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@ Black Mountain Zen Centre. Day of Zazen. Including afternoon practice discussion period. Please bring lunch to share. Meets on the third Sunday of every month from 09:00 AM to 04:30 PM. Visit by our teacher Ryushin Paul Haller Roshi Tuesday 23rd April to Sunday 5th May 2013 Senior dharma Teacher at San Francisco Zen Centre Sesshin 23rd to 28th April  to be held at Benburb Priory http://www.servites-benburb.com/
We encourage people to register early and for an entire six day period. Those who wish to come for less than six days will have their names added to a waiting list and will be accommodated as space allows. Shared accommodation is in use on this Sesshin to allow us to accomodate more of those who wish to attend. Unfortunately single accommodation cannot be guaranteed except in exceptional circumstances. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Weekend Seminar with Andre Elsen 'Zen Forms & Practice' Friday 15th to Sunday 17th March 2013 We are very pleased to be hosting this weekend seminar with our good friend Andre Elsen. Andre has been a long time student of Ryushin Paul Haller Roshi, having trained at San Francisco Zen Centre and Tassajara Mountain Monastery. Andre also sits on the Board of Directors for BMZC. Renowned for his keen insight into the spirit of Zen forms and practice, as well as his ability to convey the details of these to students, this is a weekend which we really recommend no member of the Sangha misses out on. A sign-up sheet will be in the the Centre shortly and we encourage you to add your name asap, or let us know by email that you will be attending to confirm your place. Thank you. Visit by our teacher Ryushin Paul Haller Roshi August 2012
All events are held in BMZC unless stated otherwise. For Dokusan requests please use signup sheet in the Centre
Tuesday 14th to Sunday 19th August 2012
Sesshin @ Benburb Priory Monday 20th August
Morning Zazen 7.00am - 8.15am Sharing Circle 8.15am - 9.00am Tuesday 21st August
Morning Zazen 7.00am - 8.15am Sharing Circle 8.15am - 9.00am Dokusan 10.00am - 12.00pm Zazen & Dharma Talk 7.00pm - 8.30pm Wednesday 22nd August
Morning Zazen 7.00am - 8.15am Sharing Circle 8.15am - 9.00am Dokusan 10.00am - 12.00pm Thursday 23rd August
Morning Zazen 7.00am - 8.15am Sharing Circle 8.15am - 9.00am Zazen & Dharma Talk 7.00pm - 8.30pm Friday 24th August
Morning Zazen 7.00am - 8.15am Sharing Circle 8.15am - 9.00am Dokusan 10.00am - 12.00pm Zazen & Dharma Talk 7.00pm - 8.30pm Saturday 25th August Workshop ~ Mindfulness, an introduction through Zazen 10.00am - 12.30pm Workshop ~ Practicing Mindfulness with difficult emotions and mental states 1.30pm - 4.00pm @ Queens University Belfast We greatly encourage every member of the Sangha to attend, and we also welcome members of the general public to come along. Suggested donation: Waged - £20 per workshop or £30 for both workshops. Unwaged - £10 per workshop or £15 for both workshops. Sunday 26th August
Zazen & Posture Workshop 10.30am - 12.30pm
We'd like to invite you to attend our Summer Season of Zen Film @ BMZC. The four selections below have been chosen to offer a range of historical and informative material looking at Zen through its Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Western aspects.
The films will run from 16th July for four weeks through to 6th August. We'll take a short break around Roshi's visit which lasts from 14th through to 26th August.
Shortly thereafter we'll show an Autumn Season of films.
It is our hope that you'll be able to join us on Monday evenings @ 7pm to watch these selections on a large screen. Feel free to sit on your cushions or in chairs, bring some snacks, relax, have fun and enjoy some social time with the Sangha. We look forward to seeing you there :)
Monday 6th August 2012 Old Plum Mountain - Life Inside The Gate
Directed by: Edwin Herzog Runtime: 65 minutes Release year: 2011 Studio: Herzog Productions The Berkeley Zen Center: Life Inside the Gate
tells the story of the Berkeley Zen Center, one of the oldest, self-sustaining, lay practice centers in the West. Told through the experiences of its members as they practice Soto Zen's ancient rituals, do mindful work, cook and serve food, and sit zazen, this 65-minute documentary describes how this practice has dramatically changed, challenged, and sustained their lives. Founded in 1967 by the late Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, and his student Sojun Mel Weitsman, this uniquely American Zen Center offers to all, lay person and priest, a safe and supportive place to engage in a path of spiritual exploration.
