The Melbourne Zen Group is based in Brunswick East, Melbourne, Australia. Our meditation meetings, retreats and workshops are open to both members and non-members.
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Zazenkai Weekend with Susan Murphy Roshi
2– 3 March 2019
9:00am – 4:30pm each day
Reservoir Scout Hall: 73–77 Leamington St, Reservoir
‘Attention, attention, attention’.
That’s how Ikkyu responded to the question ‘What is Zen?’ And when he was asked, ‘Then what is attention?’ no-one got past him even for a minute.
‘It’s attention’, he resolutely explained.
Zen is attention, over and over. ‘It’ – embracing the wholeness of what and who is here – is not only discovered in the act of sustained attention; we find that it endlessly flows as wide, whole-bodied attention. The wisdom of such honed attention undivided by self-consciousness – prajna – is what clarifies mind and heart, transforming anguish and distress.
If it’s next to impossible to perfectly sustain such attention – hence, ‘Attention, attention, attention’ – it’s perfectly possible to grow more and more skilled in noticing and abandoning the many ways we stray from it.
And besides, ‘impossible’ things are what interest people of the Way as exactly the place to begin – just look at our Great Vows!
On day one, a deep look at the inside of this state of attention; and then on day two, let’s all explore how a less distracted and disorderly consciousness can stand up and be of some use, in this deeply troubled world.
Download application form here: doc
Download application form here: pdf
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Full Moon Zazenkai
Friday 18 January, 7pm to 10pm
Full moon zazenkai incorporates a ritual contemplation of the Buddhist precepts
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January Zazenkai Dharma Talk
“Thump!” interrupts Renge Ho, the old hermit of Lotus Peak.The story goes: One day Renge Ho came before the assembly. He thumped his staff. It was a staff with rings that jangled and rang. He asked, “When the ancient ones reached this place, why didn’t they stay here?” No one could answer. So he replied to his own question. “It has no power for the Way.” (Case 25 of the Blue Cliff Record)”Thump!” Renge Ho calls us today, to play, to dive into the liveliness. It is not enough to sit in bliss. We also cannot follow the precepts, read the sutras, and expect to fulfil the path. The ancient ones were artists, not historians. As a sangha, and as practitioners, the old hermit challenges us to something new. We are responsible to find the power for the Way.Kirk will be offering this talk and dokusan on Saturday, the 26th of January. The talk is at 12 noon.
