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Zen Club Meeting #16
Zen Koans: Dialogs, Drama, and Puppets
Saturday 24th Feb. 2018
@ little Bangkok Meditation Center, Ekkamai
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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.
- 1:30-3:30pm at the 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 Koans: Dialogs, Drama, and Puppets” |
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Zen koans are dialogs or questions, like “What was your original nature before your parents were born?” “What is the sound of one hand clapping?” and “What is Buddha?” They are meant to help the meditator break through to other levels of mind, maybe even to enlightenment or “awakening.” There are no “right” answers. We will look at the Mumonkan, a collection of 49 koans from 13th century China. The Mumonkan is not a collection of nonsensical, dusty old stories from a faraway culture. It is a guide to the practice of Zen in your present life. Mumonkan means a “gateless gate” or “gateless barrier.” We will examine a few of the koans, trying to understand the gateless gate in each one and how it relates to our own heart’s desire and deepest longing. Our presentation will include acting out some of the dialogs, as well as a puppet show. (If you Google “Gateless Gate” you will find a good translation by Senzaki and Reps.) |
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About Zen Club:
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Shunru Suzuki The Zen Study club is 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’ Meditation Centre
The center is a 4 minute walk from Ekkamai BTS Station.
We are 9/37 Thana Aket, Ekkamai Sukhumvit 63.
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. See the excellent map – it is very precise!