Monday 30th July 2012 Zen Buddhism - In Search of Self
Directed by: Gong Jae-Sung Runtime: 65 minutes Release year: 2007 Studio: Turtle Press Following a tradition dating back over 1000 years, two dozen Buddhist nuns gather for a ninety day period of meditation, fasting and contemplation deep in the mountains of South Korea. With the singular goal of attaining enlightenment, the women undertake a rigorous schedule of meditation, at one point sitting for seven days without sleep. In this first ever documentary on the practice of Dong Ahn Geo (Winter Zen Retreat), you'll be invited into the Baek Hung Buddhist Temple to witness not only the nuns strict meditation practice, but their daily lives in which we see not only a deep spiritual discipline but an almost childlike joy and simplicity. Since the Great Monk Hyecheol built Baek Hung Temple in the 10th century during the Silla Dynasty (AD 57-935), the temple has been known for the most rigorous Cham Sun (Zen) practice. Forbidden until now, the camera captures the austere beauty of the Korean countryside and the long secret traditions of this Buddhist Zen retreat. This historic documentary was filmed from November 29, 2001 to February 26, 2002 at Baek Hung Temple, Palgong Mountain, Daegu, South Korea. Monday 23rd July 2012 Amongst White Clouds
Directed by: Edward A. Burger Runtime: 86 minutes Release year: 2007 Studio: Festival Media American director Edward A. Burger takes us on his unforgettable journey into the hidden lives of China's forgotten Zen Buddhist hermit tradition. "Amongst White Clouds is a look at the lives of zealot students, gaunt ascetics and wise masters living in isolated hermitages dotting the peaks and valleys of China's Zhongnan Mountain range." The Zhongnan Mountains have been home to recluses since the time of the Yellow Emperor, some five thousand years ago. Many of China's most realized Buddhist masters attained enlightenment in this very range! And now? It is widely thought that this tradition was all but wiped out by the twists and turns of history. "Amongst White Clouds" shows us this is not the case. One of only a few foreigners to have lived and studied with these hidden sages, Burger reveals to us their tradition, their wisdom, and the hardship and joy of their everyday lives. With both humor and compassion, these inspiring and warm-hearted characters challenge us to join them in an exploration of our own suffering and enlightenment in this modern world.
Monday 16th July 2012 The Zen Mind
Directed by: Createspace Runtime: 57 minutes Release year: 2007 Studio: Empty Mind FilmsA travelogue across the breadth of Japan to explore the practice of modern day zen. We will take you from the bustle of rush-hour Tokyo to the tranquil mountains of Kyoto. From zen centers hidden among skyscrpaers to the zendo in a remote monastery. With unrestricted access, we will take you into a world outsiders rarely see or hear about. It is a world where material wealth is exchanged for spiritual wealth. Where the mind is trained and conditioned like an olympic athlete. Zen training is explored in The Zen Mind through the practice of zazen or sitting meditation and kinhin (walking meditation). With interviews, demonstrations of sitting and actual practice, we take the lid off the many misconceptions that abound in zen meditation. While the cloistered lifestyle of the zen monk is in decline in Japan, zen meditation is spreading rapidly in the west. Typical of this modern approach to dharma practice is the Dogen sangha, a zen center in Tokyo where commuters stop on their way home for zen meditation. It is a complete contrast to the remote mountain monasteries where formal buddhist rituals are zelously maintained. This contrast heightens as we enter Japan s largest Soto zen monastery and join the monks in their everyday workplace, cooking and cleaning. Before and after their work is done they will sit in zazen. We will take you into the zendo or meditation hall and like a fly on the zendo wall, witness the monks as they begin what will be many hours of zazen and sometimes through the night. Only the abrupt crack of the roshi s stick on the monks shoulder breaks the silence as he summons them to focus, flushing out any thoughts... erasing self-doubt and ego... clearing a path to self-realization. The Zen Mind soundtrack is by Christopher Yohmei, a grandmaster of the shakuhachi flute.
