One Mind – Together with Thich Nhat Hanh
Dear Dharma Friends, together Since our time as a sitting group has ended, it has been some time since I have shared on the UZ site thus I hope this post finds you warmly. As many of you know, the Great Buddhist Teacher; Thich Nhat Hanh is currently in critical condition at the hospital due to a brain hemorrhage. Though Underdog Zendo was not of the Plum Village lineage, I had specially added a chant which was written by Thich Nhat Hanh to our liturgy books which we closed with at the end of every practice period. It is the wishes of the Plum Village Sangha that we hold him closely in our...
Read MoreIMPORANT NOTICE ➽ Unerdog Zendo is No Longer Holding Zen Practice
Dear Beloved Friends & Supporters, For all those whom do not yet know, we regret to say Underdog Zendo is no longer holding Zen Practice in Chicago. A job opportunity arose for us which we could not pass up so Shiko & I have made the difficult choice to relocate to Los Angeles, California. For all our regular Sangha members, I want to say you will always remain forever etched in my Heart. For those whom have previously practiced with us, I would like to say it was a profound pleasure to share the practice with you & want to I encourage you with all my heart to find a suitable...
Read MoreGuidance in Shikantaza the Absolute Practice of Just Sitting
Guidance in Shikantaza the Absolute Practice of Just Sitting (by Rob Anderson adapted from the book; Warm Smiles From Cold Mountains) Zazen is the source of all the teachings and practices of the Buddha Way. All enlightenment practices emanate from and return to zazen. Zazen is neither concentration practice, nor not concentration practice. There are concentration practices, and if we are practicing thus, zazen is just being upright and unmoving, in the midst of such a practice. If we are not practicing concentration, zazen is just sitting upright and unmoving, in the middle of not...
Read MoreAmazing Living Beings
From; Cultivating the Empty Field; The Silent Illumination of Zen Master Hongzhi Translated by Taigen Daniel Leighton and Yi Wu In; The Art of Just Sitting 2nd Edition: Essential Writings on the Zen Practice of Shikantaza Our house is a single field, clean, vast, and lustrous, clearly self-illuminated. When the spirit is vacant without conditions, when awareness is serene without cogitation, then buddhas and ancestors appear and disappear transforming the world. Amid living beings is the original place of nirvana. How amazing it is that all people have this but cannot polish it into bright...
Read MoreTues Nite Fall Ango Zen Practice ⚘
Greetings All! We are pleased to announce; in conjunction with our 2013 Fall Ango – “Peaceful Dwelling” 3 month period of deepening practice, we have decided to facilitate a 2nd night of regular Zen Practice at our home on Tuesday evenings 7-9pm (September thru November) * This is also a wonderful opportunity to join in for those who can’t normally make Sunday Practice* For us, one thing that Ango means is — More ZAZEN! If you can make it, come join in! Let’s deepen our practice! As said in our Ango text – “We can’t do it alone & no one can do it for us!” Meditation instruction...
Read MoreWed Nite Dharma Study Group – The Art of Just Sitting
Join us Wednesday evenings for our UZ Dharma Study Group where we’ll continue observe & discuss various texts from the Ancestors of Zen Buddhism. Beginning October 9th 2013, we will be starting a new book called “The Art of Just Sitting, Second Edition: Essential Writings on the Zen Practice of Shikantaza“. Make sure to get your copy ASAP if you would like to participate in the Study Group! This book is one of the recommended books from our affiliated Temple; The Buddhist Temple of Toledo for our Fall Ango “Peaceful Dwelling” period (Aug though November) of...
Read MoreSunday 9/15/13 – Meditation & Movie Nite @ Shaon & Shiko’s Place*
This Sunday, we will be holding Zen Practice with movie nite at Shaon & Shiko’s place! ✓ Zazen – YES > 20 minutes silent sitting ✓ Documentary >>>> I AM ✓ Movie followed by group discussion ✓ Food – Veggie burgers n’ friez ✓ Friends, fun, & laughs – YES TIME: 4PM till around 7pm If you’d like to come hang earlier, you can come up to 1 hr early. Late is not a prob for this event. Zazen will start at 10 after 4* LOCATION: 10 minutes (in car) from Urban Lotus Location. L Stop: (2 blocks from) Pulaski Blue Line Station Please contact...
Read MoreLabor Day Metta! From Underdog Zendo ❋
May all beings be treated fairly & justly in their daily labors, free from suffering & the conditions of suffering. May all beings find joy, peace & contentment in their daily labors. May all beings give & receive kindness, respect, understanding & dignity in their daily labors. May all beings enjoy the fruits of their labors & compassionately share this fruit with others. May we each be mindful of the karma of our labors. May our labors not create harm for the sake of greed, hatred, & delusion, but help support, nourish, & heal this beloved World we call...
