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ZEN CLUB
Sunday 19th June
1-3pm @ the little Bangkok Meditation Center
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Zen Group Meeting #3: “KOANS”
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, but a review of the topic links (below) is useful to join in the discussion
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This month’s topic:
Meditation and Koans
The first part of the meeting will be devoted to learning Zen meditation, the central aspect of Zen practice. We will discuss posture, why it is so important in Zen, and what to do with your mind while sitting.
The rest of the meeting will focus on koan study. Koans are riddles or questions, like “What was your original nature before your parents were born?” “How do you continue from the top of a one hundred meter pole?” and “What is the sound of one hand clapping?”
They are meant to help the meditator break through to other levels of thought, maybe even to satori, the Japanese term for enlightenment or “awakening.” How would you answer these questions? Don’t worry– there are no “right” or “wrong” answers.
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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.
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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!
