Zen Club : September – Little Bangkok Sangha

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Zen Club Meeting #11
True Self and Original Nature

Saturday 2^ndSeptember 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.

1:30-3:30pm 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 #12: True Self and Original Nature

Saturday 2^nd September 1:30 – 3:30

“When you do not think good or not-good, what is your true self?” (Alternate translation: “Without thinking of good or evil, show me your original nature before your mother or father were born.”)–from The Gateless Gate Koan #23

“To study Buddhism is to study the Self. To study the Self is to forget the Self.”–Dogen

Many people are searching for themselves. Zen literature often refers to finding your “true self” and “original nature.” What do these terms mean? Is it behaving authentically, as in Shakespeare’s “To thine own self be true”? Is the “no-self” of Buddhism your true self? Are you really who you think you are? We will explore these questions in the context of Zen and our own lives. 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!