Visits by our teacher Ryushin Paul Haller Roshi Tuesday 24th April to Sunday 6th May 2012
Tuesday 14th August to Sunday 26th August 2012
(Sesshin 14th to 19th August) The first week of both visits (Tuesday to Sunday) we will hold Sesshin at Benburb and BMZC will be closed for normal business. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All events are held in BMZC unless stated otherwise. For Dokusan requests please use signup sheet in the Centre.
Tuesday 24th to Sunday 29th April 2012
Sesshin @ Benburb Priory
Monday 30th April
Morning Zazen 7.00am - 8.15am Sharing Circle 8.15am - 9.00am
Tuesday 1st May
Morning Zazen 7.00am - 8.15am Sharing Circle 8.15am - 9.00am Dokusan 10.30am - 12.30pm Zazen & Dharma Talk 7.00pm - 8.30pm
Wednesday 2nd May
Morning Zazen 7.00am - 8.15am Sharing Circle 8.15am - 9.00am Dokusan 10.30am - 11.30am
Thursday 3rd May
Morning Zazen 7.00am - 8.15am Sharing Circle 8.15am - 9.00am Zazen & Dharma Talk 7.00pm - 8.30pm
Friday 4th May
Morning Zazen 7.00am - 8.15am Sharing Circle 8.15am - 9.00am Dokusan 10.30am - 12.00pm Zazen & Dharma Talk 7.00pm - 8.30pm
Saturday 5th May
'Zen Body' Workshop ~ Working with the Body 10.00am - 12.30pm
'Zen Mind' Workshop ~ Practicing with Emotions 2.00pm - 4.30pm
in the beautiful historic setting of Clifton House, Belfast http://www.cliftonbelfast.org.uk/
These workshops are an invaluable opportunity to receive instruction from Roshi on how we can best work with body mind. We greatly encourage every member of the Sangha to attend, and we also welcome members of the general public to come along.
Suggested donation: Waged - £15 per workshop or £25 for both workshops. Unwaged - Donate according to your means.
Sunday 6th May
Zazen, Dharma Talk & Posture Workshop 10.30am - 1.00pm Sunday 29th January 2012
BMZC Zen & Recovery Group present Mindfulness and the Twelve Steps Date 29th January 2012
Time 7-30pm @ BMZC This weekly practice group explores basic teachings of mindfulness practice of mindfulness and their reflection in the twelve steps. The group supplements recovery and is designed to reveal to us that consistent mindfulness and meditation practice is vital to spiritual progress. We begin each session with a period of meditation and follow with a brief presentation and discussion. Anyone who wants to support a 12-step recovery program with a deepened understanding of meditation and Buddhism is welcome. “We meet Sunday evenings, one chapter in a nation-wide community of Twelve Steps and Mindfulness meetings. Our addictions are wide-spread: drugs, alcohol, food, gambling, cigarettes, or codependency. Everyone is welcome. We introduce ourselves by going around the circle, saying our first name and Twelve Step affiliation. We have a common interest in meditation practices and how they can inform our recovery from addiction. Each month, we discuss one of the Twelve Steps and how Buddhist thought, meditation, and mindfulness practice can inform its application to our life in recovery. We sit in silent meditation together, hear a talk by one of our members, and share our reflections. As with many Twelve Step meetings, we are a diverse group of people, yet we are part of the great stream of beings seeking deeper serenity in our lives, grounded in sobriety by the Twelve Step program, inspired to awaken and live in the present by the practices of mindfulness meditation. In our addictions, we were never here in the moment. We wanted to be gone. Now we are learning to wake up to the joy of being alive. Please make yourself at home.” Adapted from by Thérèse Jacobs Stewart (MN: Hazelden Publications, 2010.) Please register your interest by contacting Frank on 07976559958 or email 3 Day InterFaith Retreat with Robert Kennedy SJ Roshi
