Service

“Do not worry in the least about yourself, leave all worry to God,” this appears to be the commandment in all religions. This need not frighten any one. He who devotes himself to service with a clear conscience will day by day grasp the necessity for it in greater measure, and will continually grow richer in faith. (…) Consciously or unconsciously, every one of us does render some service or other. If we cultivate this service deliberately, our desire for service will steadily grow stronger, and will make not only for our own happiness but that of the world at large. —Mahatma Gandhi

“Do not worry in the least about yourself, put all your trust in Buddha Nature” (in the breath, in Mu, in What?) – the core teachings in all the great religions are pointing us toward this – to relinquish self-concern and to practice true and unconditional love. Love, and its active form, selfless service, are the substance of the universe. We are each and every one of us supported by and a supporter of everything we think of as Other, whether we know it or not. To begin to cultivate love and service deliberately, even in very modest ways, is to change our relationship to the world. Slowly our circle of love will expand. As long as we try our very best, there can be no question of failure, even as we fall down over and over again. May this Christmas period be a time to appreciate each other and affirm our interconnectedness, beyond all the commercial hype, and in the New Year may we rededicate ourselves to serving all sentient beings.

In the Dharma,

Sensei

Buddha’s Enlightenment Ceremony

Celebrated on or near December 8, this ceremony commemorates “the reopening of the Way” by Shakyamuni, the Buddha of our world cycle. The story of the Buddha's Great Enlightenment is told, and passages from the sutras are read aloud as everyone chants a mantra in homage to Shakyamuni. Following the ceremony a special dessert of sweetened rice-milk is served; the first nourishment that the Buddha took to gain strength after his period of extreme ascetic practice and before accomplishing anuttara samyak sambodhi.

The ceremony will be held next Tuesday, 5 December (which also happens to be full moon), following zazen. No dokusan will be offered that evening.

Oxfam Trailwalker - Lake Taupo, April 14-15 2007

Next Sunday, 10 December, after teisho there will be a meeting at the zendo for anyone interested in participating in Oxfam Trailwalker NZ, a 100k walk around Lake Taupo in mid April next year.

We already have 2 teams of four ready to represent the Auckland Zen Centre - one men's team and one women's – but could use a backup or two if anyone has to withdraw before the event. Also, we need to confirm the support crew, and would like to hear from anybody who can offer advice or help of any kind with fundraising. This is going to take a team effort, so the more the merrier.

If you’d like to learn more go to www.oxfamtrailwalker.org.nz, or contact the coordinator, Ralph Behrens, at work 09 361 1088 or 027 292 7450, or e-mail him at raewulf@yahoo.com.


Sittings in December and January

• The regular sitting schedule continues through Tuesday 19 December.
• NO sittings at Pah Road 20 December to 15 January, except on New Year’s Eve (see below).
• Although sittings at Pah Road will be suspended, the sesshin teisho block, starting at 9:30 a.m. from Saturday 6 to Friday 12 January, is open to visitors. (Be at main door of the Friary by 9:20 – the Friary is at 50 Hillsborough Road, Mt. Roskill).
• The regular sitting schedule resumes Tuesday 16 January with the usual zazen and dokusan, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
  
  

Giving that Counts this Christmas

“Oxfam Unwrapped” offers a great way to give a meaningful gift to yourself or to someone else that also helps out those in most need. Gifts range in price from $10 (nutritional meals for 50 kids or a box of condoms to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS) to $1440 (one year’s education for a whole class). See www.oxfamunwrapped.org.nz or call 0 800 400 666 to order.


New Year’s Eve

If you’d enjoy a mindful and refreshing entry into 2007 then join the Sangha for traditional New Year’s Eve celebrations at the Zen Centre from 8:00 p.m. to approx 12:30 a.m. on Sunday 31 December.

The evening begins at 8 p.m. with two rounds of zazen, followed by a Repentance Ceremony (to lay to rest any defiling deeds from the past year that weigh heavily on the mind). After a break, there is more zazen, starting at about 10 p.m. (you can join in at this point if you wish), and just before midnight a circumambulation of the Zen Centre’s rooms with chanting and noise-making to chase out any lingering negative energies. The first act of the New Year, held at the stroke of midnight, is Jukai (Taking the Precepts*), followed by a candle-lighting ceremony and special New Year wishes for the well-being of the world. We conclude the night with refreshments – please bring some festive vegetarian food to share – and a firework or two (weather permitting).

*Jukai is offered two or three times a year as a way of renewing one’s commitment to the Buddha Way. The 16 precepts which are taken in Jukai can be read on the website, and there are a number of teisho recordings on them available from the zendo library. Roshi Robert Aitken has also written an excellent book about the precepts from a Zen perspective called Mind of Clover.


7-Day Sesshin in January

The Centre’s summer 7-day sesshin will be held 5-12 January at the Franciscan Friary. Please put in your application as soon as possible, and no later than 20 December. If you have not been to sesshin before you may apply to attend the first two or four days.

See the website for general information about sesshin, and if you have any questions, bring them up with Sensei in dokusan.

The cost for sesshin is $55 a day for members and $60 a day for non-members, plus dana for Sensei.

Thank You

Thank you to Ken McLeod for regularly vacuuming the Centre and attending to altar cleaning and to Andrew Kincaid for agreeing to be the Centre’s Treasurer.


Library

Thanks to the work of the Centre’s volunteer librarian, Ann Duncan, the library is now up and running and books may be signed out by members.


Donations Box

Since the Centre became a charitable trust, envelopes have been available next to the donations box for anyone who would like us to keep track of their donations of $5 or more for tax purposes. If you do not need us to keep track of your dana, there is no need to use an envelope.


Lost and Found

Lost: If you borrowed the DVD Doing Time, Doing Vipassana please return it.

Found: Dark navy men’s winter jacket, Now brand, size L.


Dates for 2007

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5-12 January	Summer 7-Day Sesshin at Friary (deadline for applications 20 December)
16 January	Regular sitting Schedule resumes
6 February	Ceremony of Gratitude (in conjunction with Waitangi Day)
10 February	Workshop
2-4 March	2-Day Sesshin at 100 Pah Road (participants sleep at home)
31 March	Workshop
5-9 April	Easter 4-Day Sesshin at Friary
6 May	All-Day Sitting
12 May	Workshop
20 May	Vesak
22-29 June	Winter 7-Day Sesshin at Aio Wira
16 June	Workshop&Matariki Jukai
3 July	Winter Term Intensive Opening Ceremony
22 July	All-Day Sitting
28 July	Workshop
8-12 August	Winter 4-Day Sesshin at Friary
14 August	Winter Term Intensive Closing Ceremony
1 September	All-Day Sitting
8 September	Workshop
25 September	Bodhidharma Day
October–mid November	Ango & short sesshin at Chapin Mill, USA, (to be confirmed)
23-25 November	Spring 2-Day Sesshin at Friary
1 December	Workshop
4 December	Buddha’s Enlightenment Ceremony
31 December	New Year’s Eve Ceremonies
4-11 January, 2008	Summer 7-Day Sesshin at Friary