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From the Kwan Um School

Hi All,

As some of you know, we use Mailchimp to deliver emails for Chanting Requests, Weekly Teaching Pieces, and News & Events. This is a list people need to sign up for on their own if they want the emails.

We want to be sure everyone gets the information they are interested in. News & Events is the one list that spreads the word about sangha weekends, our yearly fundraiser, inka and transmission recipients, Kyol Che, and other important info about the school as a whole.

We do not directly email members about such news, they have to be subscribed to the email list to receive these.Can you please put something in your local email lists or announcements to direct folks to our website page to sign up for the email list?

We need your help to reach people.Please go to https://americas.kwanumzen.org/contact to sign up for any of these email lists, and be sure to at least pick the News & Events in order to stay up-to-date on the school’s happenings!

Thank you all for the help,

Warmly,

Mary Kay

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Dharma Teacher Weekend at Providence Zen Center!

This past weekend, (10/18 – 10 /20) NLZC had a good turnout for the Dharma Teachers Weekend at PZC. Bill, Darren, Jay and Terry carpooled together. Nancy Hathaway traveled separately and Edie attended via Zoom. Close to 75 students were there from our Zen Centers throughout the country, with a good number more Zooming in. Everyone seemed so happy to see their Dharma friends, new and old, many back for the first time since the pandemic. There was no Dharma Teachers Weekend last year because the Whole World is a Single Flower conference was held in Korea last fall. So, this was the first gathering of Dharma Teachers since 2022, and it sure seemed like it had been eagerly awaited by many. Each day began with 108 prostrations followed by sitting meditation and the opportunity for kong-an interviews with many of the Zen Masters and Ji Do Poep Sas who were present. After breakfast, there was a morning plenary session followed by breakout workshops. Lunch, then more breakout workshops and another plenary session followed. This year’s theme was: Developing Compassion for Self and Other: Transforming Suffering Into Freedom. Plenary Sessions were: Mental Health Plenary: Explorations in Vulnerability and Tolerance; Healthy Boundaries Plenary–Ethical Awareness: Embodying the Role of Dharma Teacher; and, on Sunday, Plenary with Guest Speaker (Joan Hogetsu Hoebereichts, Roshi)–Empowering Sangha. Breakout sessions included: Trauma Informed Meditation Instructions; Giving a Dharma Talk; Women Zen Ancestors; Zen Practice and Meeting Emotional Difficulty; Gender Diversity/Queerness: Creating a Welcoming Sangha; Zen and Climate Change; and, Role Playing Leading a Consulting Interview. Credit belongs to everyone in attendance for creating a safe, nurturing space where these sensitive topics could be explored with deep and sincere personal sharing. The credentials and skill levels of all the presenters were outstanding. And the hard work was fueled by delicious, vegetarian meals. It seems fair to say many didn’t want the weekend to end. If you have further interest or questions about any of the topics, don’t hesitate to talk with any of our Sangha members who attended. More information is also available on the Kwan Um School Website, including the biographies of the presenters and copies of the handouts and articles used in their presentations. See https://americas.kwanumzen.org/dtw-2024

— Terry Cronin, JDPSN

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Precepts and Sangha day at Northern Light!

On the 11th of August we held a Precepts ceremony at Northern Light Zen Center! Jane Harter and Brian Meldrum were taking their 5 Precepts. The ceremony was followed by a Sangha Day Picnic. The weather that day was beautiful, sun shining, blue sky, and green grass. Wonderful!

Taking 5 Precepts is showing an intention to further one’s commitment to Buddhist practice. It joins you to a Sangha, in this case the Northern Light Zen Center of the Kwan Um School of Zen. The 5 Precepts are as follows;

  1. I Vow to abstain from Taking Life.
  2. I Vow to abstain from Taking Things not Given.
  3. I Vow to abstain from False Speech.
  4. I Vow to abstain from Misconduct done in Lust.
  5. I Vowto abstain from Intoxicants taken to induce Heedlessness

Check out our Gallery below. Special Thanks to Tari Rowe for the wonderful photographs!

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Work Day at NLZC – seal coat day!

Friday the 19th we had a work day at Northern Light! The main focus was to sealcoat the driveway but we also planted some shrubs and started on preservative for the new front steps! A very productive day! Check out the pics!

