TUESDAY EVENING: Spring Study Group - Join Us Tomorrow!

 

TUESDAY EVENING: Join Us for Spring Study Group

Facilitated by Shindo Kevin Souza CHAPTER TWO: Mahamati’s Questions (No. 1–5), Page 43–68   A rare opportunity to explore the fundamental teachings of Buddhism and build a foundation for daily practice through discussions on the book The Lankavatara Sutra by Red Pine (the pen name of Bill Porter). Pick up your copy at Zen Dust for $19.95 (plus tax). Register by week.   About Instructor: Senior Student of Kwong-roshi & Ordained Priest

Shindo started practicing in Phoenix AZ in 2007 right around the time his son was born. He was at a point in his life where he had to make significant changes in order to be the father his son deserved. In 2008 he moved to Carson City to be closer to his son where he led a sitting group on Thursday nights. He would travel back and forth from Carson to SMZC to practice on weekends whenever he got a chance. He received Jukai from Kwong-roshi in 2009 and was given the dharma name Shindo (心土) which means “Mind/Ground.” He served as Shuso (head student) for the Summer Ango in 2021 and was ordained in 2023. He currently lives in Berkeley, CA with his wife and 16-year-old son and works full time. He loves spending his free time outdoors in the mountains backpacking in the summer and skiing in the winter.

$12/week | Attend Week 3 ON SITE or ONLINE

*10-20% Member Discount (Please log in first to receive the discount.)

Following The Diamond Sutra, The Heart Sutra, and The Platform Sutra, Red Pine now turns his attention to perhaps the greatest Sutra of all.   The Lankavatara Sutra is the holy grail of Zen. Zen’s first patriarch, Bodhidharma, gave a copy of this text to his successor, Hui-k’o, and told him everything he needed to know was in this book. Passed down from teacher to student ever since, this is the only Zen sutra ever spoken by the Buddha. Although it covers all the major teachings of Mahayana Buddhism, it contains but two teachings: that everything we perceive as being real is nothing but the perceptions of our own mind and that the knowledge of this is something that must be realized and experienced for oneself and cannot be expressed in words. In the words of Chinese Zen masters, these two teachings became known as “have a cup of tea” and “taste the tea.”   This is the first translation into English of the original text used by Bodhidharma, which was the Chinese translation made by Gunabhadra in 443 and upon which all Chinese Zen masters have relied ever since.   In addition to presenting one of the most difficult of all Buddhist texts in clear English, Red Pine has also added summaries, explanations, and notes, including relevant Sanskrit terms on the basis of which the Chinese translation was made. This promises to become an essential text for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding or knowledge of Zen.

MARCH 28 CHAPTER TWO: Mahamati’s Questions (No. 5–21), Page 69–95 APRIL 4 (No Class - SMZC Closed after Buddha's Birthday 3-Day Sesshin) APRIL 11 CHAPTER TWO: Mahamati’s Questions (No. 21–34), Page 95–119 APRIL 18 (No Class during Weeklong Sewing Gathering) APRIL 25 CHAPTER TWO: Mahamati’s Questions (No. 34–47), Page 119–142 MAY 2 CHAPTER TWO: Mahamati’s Questions (No. 47–57), Page 143–166 MAY 9 CHAPTER THREE: More Questions (No. 57–66), Page 167–187 MAY 16 CHAPTER THREE: More Questions (No. 66–74), Page 187–209 MAY 23 CHAPTER THREE: More Questions (No. 74–80), Page 209–232 MAY 30 CHAPTER FOUR: Final Questions (No. 80–86), Page 233–253 JUNE 6 CHAPTER FOUR: Final Questions (No. 86–90), Page 253–270

In order to continue to offer these programs and ensure the future of SMZC, we are asking for your support. Your donation is tax deductible. Sonoma Mountain Zen Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Tax ID #23-7304793

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