 to be held at Benburb Priory. http://www.servites-benburb.com/ Booking forms are also available from BMZC or can be emailed upon request to bookings@blackmountainzencentre.org Friday 9th December: Registration 5-6PM; Dinner 6PM; Retreat begins 7PM. Sunday 11th December: ends 3PM. Robert Kennedy is an engaging Zen teacher who leads retreats in Europe and America. He is a Christian Priest & Theologian, and Consultant Psychiatrist as well as a Zen teacher in the White Plum lineage.He studied Zen with Yamada Roshi in Kamakura, with Taizan Maezumi Roshi in Los Angeles, and with Bernie Glassman Roshi in New York. He received dharma transmission from Glassman Roshi in 1997. During Zen retreats Kennedy Roshi teaches only Zen in his public talks. However he is generally willing to answer questions on other subjects during one to one dokusan practice interviews. This may be a particular advantage to those who combine Christian faith with Zen practice. He is the author of Zen Gifts to Christians and Zen Spirit, Christian Spirit. His approach to Zen combines some aspects of both the Soto and Rinzai traditions. Rohatsu Sesshin with Ingen Breen in Venice
 "Join us for zazen, the meditation of 'serene reflection', in Venice, the 'most serene republic', in December; let the liquid calm of the city find it's mirror image in your mind, and as Dögen says, 'take the backward step that turns your light inward and illuminates the self'.
Rohatsu is the great sesshin of the zen year. Literally it means the 8th day of the 12th month. This is the day when Zen celebrates the Buddha's Enlightenment, and Rohatsu Sesshin is therefore the Buddha's Enlightenment Sesshin. The story goes that on the night Shakyamuni Gotama attained Enlightenment he sat up all night in meditation and upon seeing the morning star, Venus, realised his own true nature. During this retreat Venus will be seen as an evening star and we can 'connect the dots' (between us and the Buddha) as we fall asleep in meditative tranquility. I can't imagine a city more suited to this story than Venice.
Some temples have the tradition of sitting up all night on the last day of sesshin and you will have that option on this occasion.
We are fortunate that on the last night of this sesshin there will be an almost full moon. Some of us will sit up all night, step outside during breaks and look at the moon reflecting on the waters of Venice, maybe go for a midnight stroll - Venice is a very safe city. I would call this 'romancing the Dharma'.
Please join us for a very memorable sesshin. Your participation is you making a gift of this sesshin to everyone else, for without you it won't happen."
This Sesshin is not organised by BMZC; you must contact Ingen directly with queries and bookings. The details are posted http://sites.google.com/site/stresspionage/home/ro Please email questions to ingen@stresspionage.com Sunday 30th October 2011
BMZC Zen & Recovery Group present Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (First Meeting)  A six week intoduction to the practice of Mindfulness Mindfulnessbelfast@gmail.comPlease register your interest by 18th October 2011. Queries toFrank on 07976559958 or email Monday 10th October 2011
Dharma Group - Practice Period Classes (ongoing on Monday evenings over next few months)  ~ from Ryushin Paul Haller Roshi re: participating in N. Ireland "Dear all We thought it would be helpful to let you know about our upcoming classes at SFZC and about a formal practice event we call "Practice Period." It's a ten-week period of time during which we offer participants the guidance and support to sustain a committed relationship to Zazen and mindfulness during the day. We are interested in finding ways to support and encourage sustained practice right in the middle of a busy life. There are ways you can be meaningfully part of the practice period without living at SF City Center. For instance, we offer a range of classes on week nights and one on Saturday morning. They are described on the web site here: http://www.sfzc.org/cc/display.asp?catid=2%2C6%2C96 Also, we'd like to offer the opportunity to join a Dharma Group at BMZC that will meet weekly to discuss aspects of practice that will be presented in the talks. Please let us know if you're interested in this by emailing contact@blackmountainzencentre.org And finally, Practice Period includes a Dharma talk on Wednesday and one on Saturday morning. The talks will be available on the web site at http://www.sfzc.org/zc/display.asp?catid=1%2C10&pageid=440 If you'd like to talk about the many ways you can customize your participation (as endless as there are beings with their particular schedules), please feel free to get in touch with my assistant Joan Amaral at ccabbotassist@sfzc.org. Thank you very much and we look forward to sharing this wondrous practice with you!" Paul Haller