——————
ZEN CLUB
Sunday 7th August
1-3pm @ the little Bangkok Meditation Center
——————
Zen Group Meeting #4: “HUMOUR”
1-3pm at the little Bangkok Meditation Center, Ekkamai
There is no charge for this event, and no need to book in advance.
You do not need to take anything along.
________________________________________
This month’s topic:
Zen Group #4: Zen Humour
Humour has always played a big role in Zen, all the way back to ancient times. Sometimes in dialogues, sometimes in stories, sometimes in koans or poems, Zen Buddhists use humour as a teaching tool, and also as a way of making us laugh at ourselves and our lives.
Examples:
Emperor: What happens after we die?
Master Gudo: I don’t know.
Emperor: What do you mean, you don’t know? You’re a Zen master!
Master Gudo: Yes, but I’m not a dead one.
or
Monk: What is the meaning of Zen?
Master Chao-chuo: All this sitting gets boring.
or
Four monks enter a silent temple.
1st monk: Gee, this is a beautiful temple!
2nd monk: You dummy! You’re supposed to be silent!
3rd monk: Both of you are dummies!
4th monk: I’m the only one who remembered to keep quiet!
What is the purpose of humor in Zen? In our next group, we’ll tell Zen jokes and funny stories, and Joe and Sid will even perform a Zen mime routine. All Buddhist humor is welcome. No comedy experience is necessary.
________________________________________
About Zen Club:
The Zen Study club will be a beginners Zen Buddhism study group based around the teachings of historical Zen masters as well as contemporary Zen teachers, including the founder of San Francisco Zen Center, Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, and teachers from this lineage in America.
Zen is a branch of Mahayana Buddhism that started in India, then was brought to China about 1500 years ago, where it developed into a distinct school. It then spread to other Asian countries, especially Japan, before arriving in the West in the 20th century.
The club will informally explore Zen thought, practice and teachings from the perspectives of Zen sutras, stories, poems, koans (riddles), and teachings from contemporary teachers, that will be taken selectively from a large body of Zen literature. Besides an informal and fun exploration of Zen philosophy, we will incorporate some guidance on the Zen method of meditation, which is the heart of the practice.
In addition, we might show videos of dharma talks from the San Francisco Zen Center and other American Zen teachers.
Joe and Sid are long time educators from San Francisco, and although not formally trained as Buddhist teachers, have had many years of Zen practice and study. They have a strong interest in developing their own Zen Buddhist practice and sharing it with others in Thailand who might not know about Zen and its practical and ancient wisdom. There will be more focus on interaction and group discussion than lectures.
The group is open to all who seek a beginners mind approach to an ancient and revitalized Buddhist practice as it applies to contemporary life.
________________________________________
Location:
‘APARTMENTS’ Little Bangkok Meditation Centre is a 4 minute walk from Ekkamai BTS Station.
Enter Ekkamai (Sukhumvit Soi 63). Turn left into the second soi (lane). Bourbon street restaurant is on the corner. We’re the third building on the right, in the ‘APARTMENTS’ building. Go up to the top floor.
Follow the excellent map – it is very precise!
