Zen Club, Bangkok meets March 2017 | Little Bangkok Sangha

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Zen Club Meeting #9
Zen 101 – What is Zen?

Sunday 12^thMarch 2017
@little Bangkok Meditation Center, Ekkamai

Zen club meets more or less monthly. You don’t need to be experienced – it is for anyone and everyone interested in exploring some of the tenets of Zen Buddhism.

1-3:30pm 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. We’re all ready for you!

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Zen Club #9: Zen 101–What is Zen?

12 March 2017 1:30-3:30 pm

This meeting will cover the basics of Zen philosophy and practice, especially for those with little or no background in Zen. What is the history of Zen? How is Zen different from Theravada and other branches of Buddhism? How does Zen view the “three seals” of impermanence, suffering, and no abiding self? What is the Zen view of the Four Noble Truths? Why is meditation so central to Zen? We will discuss the 16 Bodhisattva Precepts and their background. We’ll also talk about why Zen uses illogic, paradox and humor, and how Zen uses poetry, stories and art as teaching tools. There will be time for questions and discussion.

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About Zen Club:

Shunru Suzuki
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, Sid and Reggie will lead the session – all are long time Zen students, 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.They always put in a lot of effort for these meetings – which is well appreciated!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.

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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!