Tari power washing!
Terry and Ken putting sealcoat
Tom power washing
applying preservative
Li and Ken planting Shrubs
More sealcoat with Terry and Ken
Power wash!
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Crack Repair Day(s)!

Friday and Saturday, May 10th and 11th we had a crack crew of sangha members gathered to try to remediate the problem we have been having with flooding every time it rains a lot. Led by our resident expert Peter Kennedy, it was determined that there was a likely crack where the foundation for the house and the dharma room came together. Lo and behold when the hole was dug there was indeed a large crack. Our illustrious team (led by our crack leader, Mr. Kennedy) widened out the crack, and then on the next day it was plugged with a mortar and new waterproofing put on. And finally, the hole was refilled. We are hopeful that this will cure our water problem. Time and the rains this fall will tell. Peter and Darren Brown also checked out the flashing on our chimney as there has been a little leakage from there as well. Check out the pics!

Peter Kennedy, Jay Seiler
Darren Brown and Peter Kennedy
The major crack! Holy Cow!
Peter observing the work.
Yet another Crack Picture!
Going up to check the flashing.
Time for a little lunch.
The work from a distance
Lunching on the deck.
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Precepts and Buddha’s Birthday at Providence Zen Center!

A group of zennies from Northern Light went to Providence Zen Center in RI to represent! Two of our sangha members were getting their long robes as Dharma Teachers. Ron Turcotte and Darren Brown. It was a great day! The first ceremony of the day was Buddha’s Birthday. Ours is one of many zen traditions that celebrate this in April. We do it at the end of our 90-day winter retreat, Kyol Che. Then after lunch at 3 o’clock the precepts ceremony was held. There were a number of 5 preceptees and some Dharma Teachers in Training and then, of course, our own Ron and Darren getting the long robes and bowls in confirmation of becoming Dharma Teachers! It was a good day. Check out the gallery below.

Buddha’s Birthday!
Precepts Ceremony!
Lunch!
Dharma Teachers meeting.
The NLZC group representing!
Ron getting his bowls
Lunch!
Dharma teachers and Dharma teachers in training.
Ron getting his bowls
Tari and Darren.
Dharma teachers and Dharma teachers in training.
Dharma teachers and Dharma teachers in training.
Dharma teachers and Dharma teachers in training.
More Dharma teachers and Dharma teachers in training.
and More Dharma teachers and Dharma teachers in training.
Darren getting his bowls
Darren getting his bowls
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We held a One Day Retreat on March 30th

Northern Light held a one day retreat on the 30th! It was a good day. It’s always funny how the day seems to go by quickly. Even though we are all just sitting. And it never feels like a wasted day. This is good practice. Practice hard, wake up, save all beings.

L – R J. Seiler, L Hammer, B. Robitzek, P. Kennedy, J. Worth, E. Clemente – Not pictured R. Turcotte, J. Thorsson
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Congregation Crawl

This photo is from the Bowdoin Congregation Crawl that Northern Light did with the Rachel Lord Center for Spiritual and Religious Life. As part of this Students learn about different Faith Traditions. In this instance Zen Buddhism. This took place in November at NLZC.

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New Front Steps going into Northern Light Zen Center!

Our old cement front steps have become deteriorated and unsafe. We decided we needed to replace them as soon as we could. One of our members, Peter Kennedy, volunteered to get things done! That’s kind of his bag. He is pictured above with Terry Cronin, JDPSN using a jackhammer to break the steps up. The steps will be replaced with a wooden deck.

This coming Wednesday, please enter the zen center for practice from the back entrance behind the Dharma Room.

The Finished Steps! Awesome.

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Northern Light Zen Center Precepts Ceremony.

5 Preceptees at Northern Light.

L – R Robert Correa, Terry Cronin JDPSN, Adam Pereira, Patricia Miller.

Northern Light held a precepts ceremony on July 22nd. We welcomed three preceptees into the Kwan Um tradition at Northern Light! The three people taking 5 precepts were Robert Correa, Adam Pereira, and Patricia Miller. All three have been members of our sangha for some time. Welcome! After the ceremony we had a sangha picnic. It was a great day.