Abbot, City Center San Francisco Zen Center Visits by our teacher Ryushin Paul Haller Roshi Tuesday 23rd August to Sunday 4th September 2011 Sesshin - Tuesday 23rd August to Sunday 28th August 2011 to be held at Benburb Priory http://www.servites-benburb.com/ Haller Roshi is one of the foremost living Zen masters and is also the only senior Buddhist teacher to be born and raised in Northern Ireland, kind in manner and speaking with the wisdom and compassion that come from decades of zazen and study. We encourage people to register early and for an entire six day period. Those who wish to come for less than six days will have their names added to a waiting list and will be accommodated as space allows. Shared accommodation is in use on this Sesshin to allow us to accomodate more of those who wish to attend. Unfortunately single accommodation cannot be guaranteed except in exceptional circumstances. Sesshin is now fully booked but in response to a few enquiries we are operating a waiting list for those who would like to attend, in case any vacancies become available due to cancellations etc. Just let us know, many thanks. All events are held in BMZC unless stated otherwise. For Dokusan requests please email contact@blackmountainzencentre.org Monday 29th August Morning Zazen 7.00am – 8.15am Sharing Circle 8.15am – 9.00am Dokusan 2.30pm – 4.30pm Tuesday 30th August Morning Zazen 7.00am – 8.15am Sharing Circle 8.15am – 9.00am Zazen & Dharma Talk 7.00pm – 8.30pm Wednesday 31st August Morning Zazen 7.00am – 8.15am Sharing Circle 8.15am – 9.00am Thursday 1st September Morning Zazen 7.00am – 8.15am Sharing Circle 8.15am – 9.00am Dokusan 10.30am – 12.30pm Zazen & Dharma Talk 7.00pm – 8.30pm Friday 2nd September Morning Zazen 7.00am – 8.15am Sharing Circle 8.15am – 9.00am Dokusan 2.00am – 4.00pm Zazen & Dharma Talk 7.00pm – 8.30pm
Saturday 3rd September ‘Breath & Body’ Workshop 10.00am – 12.30pm ‘Insight & Mindfulness’ Workshop 2.00pm – 4.30pm @ Crescent Arts Centre, 2 - 4 University Road, Belfast, BT7 1NH These workshops are an invaluable opportunity to receive instruction from Roshi on how we work with breath and body and how we bring insight and mindfulness to our Zazen practice and our everyday lives. We greatly encourage every member of the Sangha to attend, and we also welcome members of the general public to come along. Please confirm you place by emailing contact@blackmountainzencentre.org or use the signup sheet in BMZC. These workshops will fill up fast and places will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Suggested donation: Waged - £15 per workshop or £25 for both workshops. Unwaged – Donate according to your means. Sunday 4th September Zazen & Dharma Talk 10.30am – 12.30pm Sangha Meeting 2.00pm – 3.00pm Event Schedule with Ingen Breen  Black Mountain Zen Centre is very pleased to welcome back our good friend Ingen Breen. Ingen is a regular visiting teacher to BMZC, having trained at San Francisco Zen Center and Tassajara Mountain Monastery. Ingen is a Zen Teacher in the Suzuki Roshi lineage and Everyday Zen Foundation, having received Dharma Transmission from Zoketsu Norman Fischer Roshi in March 2009. DHARMA WEEKEND FRIDAY 1ST TO SUNDAY 3RD APRIL 2011 Theme: Denkoroku Koans ~ Transmission of the Light Case 41 - The Story of Daopi
Friday 1st April 19.00 - 21.00
Saturday 2nd April 10.00 - 16.00
Sunday 3rd April 09.00 - 16.00
Schedule Details will be released shortly PRACTICE WEEK MONDAY 7th TO SUNDAY 13th MARCH 2011 Theme : The Noble Eight-Fold Path and The Heart Sutra
Ingen will be supporting the regular sitting schedule at BMZC, providing a series of Dharma Talks, offering training in Doan Ryo and Zendo forms, and offering one to one practice discussions for those who would like to avail of them throughout the week. Monday 7th March
19.00 Evening Zazen & Dharma Talk
Tuesday 8th March
7.00 Morning Zazen 19.00 Evening Zazen & Dharma TalkWednesday 9th March
7.00 Morning Zazen 13.00 - 14.00 Lunchtime Zazen & Dharma Talk
Thursday 10th March
7.00 Morning Zazen 19.00 Evening Zazen & Dharma Talk
Friday 11th March
7.00 Morning Zazen 19.00 Evening Zazen & Dharma Talk
Saturday 12th March
9.30 Morning Zazen
10.30 - 13.00 'Doan Ryo Training': Special Training Session for BMZC Doan Ryo team and facilitators of BMZC sittings.
