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WELCOME TO THE SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER
May this find you well. We hope you had a wonderful summer. We are preparing for a rich year of trainings, programs and retreats, beginning on September 2 with two Buddhist CPE groups. On September 11, our new "Foundations Class" will convene.
In this newsletter you will find a Dharma Talk by Chodo, listings of the many offerings of public programs, talks, and conferences coming up. In the middle of this month, we begin our weekly gatherings of the NYZCCC Sangha. We are looking forward to practicing together with new and old friends. All are welcome.
Currently, the media is filled with the national conversation about health care. In a modest way, this month we will be joining in. Joshua Moses, member of the Center’s Board of Trustees, will deliver a paper highlighting the Center’s work in the context of American health care at Yale University. That same weekend, we will be presenting our work at the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s Clinical Team Conference, in Denver. We look forward to sharing the news from both of these events in the next newsletter.
Three bows to our supporters this month. Many have use the the recurring donation option on our web site, which allows you to make an automatic set donation each month. Please consider taking the opportunity to make a monthly donation. Your help allows us to help those in need.
In the Dharma,
Koshin + Chodo
Co-Founders
Roshi Enkyo Empowers Koshin as Senior Priest
On August 5, in an intimate ceremony, Roshi Enkyo empowered Koshin as Osho (Senior Priest). It was a ceremony of recognition of the service work that Koshin does.
Two CPE Students Deepen Their Practice
On Sunday, August 9, after a week of intensive study, in a Jukai ceremony, Roshi Enkyo gave two of our Buddhist CPE students Laura Davis Foley (Toshi) and Mel Sebastiani (Zesho) lay ordination. During the ceremony, Toshi and Zesho took refuge, and affirmed their commitment to the Bodhisattva Precepts and received their new Dharma names. Three bows to them as they deepen their commitment to both their practice and the path of caregiving.
Chodo Joins the Teaching Faculty at Beth Israel
On September 3, Chodo joined the Core Faculty of the Hospice and Palliative Medicine Department at Beth Israel Medical Center. He will be presenting didactics through the year to the Fellows in Hospice and Palliative Medicine.
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UPCOMING SEPTEMBER EVENTS
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Koshin Talks on the 8 Awarenesses
 On September 10, Koshin will give a Dharma Talk, at Village Zendo, on an aspect of the 8 Awarenesses. For more information, go here: http://www.zencare.org/upcoming/2009/090910.html
Weekly Practice of the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care Sangha
Beginning Monday, September 14, the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care Sangha will be meeting every Monday evening, from 6 to 7:30 pm for meditation, Dharma talks, council and conversation. The group will be led by Koshin and Chodo and invited guests. All are welcome. We will be meeting every week at OM yoga 826 Broadways (at 12th Street) on the 6th Floor. For more info, go here.
September 15 Application Deadline for Foundations in Contemplative Care Training For Certified Yoga Teachers
New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care and OM yoga, are collaborating to create a year of rich training in Contemplative Care for Certified Yoga Teachers. This innovative new program is designed for yoga teachers who are inspired to integrate contemplative care with their yoga teaching skills in order to deepen their own spiritual practice and their understanding of care based in Buddhist traditions. The students will offer their expertise in hospice, hospitals, and other health institutions. For more information and the application, go to: http://www.zencare.org/chaplaincy/yoga/index.html
On September 24, the Center’s Co-Founders will deliver a talk on our model of Contemplative Care at the NHPCO’s 10th Clinical Team Conference in Denver.
The 10th Clinical Team Conference and related educational offerings will provide an opportunity for hospice and palliative care providers and professionals to learn about programs and professionals who are “soaring to new heights” in exceptional care, innovative service, increased access, community engagement, quality assessment, performance improvement, interdisciplinary team function and related areas of excellence.
To find out more information about the conference, go to: http://www.zencare.org/upcoming/2009/090922-26.html
On Saturday, September 26, NYZCCC Board of Trustees member, Joshua Moses, will deliver his paper on Contemplative Care at Yale University.
His paper is a part of the larger conference, sponsored by the Society for Medical Anthropology: Medical Anthropology at the Intersections: Celebrating 50 Years of Interdisciplinarity at Yale University. Joshua will be delivering his paper entitled, Buddhism, Science and (Re)Enchantment in American Health Care. For more information about the conference, go to: http://www.yale.edu/macmillan/smaconference
Robert Chodo Campbell, On Paying Attention
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Here or there?
This dewdrop world
is a dewdrop world—
and yet—
and yet
—Issa (1763-1828)
As I return to New York City after our Summer Ango retreat in Cornwall-on-Hudson I notice the stark difference in the sounds—the police sirens, sanitation trucks, and fire engines. The multitudes traveling the subway system, or walking the city streets. In the sleepy village of Cornwall as we sat zazen, we heard the hawks, the cardinals and crickets. At night the sounds of the cicadas and insects serenaded us. Or, as one ancient Chinese poet noted, the sound of all the sutras were being recited at the same time.
To read the full talk, go here
A Beautiful Closure for this Volunteer by Tara Moon, NYZCCC Foundations Graduate
I was a contemplative care volunteer at a hospice near Boston when a family brought in their father, Gary. While he was wasting away with Lou Gehrig’s Disease, he still had that life-enhancing twinkle in his eyes.
Over a month’s time we shared many quiet moments together. Though I don’t usually work on Sundays, for some reason on one Sunday I decided to visit Chilton House. I talked and laughed with Gary and his family. As I left I said, “See you Tuesday, Gary.” He looked at me with his big smile and said, “I’ll be waiting for you.”
To read the complete story, go here
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DEDICATED TRAINING SPACE NEEDED
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The New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care is looking for a new location. We have outgrown our present space at 80 East 11th Street and our rented spaces for our training programs. In the Fall, we are expanding to offer four year-long training programs in caregiving, as well as our regular weekly programs. At the moment, all our workshops, public education and trainings are held at various rental locations. Our administration and consultations are held in a separate office suite. While we are looking to realize our vision of a permanent home for the Center--including the end-of -life guest house--we need an interim space where we could expand our offerings, provide more direct care, train more people and increase our public education programs. Ideally, we are looking for 3,000 + square feet in the Union Square/Flatiron/Greenwhich Village/Soho areas—centrally located to public transportation and near our partner Beth Israel Medical Center. We are hoping for a donated or subsidized loft space. This new space will enable us to offer a 60 seat (or greater) meditation room, two/three consulting rooms, office, library, classroom, kitchen and multi-purpose common area. In an effort to better serve the needs of our caregivers and the New York City community, we ask for your support. All offers and/or leads are welcome.
Please contact us at: info@zencare.org.
Make a tax deductible donation to support our work helping others. You can do that here.
We need a large (10” +) Japanese Wooden Mokugyo for our retreats and offerings. It would look similar to the one pictured here.
 We need a donation of 2 new Mac Book Pros. If you can offer these wishes, please email us at info@zencare.org.
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Make a Donation to New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care
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Our mission is to make accessible, the wisdom, compassion and equanimity of the Buddha both locally and globally by: Creating and operating an end-of-life care residence within a larger Dharma center. To mindfully and compassionately serve people approaching death. To support the dying, their family and friends. To train volunteers, staff, monastics and medical professionals the ways of attending to the sick and dying from a Buddhist perspective. Attending to residents physical, emotional and spiritual needs cognizant of the fact that death is an integral experience of life. To provide the larger community, educational programs with a foundation in Buddhist teachings. To offer daily meditation practice, workshops and teachings from visiting Dharma teachers and Healthcare professionals. Your tax deductible donation will go toward making our vision a reality.
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