, please go to www.lotustemple.us/nextretreat.html 

Announcements by Sangha Members

(If you would like to post something here, please contact the editor@lotustemple.us)

Wedding

Fa Jiàn and Yin Jiàn will get married on December 31. (This is the fifth wedding at LZT this year!) -- All Sangha members are invited to the reception. For details please visit www.joanandmichael.webs.com -- We are a "shoeless" house, so feel free to bring slippers! If you play an instrument, feel free to bring that as well. 

 

Lotus Blossom Healing Arts

Offering Reiki treatments. For details, please visit www.HealingArtsCenter.us --  Treatments are free to Sangha members.

WEEK OF DECEMBER 23 TO DECEMBER 29, 2012

Schedule of Events

SUNDAY:     
10:00 AM Dokusan (as arranged)
10:30 AM Meditation & Dharma Service.
 

WEDNESDAY:

(no meditation this week)

 
FRIDAY:   

6:00 PM Class: Kindness, Compassion and Love. Details: www.lotustemple.us/classsignup.html

  

Sangha Announcements & News

Zen Studies
It is very important to understand that Zen is not just meditation per se, but rather a process of uncovering unconscious habits, patterns and ways of seeing our life. This is extremely difficult to accomplish without a teacher, as the teacher helps us to explore what we normally are not aware of. For opportunities, including the study of Koans, please visit www.lotusblossom.us/zentraining.htm

Upcoming Class 

December 28, 2012: Kindness, Compassion and Love
These terms are as confused as they are often misunderstood. In this class, we will explore those differences and show examples from daily life in sharing experiences of our spiritual practice. Please enroll at the web page http://www.lotustemple.us/classsignup.html

Winter Zen Retreat 

Once again, we will hold our winter retreat. This year, it is scheduled for Sunday, January 20, 2013  –  9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. For details and registration, please go to www.lotustemple.us/nextretreat.html 

Announcements by Sangha Members

(If you would like to post something here, please contact the editor@lotustemple.us)

Wedding

Fa Jiàn and Yin Jiàn will get married on December 31. (This is the fifth wedding at LZT this year!) -- All Sangha members are invited to the reception. For details please visit www.joanandmichael.webs.com

Lotus Blossom Healing Arts

Offering Reiki treatments. For details, please visit www.HealingArtsCenter.us --  Treatments are free to Sangha members.

WEEK OF DECEMBER 16 TO DECEMBER 22, 2012

Schedule of Events

SUNDAY:     
10:00 AM Dokusan (as arranged)
10:30 AM Meditation & Dharma Service.
 

WEDNESDAY:

5:30 PM Meditation & Dharma Service. 

 
FRIDAY:   

For the next class, please visit www.lotustemple.us/classsignup.html

  

Sangha Announcements & News

Zen Studies
It is very important to understand that Zen is not just meditation per se, but rather a process of uncovering unconscious habits, patterns and ways of seeing our life. This is extremely difficult to accomplish without a teacher, as the teacher helps us to explore what we normally are not aware of. For opportunities, including the study of Koans, please visit www.lotusblossom.us/zentraining.htm

Upcoming Class 

December 28, 2012: Kindness, Compassion and Love
These terms are as confused as they are often misunderstood. In this class, we will explore those differences and show examples from daily life in sharing experiences of our spiritual practice. Please enroll at the web page http://www.lotustemple.us/classsignup.html

Winter Zen Retreat 

Once again, we will hold our winter retreat. This year, it is scheduled for Sunday, January 20, 2013  –  9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. For details and registration, please go to www.lotustemple.us/nextretreat.html 

Announcements by Sangha Members

(If you would like to post something here, please contact the editor@lotustemple.us)

Upcoming Wedding

Fa Jiàn and Yin Jiàn were engaged on December 8. They will get married on December 31. This is the fifth wedding at LZT this year! -- All Sangha members are invited to the reception. For details please visit www.joanandmichael.webs.com

Lotus Blossom Healing Arts

Now offering Reiki treatments. For details, please visit www.HealingArtsCenter.us or write to info@healingartscenter.us. It is currently free for Sangha members.

WEEK OF DECEMBER 9 TO DECEMBER 15, 2012

Schedule of Events

SUNDAY:     
10:00 AM Dokusan (as arranged)
10:30 AM Meditation & Feastday Dharma Service. Followed by potluck.
 

WEDNESDAY:

5:30 PM Meditation & Dharma Service. 

 
FRIDAY:   

For the next class, please visit www.lotustemple.us/classsignup.html

  

Sangha Announcements & News

Bodhi Day

Traditionally the 8th day of the 12th lunar month has been observed on December 8th in Japan since the Meiji Restoration (1862-1869). It is the Buddhist holiday that commemorates the day that the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama Shakyamuni, experienced enlightenment (Bodhi). According to tradition, Siddhartha had forsaken years of extreme ascetic practices and resolved to sit under a Pipul tree and simply meditated until he found the root of suffering, as well as how to liberate oneself from it. 
Celebration: We light candles (or electric lights) in our homes and in a special arrangement at the temple. At the end of meditation practice we gather for a seasonal party with food and cookies. Since Bodhi Day falls close to this Sunday (December 9), we celebrate it during Sunday meditation with a special Dharma Service, followed by pot-luck.