14.00 - 16.00 'Zendo 101' Introduction to Zendo Etiquette, Forms, Chants. (Open to all.)
Sunday 13th March
9.00 Zazen & Kinhin 10.15 Break 10.30 Zazen & Dharma Talk 11.30 Kinhin 11.45 Zazen 12.30 Lunch 13.30 Zazen and Dharma Talk 16.00 Close
Practice Interviews
Ingen will conduct practice interviews during the week at the following times: Weekdays: 8.00 - 10.00 Sunday: 14.00 - 15.00 Please email contact@blackmountainzencentre.org to book practice interviews with Ingen during Practice Week.Practice Weekend (Residential) 25th to 27th February 2011 Practice weekend with Ingen at Drumalis Retreat Centre Larne. This weekend is organized by Ballymena/Coleraine Zen groups, is open to everyone, and there is a warm welcome to other sanghas who want to come along. Cost £105 plus dana - includes evening meal on Friday, full board with en suite, to Sunday evening. If you want to come, please email ballymenazen@yahoo.ieRohatsu @ BMZC Tuesday 7th December 7pm to Dawn In the Zen tradition we celebrate the Enlightenment of the Buddha on the morning of the 8th December, marking the moment when the Buddha, sitting beneath the Bodhi Tree, observed the appearance of the Morning Star. Ingen Breen, a teacher from San Francisco Zen Centre, will lead the Sangha on an all night sitting throughout the night of Tuesday 7th December, ending at dawn. (For those who can only join us for part of the all night sitting you can also join us from 7pm to 1am, or from 7pm to 10pm, or from 10pm to 1am.)3 Day InterFaith Retreat with Robert Kennedy SJ Roshi
 to be held at Benburb Priory. http://www.servites-benburb.com/ Booking forms are also available from BMZC or can be emailed upon request to bookings@blackmountainzencentre.org Friday 3rd December: Registration 5-6PM; Dinner 6PM; Retreat begins 7PM. Sunday 5th December: ends 3PM. He studied Zen with Yamada Roshi in Kamakura, with Taizan Maezumi Roshi in Los Angeles, and with Bernie Glassman Roshi in New York. He received dharma transmission from Glassman Roshi in 1997. During Zen retreats Kennedy Roshi teaches only Zen in his public talks. However he is generally willing to answer questions on other subjects during one to one dokusan practice interviews. This may be a particular advantage to those who combine Christian faith with Zen practice. He is the author of Zen Gifts to Christians and Zen Spirit, Christian Spirit. His approach to Zen combines some aspects of both the Soto and Rinzai traditions. Schedule of Public Events
Please note Sharing Circle * is only open to those who can commit to all six mornings
All events held at BMZC except where otherwise stated
Autumn Sesshin with our teacher Ryushin Paul Haller Roshi   to be held at Benburb Priory. http://www.servites-benburb.com/ Haller Roshi is one of the foremost living Zen masters and is also the only senior Buddhist teacher to be born and raised in Northern Ireland, kind in manner and speaking with the wisdom and compassion that come from decades of zazen and study. We encourage people to register early and for an entire five day period. Those who wish to come for less than five days will have their names added to a waiting list and will be accommodated as space allows. Shared accommodation is in use on this Sesshin to allow us to accomodate more of those who wish to attend. Unfortunately single accommodation cannot be guaranteed except in exceptional circumstances. Practice Week with Ingen Breen ScheduleTuesday 3rd to Sunday 8th August 2010 Theme: The Noble Eight Fold Path  Practice Week Practice periods have their roots in the "rains retreats" during the time of Shakyamuni Buddha in India - a time when the monks gathered together, intensifying their meditation and study under the guidance of their teacher. This pattern of periodically