“To devote ourselves to everything we encounter and throw our life force into doing just that is quite different from simply exhausting our energies playing with toys.” —Kōshō Uchiyama Rōshi
In celebration of the Shakyamuni Buddha’s birthday, the NYZC sangha gathered on April 10th, whether in person or virtually, to chant, bathe the baby Buddha with sweet matcha, and dedicate the practice to the awakening of all beings. Sensei Koshin then delivers a talk on the life of the historical Buddha. He describes devastating grief that plagued Shakyamuni’s family and the expectations placed on him at an early age, experiences that are not uncommon for many in our modern world. Koshin inquires: though we may be born into difficult circumstances, how can we transmute our suffering into further awareness and compassion for all beings?
ZENTALK NOTES
Sensei Koshin Paley Ellison, MFA, LMSW, DMIN, is an author, Zen teacher, Jungian psychotherapist, and Certified Chaplaincy Educator. Koshin co-founded the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care.
CONNECT WITH US
UPCOMING PROGRAMS (as of April 29th, 2022)
—Commit to Sit Summer 2022 will start June 1st, 2022! Join 16 Zen teachers from across the United States and Japan for an in-depth, 90-day exploration of Zen practice and study guided by our study text, Zen Seeds: Reflections of a Female Priest, Shundo Aoyama Rōshi’s (b.1933) collection of short personal reflections, Zen parables, Buddhist scripture, and spellbinding poetry. Learn more >
—The Contemplative Medicine Fellowship is accepting applications for the 2022–2023 cohort! Now in its second year, the Contemplative Medicine Fellowship is a twelve-month training for physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants who want to lead change in the culture of care. The program is designed to immerse participants in the true experience of the alleviation of suffering in their personal and professional lives. Contemplative Medicine Conversations with esteemed visiting faculty are offered monthly, free of charge. Learn more >
—Foundations in Contemplative Care is accepting applications: Since 2007, the Foundations in Contemplative Care training has transformed the lives of individuals from across the country and around the world by supporting the integration of spiritual practice and care. This program is open to anyone who feels called upon to respond to the suffering in the world. Learn more >
MUSIC
Heart Sutra by Kanho Yakushiji – Buddhist priest and musician of the Rinzai sect and Imaji temple in Imabari, Japan. In 2003, he formed “KISSAQUO”, a songwriting duo based in Kyoto.
NYZC PUBLICATIONS
Get your copy of Wholehearted: Slow Down, Help Out, Wake Up here: https://amzn.to/2JTKF1t
Get your copy of Awake At The Bedside here: https://amzn.to/3aijXdL
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