THIS EVENING: Spring Study Group (Week 6) - Join Us Today!

 

THIS EVENING: Join Us for Spring Study Group (Week 6)

Facilitated by Koten (孤天) David Price CHAPTER TWO: Mahamati’s Questions (No. 34–47), Page 119–142   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

Koten began formally practicing Zen at Sonoma Mountain Zen Center where he has lived as a student since 2006. During his residency he has served on the SMZC advisory board as Resident Representative, held the position of Tenzo (Head Cook) and Shissui (Work Leader). Koten received Jukai from Jakusho Kwong-roshi in 2007 and was ordained as a Buddhist Priest in 2012. He has also served as Shuso (Head Student) leading the 30-day intensive practice period in the winter of 2013. Before coming to Genjo-ji, he spent 20 years as a professional cook and chef working in resorts and restaurants from Hawaii to Philadelphia. Koten is a sportsman and enjoys hiking all throughout the Sonoma County and the North Bay.

$12/week | Attend Week 6 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.

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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