Survey
If you have not done so already, please take a moment to participate in our most recent survey. The Temple Council during its last meeting has discussed to possibly move Meditation & Dharma Service from Sunday morning to Saturday morning. We appreciate your honest feed-back as we try to address community and Lotus Sangha member needs. Kindly take a moment to check all that applies. This is an anonymous survey, but you will be able to see the overall results when the poll ends. In order to vote, please visit the following web page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LZT/surveys?id=3121809 The Survey closes December 15.

Upcoming Class 

December 28, 2012: Kindness, Compassion and Love
These terms are as confused as they are often misunderstood. In this class, we will explore those differences and show examples from daily life in sharing experiences of our spiritual practice. Please enroll at the web page http://www.lotustemple.us/classsignup.html
 

Winter Zen Retreat 

Once again, we will hold our winter retreat. This year, it is scheduled for Sunday, January 20, 2013  –  9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. For details and registration, please go to www.lotustemple.us/nextretreat.html 

Announcements by Sangha Members

(If you would like to post something here, please contact the editor@lotustemple.us)

Engagement 

Fa Jiàn and Yin Jiàn were engaged on December 8. They will get married on December 31. All Sangha members are invited to the reception. For details please visit www.joanandmichael.webs.com

Lotus Blossom Healing Arts

Now offering Reiki treatments. For details, please visit www.HealingArtsCenter.us or write to info@healingartscenter.us. It is currently free for Sangha members.

WEEK OF DECEMBER 2 TO DECEMBER 8, 2012

Schedule of Events

SUNDAY:     
10:00 AM Dokusan (as arranged)
10:30 AM Meditation & Dharma Service.
 

WEDNESDAY:

5:30 PM Meditation & Dharma Service. 

 
FRIDAY:   

For the next class, please visit www.lotustemple.us/classsignup.html

  

Sangha Announcements & News

Bodhi Day

Traditionally the 8th day of the 12th lunar month has been observed on December 8th in Japan since the Meiji Restoration (1862-1869). It is the Buddhist holiday that commemorates the day that the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama Shakyamuni, experienced enlightenment (Bodhi). According to tradition, Siddhartha had recently forsaken years of extreme ascetic practices and resolved to sit under a Pipul tree and simply meditated until he found the root of suffering, as well as how to liberate oneself from it. 
Celebration: We light candles (or electric lights) in our homes and in a special arrangement at the temple. At the end of meditation practice we gather for a seasonal party with food and cookies. Since Bodhi Day falls close to next Sunday (December 9) this year, we celebrate it during Sunday meditation with a special Dharma Service, followed by pot-luck.

Survey
If you have not done so already, please take a moment to participate in our most recent survey. The Temple Council during its last meeting has discussed to possibly move Meditation & Dharma Service from Sunday morning to Saturday morning. We appreciate your honest feed-back as we try to address community and Lotus Sangha member needs. Kindly take a moment to check all that applies. This is an anonymous survey, but you will be able to see the overall results when the poll ends. In order to vote, please visit the following web page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LZT/surveys?id=3121809 

Upcoming Class

December 28, 2012: Kindness, Compassion and Love
These terms are as confused as they are often misunderstood. In this class, we will explore those differences and show examples from daily life in sharing experiences of our spiritual practice.
Please enroll at our website: http://www.lotustemple.us/classsignup.html

New Year's Eve Retreat

Some prefer a different New Year’s Eve experience, less trivial, less partying and yet having fun. Others aren't bothered by alcohol abuse and shallow party talk. Yet others rather not do anything special. To many, of whatever spiritual path, the last hours of the old and the new hours of the coming year present sober reflection and a call for meaningful activity.
Lotus Zen Temple invites you to spend the last hours of the year in mindfulness and enter the New Year enjoying good company. We begin meditation at 8 p.m., with a program of special walking meditation, interactive Dharma talks, humorous Zen stories, easy Koans, some chanting, sharing and tea time. We ring the temple bell 107 times right before midnight and one time on New Year's day itself, just past midnight (all eastern time zone).  --  Then we immediately join in social time with food & beverages, pot-luck style. If you are interested, please let us know as soon as you make plans. Bringing a friend, spouse or relative is always a good idea. Please go to www.lotustemple.us/nextretreat.html

Announcements by Sangha Members

(If you would like to post something here, please contact the editor@lotustemple.us)

Lotus Blossom Healing Arts

Now offering Reiki treatments. For details, please visit www.HealingArtsCenter.us or write to info@healingartscenter.us. It is currently free for Sangha members.