UU Zen Center Practice
The UU Zen Center meets every Friday evening, 7:00 to 9:00pm at: The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Gainesville, 4225 NW 34th Street, Gainesville, FL 32605
Friday evening practice consists of:
- Zazen (seated meditation): 25 min.
- Kinhin (walking meditation): 7 min.
- Zazen: 25 min.
- Unison readings
- Tea served
- Dharma Discussion
- Closing bows
For our “Dharma Discussion” we usually discuss a different chapter each week from a book of Zen teachings.
The UU Zen Center is led by Rev. Meredith Garmon, Ph.D., a Zen practitioner since 2001. Formerly an assistant professor of philosophy, Meredith is the minister at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Gainesville.
Zen Practice: February 29
Dear Zen Friends,
We will be sitting tonight at 7:00. Today, the reading from Phillip Kapleau’s The Three Pillars of Zen this week will be Part One, Section III, Student I.
The case for today (From Meredith)
This week's case is another short one. Last week's case (Gateless Gate #30) was: "Damei asked Mazu in all earnestness, 'What is Buddha?'
Mazu answered, 'The very mind is Buddha.'"
This week's case is Gateless Gate (Mumonkan), #33. "A monk asked Mazu in all earnestness, 'What is Buddha?' Mazu replied, 'No mind, No Buddha.'"
Background:
Mazu (8th generation, b. 709, discliple and dharma heir of Nanyue, b. 677. Mazu had at least 13 dharma heirs. One of his dharma heirs was Nanquan — and Nanquan's dharma heir, Zhaozhou, was the one who said "Mu" when asked if a dog has dharma nature. Another of Mazu's heirs was Baizhang, whose heir was Huangbo, whose heir was Linji, aka Rinzai, from which Rinzai Zen is derived. Damei (9th generation, b. 752) was another of Mazu's disciples at the time of this conversation. He would later become Mazu's dharma heir.
With a gassho and a bow!
Dan
Zen Practice: February 22
UU Zen Center at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
4425 NW 34th St.
Gainesville
UU Zen Center will be sitting tonight - 7:00 - 9:00pm. We'll be discussing Kapleau's "Three Pillars of Zen," and the case of the week.
The Case: Gateless Gate (Mumonkan) #30:
Damei asked Mazu in all earnestness, "What is Buddha?"
Mazu answered, "The very mind is Buddha."
Background:
Mazu (8th generation, b. 709, discliple and dharma heir of Nanyue, b. 677. Mazu had at least 13 dharma heirs. One of his dharma heirs was Nanquan — and Nanquan's dharma heir, Zhaozhou, was the one who said "Mu" when asked if a dog has dharma nature. Another of Mazu's heirs was Baizhang, whose heir was Huangbo, whose heir was Linji, aka Rinzai, from which Rinzai Zen is derived. Damei (9th generation, b. 752) was another of Mazu's disciples at the time of this conversation. He would later become Mazu's dharma heir.
With gassho and a bow to you all,
-Meredith
Zen Practice: February 8
Dear Zen Friends,
We will be sitting tonight at 7:00. Today, the reading from Phillip Kapleau’s The Three Pillars of Zen this week will be Part One, Section III, Student G. I don't have my schedule with me, so I don't know if student G is a 2-parter or not.
The case for today (From Meredith):
19. Emperor Dai Zong Asks About the Style of the Pagoda. Blue Cliff Record #18, Book of Equanimity #85
Emperor Dai Zong (reigned 762-779) asked Nanyang Huizhong, "When you are a hundred years old, what shall I do for you?"
Nanyang answered, "Make a seamless pagoda for this old monk."
The emperor said, "I should like to ask you, what style is it to be?"
Nanyang remained silent for a while. And then he said, "Do you understand?"
"No, I do not," said the emperor.
"I have a disciple called Danyuan" (Danyuan Yingzhen), said Nanyang, "who has the Dharma Seal transmitted by me. He is well versed in this matter. Ask him please."
After Nanyang's death, the emperor sent of Danyuan and asked him about it. Danyuan said:
South of Xiang, and north of Tan
In between, gold abounds.
The ferryboat under the shadowless tree,
No holy one in the emerald palace you see.
With a gassho and a bow!
Dan
Zen Practice: February 1
Dear Zen Friends,
We will be sitting tonight at 7:00, and don't forget the Zen Circle of Friends at 5:30 in the common room. Today, the reading from Phillip Kapleau’s The Three Pillars of Zen this week will be Part One, Section III, Student F.
The case for today (From Meredith):
Nanyang and the Water Jug. From the Book of Equanimity (Shoyoroku), #42
A monk asked National Teacher Huizhong of Nanyang, "What is the essential body (the "Dharma-body" or dharmakaya) of Vairocana Buddha?" [i.e., "What is the absolute?"]
National Teacher said, "Pass me that water jug." The monk passed him the water jug.
National Teacher said, "Put it back where it was."
The monk asked again, "What is the essential body of Vairocana Buddha?"
National Teacher said, "The old Buddha is long gone."
With a gassho and a bow,
Dan