Contents:
Light in Darkness
Matariki Jukai
Auckland Zen Centre Now a Trust
Sunday Dokusan
Monday University Sitting
All-Day Sitting on Sunday 2nd July
Ordering Mats and Cushions
Security at the Zendo
Coming up in July and August: Term Intensive
Women in Buddhism Course
Seven-Day Sesshin

Light in Darkness

Dear Sangha,

This time of year can be difficult for many people, even in our relatively mild climate. The lack of light can negatively affect our mood, as can the cold, the rain, and the wind. Deep down we may doubt that things will get better, even as our rational mind knows that winter does pass. Why is it that we find it so hard to see this truth and live by it? Perhaps it has to do with what comes along with it – the knowledge that spring also passes, and so does summer, and so do we. Practice helps us to open our eyes to this iron-clad Law that makes everything possible.

Sensei

Matariki Jukai

Jukai, the Mahayana Taking-the-Precepts Ceremony, will be offered this Saturday, 24 June, at 6 p.m. The zendo will be open from 5 o’clock for informal zazen, and participants are also welcome to come to a dinner afterwards at the International Food Court, on the corner of Pollen Street and Ponsonby Road (upstairs) – this is a very reasonably-priced eatery with good food and lots of choice.

There is an opportunity to offer dana to Sensei at the beginning of the Jukai. Unlike the usual dana given at a sitting, which goes to administration of the AZC, this offering is to Sensei personally, as an expression of gratitude for receiving the teachings. Envelopes will be available outside the zendo; put your donation in one and keep it with you. Copies of Sensei’s teisho from Sunday, which describes and explains the Jukai ceremony, will be available at the zendo tonight and on Thursday. The precepts themselves are also on the Centre’s website, www.aucklandzen.org.nz.

Auckland Zen Centre Now a Charitable Trust

At Vesak the Auckland Zen Centre finally became a legal entity. The initial Trustees, serving 4-year terms, are Richard von Sturmer, Teresa Behrens, Peter Carafice and Bruce Christian. The Board meets this week for the first time.

Sunday Dokusan

As this Sunday is the last of the month, Sensei will offer dokusan for those who have trouble coming during the week.

Monday University Sitting

Sittings at AUT (WJ302) are suspended for the holidays and will resume on Monday 17 July at the start of Semester Two. There are three 25-minute rounds with kinhin. The rounds begin at 4:30, 5:00 and 5:30.

July All-Day Sitting

There will be an all-day sitting on Sunday 2 July, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. All-day sittings are a good way to deepen your practice and prepare for sesshin. If you plan to attend, please sign up at the zendo or e-mail aucklandzen@yahoo.com.au to reserve a place. It is OK to come for part of the day or to just the usual Sunday slot from 8:30 to 10:30 (though if we fill up, preference is given to people doing the whole day). BYO breakfast and lunch (microwave available). Tea is provided. Koha is requested, $30 suggested for a full day.

Ordering Mats and Cushions from “Dharmagear”

Teresa Behrens has taken over from Sensei the making of mats and cushions for zazen. Order forms are available at the zendo, or you can e-mail her at chalice@infogen.net.nz.

Security at the Zendo

We are now locking the front door during sittings because of some concerns about security at 100 Pah Road (the caretaker at the Wananga had his keys, and car, stolen, and a prowler came in during the recent extended sitting). On Tuesdays the door is locked after the han is played (7 o’clock sharp); on Thursdays, in recognition of the difficulty people sometimes have with rush-hour traffic, it’s locked half way through the first round (about 6 o’clock); on Sundays after the han (8:30 a.m.) If you are late, try knocking loudly.

Coming up in July and August: Term Intensive

A Term Intensive is a practice period designed especially for people living busy lay lives. Our first TI will run from 4 July to 1 August, and will provide extra opportunities to sit and to discuss practice issues. Essentially, participation in a TI involves making a pledge to intensify one’s practice for a limited period (in this case just over a month) in specific ways – it could be a commitment to sit or chant a certain amount each day, to work on a particular unskilful habit, to do some Sutra study – or some combination of these. Because it is undertaken for a limited period, and with the support of others, it is a chance to stretch in ways that we might not otherwise dare to attempt, and an opportunity to discover what we are really capable of. Details of how it works, plus a pledge form, will be sent out shortly, and posted on the website.

Women in Buddhism Course

Sensei will again offer “Women in Buddhism,” through Auckland University’s Centre for Continuing Education, in six 2-hour Wednesday evening sessions, starting on 26 July. The course will cover both teachings and history, and there’ll be discussions and a practice element at each session. For more information go to www.cce.auckland.ac.nz and look under Course Programme for 2006, Philosophy and Religion.

Seven-Day Sesshin

Until the Sangha gets bigger there are only two chances each year to do a 7-day sesshin in Auckland, and one of those is approaching fast. August sesshin will be at Aiowira, a beautiful and quiet spot in the Waitakeres, surrounded by bush. The dates are 4-11 August, and sesshin applications should be in by 28 July at the latest. If you have not been to sesshin before it is possible to apply for just the first two or four days.