TRUNGPA RINPOCHE’S PARINIRVANA CEREMONY

Trungpa Rinpoche's Stupa at Sonoma Mountain Zen Center

Several events will be held in the Northern California region to celebrate Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche on the 25th anniversary of his death, including a special invitation from Kwong-roshi of the Sonoma Mountain Zen Center.

Sonoma Mountain Zen Center members, families and friends are invited along with the Shambhala community to a commemoration of Chögyam Trungpa on Saturday, April 7th from 10 am to 2 pm to mark the 25th year of his Parinirvana. We’ll gather in the lower parking lot and walk together to Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s Stupa, where we will recite the Sadhana of Mahamudra, followed by some words from Kwong-roshi, Joanne Martin Braun, and Shastris Alan Schwartz, Charlene Leung and Melissa Moore. Please bring appropriate attire (hats, layers) and chairs or blankets. Shambhala members will provide the potluck lunch and the Zen Center will provide drinks. This is a special event in which both of our communities will join together in paying respects to a renowned Buddhist teacher while celebrating the long-standing connections between our two Sanghas. Please join us for this event!

email: smzc@smzc.net • Sonoma Mountain Zen Center

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Jakusho Kwong-roshi on Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, by Bill Scheffel



This 10-minute documentary features 2009 interviews with Jakusho Kwong-roshi, dharma heir of Shunryu Suzuki-roshi and founder of Sonoma Mountain Zen Center. In this film, Roshi talks primarily about his close relationship with Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. This film includes a tour of the stupa Kwong-roshi erected in memory of Chogyam Trungpa.

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Dragons and elephants,

Please come at 8:30 on the day of the Parinirvana Commemoration (Saturday, April 7) as we can use your help preparing for the large expected turnout. We need help with parking and set-up. Contact Gyda at parinirvana@smzc.net if you can make it at that time.

Deep Gassho,
Mike Jundo
Sonoma Mountain Zen Center

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Sonoma Mountain Zen Center

Birth of Buddha Sesshin & Ceremony

BIRTH OF THE BUDDHA CEREMONY SUNDAY APRIL 16 at 1pm OUTDOOR RECEPTION 2:00 – 3:30 PM Families, friends and children will gather in the zendo to commemorate the birth of Shakyamuni Buddha in a Flower Festival and the traditional pouring of sweet rain over the baby Buddha. Following this ceremony will be an outdoor reception. Everyone is asked to bring flowers to offer in the zendo, and to bring finger-type hors d'oeuvres, ready-to-serve on platters for the reception.

Great Assembly,

Come and acknowledge the birth of your own limitless life moment after moment as we sit sesshin Wednesday April 4th - Saturday April 7th.

The Birth of Buddha Sesshin this year will be followed immediately by the commemoration of the passing of another Great Buddha, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.

Feel free to call the office or sign-up on the Sangha House porch for the volunteer positions during Sunday's ceremony on April 8th if you can help that day. Folks staying overnight after sesshin to attend the ceremony will be accommodated free of charge.

Gassho,
Mike Jundo

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April 4 - 7 BUDDHA'S BIRTHDAY SESSHIN
A silent retreat to commemorate the birth of Shakyamuni Buddha. Sesshin, literally "to touch the Mind" is a period of time set aside for an intensive meditation retreat to let go of the conditioned self in order to resume our original nature. Begins Wednesday, 7:30 pm, and ends Saturday, 3:30 pm. 10 periods of zazen daily, 2 hours work practice, 3 oryoki meals, dharma talks, and interviews with Kwong-roshi.
Non-Members: $60 per day/overnight General M: $50 Practicing M: $40

April 7 Sat. CHOGYAM TRUNGPA PARINIRVANA ANNIVERSARY
10 am - 12 pm
Kwong Roshi has invited the Shambhala community as well as SMZC's membership to participate in this tribute to Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. We will have a procession from the Zendo to Trungpa's stupa followed by Sadhana of Mahamudra and remarks by Roshi and Shambhala. Pot-luck lunch will be graciously provided by Shambhala.

April 8 Sun. BUDDHA'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
1 - 4 pm
This is a day for the entire family to join us in commemorating the birth of Shakyamuni Buddha with a flower festival and a traditional ceremony of pouring sweet tea over the baby Buddha. All Sangha, friends, and family are invited to come and join us. Ceremony: 1 - 1:45 pm. Zendo Outdoor reception: 2 - 4 pm. Bring prepared food ready to serve and flowers for offering.

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email: smzc@smzc.net • Sonoma Mountain Zen Center

Spring Workfest 2012

This spring we have a special opportunity to prepare the ground for the 25th Annual Commemoration of Chogyam Trungpa Ripoche's passing, called parinirvana.

Our connection with his lineage is unique and precious and this will be a wonderful time to join with our dharma brothers and sisters from Shambhala in honoring this great teacher.
The procession and ceremony will be April 7th at 10 am.

Workfest will be focused on restoring some the peace and calm around the Stupa area which has been disturbed by the devastating Oak Death syndrome over the years.

Kwong-roshi and the Zen Center hope you will come for the whole day if you can, or part of it if you can only do that.

You can sign-up by email or on the Sangha house porch.

Gassho and See You There!
Mike Farrand

email: smzc@smzc.net • Sonoma Mountain Zen Center