Read MoreSesshin & Jukai Ceremony with Rev. James Myou Ford Roshi – Aug 13th Thru 18th 2013
Sesshin & Jukai Ceremony with Rev. James Myou Ford Roshi These intensive residential retreats are open to those who are formal members of the Buddhist Temple of Toledo and/or have the approval of Rev. Rinsen or Rev. Do-on. Sesshin – Tuesday, August 13 thru Saturday August 17th Sesshin means, “to touch the heart/mind”. Sesshin are extended silent practice periods lasting most commonly three, five or seven days. Retreats involve sitting and walking meditation, chanting and meal practice, as well as talks and individual meetings with a teacher. These extended practice...
Read MoreUZ Beginners to Zen Meditation Period – 1st Sundays Every Month
1st Sundays of Every Month Beginners to Zen Practice Period Never experienced Zen Meditation? No time like the present! The 1st Sunday of every month, you are invited to join us for our “orientation style”; Beginners to Zen Practice Period. Curious about Buddhism & Zen Practice? Wanted to learn more in a welcoming environment? Have you read a couple books & now ready to start the practice? This day is designed with the beginner in mind! With this Period – Introductions with a little about Underdog Zendo Roots of Practice – short history of Zen Buddhism How to...
Read MoreAre you in? – The Drinking Gourd Podcast
On May 19th 2013, we listened to the following recording at Underdog Zendo, ending with a group discussion. This Dharma Talk by Rev. Jay Rinsen Weik was recorded live at The Buddhist Temple of Toledo, Feb 2013. – Case 11 – Mumonkan The Gateless Gate – Joshu sees the True-Nature of 2 Hermits Joshu came to a hermit & asked, “Are you in? Are you in?” The hermit held up his fist; “The water is to shallow to anchor a vessel here”, said Joshu & went away. Then he came to another hermits, & he called out the same way; “Are you in? Are you in?” This hermit also held up...
Read MoreBeyond Pure & Impure – The Drinking Gourd Podcast
On April 21st 2013, this months Drinking Gourd Practice Period, we listened to the following recording at Underdog Zendo, ending with a group discussion. “Beyond Pure and Impure.” A Dharma Talk by Rev. Jay Rinsen Weik recorded live at the Buddhist Temple of Toledo on Feb 13th, 2013. This Dharma Talk discusses Denkoroku – Case 50 (Transmission of the Lamp) koan & other related goodies. Case 50 – From The Transmission of the Lamp The Ancestor asked him, how will you purify what is not impure from the beginning? The Master worked on the koan for more...
Read MoreNotes from April Beginners Practice 4/7/13
This month we invested in paid advertizing on Facebook for our Beginners Practice Period along with general paid advertizing for our Facebook page. In result, the attendance appeared to be phenomenal for us with 33 people confirming attendance on the Facebook Event Page along with 11 maybes. Being that we only had 10 cushions total, we needed to put special attention into creating proper accommodations for all the anticipated attendance. At least a portion will of them come right? So we figured it out, got it all together & set up. Interestingly, only 1 person ended up actually attending...
Read MoreEQUANIMITY – The Drinking Gourd Podcast
On march 21st 2013, we listened to a wonderful Podcast together on the subject of EQUANIMITY. In this Recording, Jay Rinsen Chikyo Weik gives a talk and leads discussion at the Toledo Zen Center on June 11, 2008 on the subject of EQUANIMITY. Equanimity or Upekkha (in Pali) is a mind in balance, free of discrimination, above distinction, and rooted in insight. This balance is not indifference, but active mindfulness. Because it is rooted in insight of anatta (not-self), it is not unbalanced by the passions of attraction and aversion and is free of the extremes of joy or sorrow. (Alternate...
Read MoreLiving Sangha – Notes From Practice 2/17/13
Single-Pointed Effort Sangha Actualized Sunday Feb 17th 2013 was our Drinking Gourd Practice Period. We arrived at our meditation hall (which is a shared co-op yoga space) to discover a workshop in mid-motion. As our Zen Practitioners began to arrive… what to do? Well, we grabbed some cushions, jumped in some cars & headed over to our place (Shaon & Mara’s home) to hold practice there! It was nourishing to have our home meditation space filled with zazen, sutra chant, & many amazing people that we have the opportunity to call Sangha* We had forgotten to grab our...
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