One-day sittings and urban retreats

Earth Day Retreat Sunday 26 April 2020: An on-line retreat

Each year AZC joins the global Earth Day celebrations, but this year these celebrations are especially poignant. It is the 50th time that Earth Day has been celebrated - for 50 years citizens all around the world have been lobbying, protesting, creating more sustainable businesses and lives, restoring wild places, protecting endangered species and gathering together every April to mark Earth Day. And yet in those same 50 years there has been massive degradation of the world’s ecosystems and a relentless increase in atmospheric pollution and carbon dioxide levels.

And right now, the world is in the midst of a global pandemic, unlike anything most of us have ever experienced. The nation is in lockdown to try and control the pandemic, the Centre is closed and we are dispersed, physically isolated in our households.

The world, and all her “myriad beings”, are in sore need.

This year we are holding our Earth Day Ceremony as part of a one-day retreat. Our retreat will be on-line and you are invited to join whatever parts of the retreat that will fit your household and nourish your practice. If you are participating in the whole retreat you will need to prepare your own tea ceremony items (teapot, tea cup) and lunch, and plan for your own home-based work or exercise period. You are also invited to make your own Earth Altar for the Earth Day Ceremony.

Schedule:

8:30 a.m. 2 x 35 minutes zazen with kinhin (Mixlr). The first round will include the opening tea ceremony and words from Sensei.

9.50 a.m. Earth Day Ceremony (Zoom)

10:20 a.m. Tea break (with Zoom catch-up -optional)

11:00 a.m. 2 x 35 minutes zazen (Mixlr)

12:15 p.m. Lunch, cleanup, rest

1:00 p.m. Moving meditation: samu, yoga, tai chi or walking meditation.

2:00 p.m. 3 x 35 minutes zazen with kinhin

4:00 p.m. Healing chanting service (Mixlr)

4:15 p.m. End

All the zazen periods will be live streamed on Mixlr (audio only).

The Earth Day Ceremony will be shared via Zoom and there will be time for a Zoom catch-up afterwards with a cup of tea.
To see the Ceremony or join the Zoom catch-up use this link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/876531314. Meeting ID 876-531-314.

Urban retreats (2-4 day sittings, based at the Centre)

2020 Dates:

23 - 26 October 2020

Urban retreats offer a chance to deepen your practice under the guidance of a teacher, with a daily schedule that is suitable for beginners and others for whom sesshin is too demanding. Open to practitioners of all levels. Options are available for part-time participation if space allows.

Note that the urban retreats are non-residential. Participants from out of town need to arrange accommodation. Locals please let us know if you have room for someone to stay.

Typical daily schedule for a 2-day Urban retreat:

Day One:

8:30 a.m.	tea ceremony/ opening talk followed by zazen with dokusan
10:30	morning tea
11:00	zazen / kinhin
12:30	lunch and rest
1:20	zazen with dokusan
3:20	samu or group exercise
4:05	zazen
4:40	chanting service

Day Two:

8:30 a.m.	zazen and teisho
10:30	morning tea
11:00	zazen / kinhin
12:30	lunch and rest
1:20	zazen with dokusan
3:20	samu or group exercise
4:05	zazen
4.40 5:00	chanting service retreat ends

NOTE: Lunch is provided by the Centre. A donation is appreciated.

Suggested dana for 2-day urban retreat at Zen Centre: Casual Participants: $30/day ($60 total); Supporting Members: $25/day ($50 total). Dana information.

Apply here if you wish to take part.

One-day sittings (based at the Centre)

2020 dates:

One-day sittings offer the opportunity to refresh and deepen your practice, or to try out a more extended sitting schedule for the first time. Come for all or part of the day, but please sign up at the zendo or email info@aucklandzen.org.nz if you plan to attend.

Schedule:

8:30	talk / zazen / kinhin /dokusan
10:30	morning tea
11:00	zazen
12:30 p.m.	lunch
1:20	zazen / kinhin /dokusan
3:20	group exercise / samu

4:05	zazen
4:40	chanting

NOTE: Lunch are provided by the Centre. A donation is appreciated. Dana information