intensifying our practice continues to this day. After taking root in China, then Korea and Japan, it is now an integral part of the calendar in many Western Zen centers. In Japanese, this seasonal coming together is called Ango, or peaceful dwelling. Dogen Zenji opened a Practice Period in 1245 with the following words: "During this practice period, make each moment the top of your head. Don't regard this as the beginning. Don't regard this as going beyond. Even if you see it as the beginning, kick it away. Even if you see it as going beyond, stomp on it. Then you are not bound by beginning or going beyond"... Dogen took up the whisk, drew a circle, and said, "Dwell peacefully in this nest." You are all invited to join in as much as you can. "So although the kind of place and practice we treasure most is quiet and ordinary daily zazen, work, moment by moment "showing up", we also value "turning the burner up" occasionally and getting the soup rolling. It blends the ingredients and thickens the pot." Ingen Breen, originally from Dublin, trained at San Francisco Zen Centre and Tassajara Mountain Monastery, and received Dharma Transmission from Norman Fischer Roshi. Ingen will be with us at BMZC to lead Practice Week in August. You may know Ingen from his previous visits, where he has manifested a calm intimate compassionate wisdom, and become a good friend to many of us. The theme for Practice Week will be 'The Noble Eight-Fold Path'. The Noble Eightfold Path describes the way to freedom from samsara, as it was laid out by Shakyamuni Buddha. It is a practical guideline to ethical and mental development which can free the individual from attachment and delusion and lead to understanding the truth of existence. Together with the Four Noble Truths it constitutes the essence of Buddhism. The eight aspects of the path are not to be understood as a sequence of single steps, instead they are highly interdependent principles that have to be seen in relationship with each other. Right View Right Intention Right Speech Right Conduct Right Livelihood Right Effort Right Mindfulness Right Meditation Ingen has his own website on http://www.stresspionage.com/ * Please email bookings@blackmountainzencentre.org to book a place for Belfast Zazenkai ** Please email ballymenazen@yahoo.ie to book a place for Ballymena Zazenkai Tuesday 3rd August 7.00-8.15 AM - Zazen 7.00-9.00 PM - Zazen, Dharma Talk and Q&ACost: By Donation Wednesday 4th August 7.00-8.15 AM - Zazen Thursday 5th August 7.00-8.15 AM - Zazen 7.00-9.00 PM - Zazen, Dharma Talk and Q&ACost: By Donation Friday 6th August 7.00-8.15 AM - Zazen 7.00-9.00 PM - Zazen, Dharma Talk and Q&ACost: By Donation Saturday 7th August Zazenkai @ BMZC * 7am-6pm 1 Day Meditation Intensive Cost: £20 waged £10 unwaged Breakfast & Lunch included Sunday 8th August Zazenkai @ Ballymena Zen Group ** Theme: 'The Heart Sutra' 10am-4pm St Johns Ambulance Hall, 11 Corlea Gardens, Ballymena Visit by Brad Warner
 Brad is a Zen teacher who received Dharma Transmission from Gudo Nishijima Roshi, and is also something of an expert on punk rock and monster movies, as well as being a best selling author. His books include:Hardcore Zen: Punk Rock, Monster Movies, & the Truth about Reality Sit Down and Shut Up!! Punk Rock Commentaries on Buddha, God, Truth, Sex, Death, and Dogen's Treasury of the Right Dharma Eye Zen Wrapped in Karma Dipped in Chocolate. A Trip Through Death, Sex, Divorce, and Spiritual Celebrity in Search of the True Dharma ·
*** please email contact@blackmountainzencentre.org to book a place for zazenkai Visit by our teacher Ryushin Paul Haller Roshi
Schedule of Public Events
Please note Mindfulness Sharing Circle * is only open to those who can commit to all five mornings
All events held at BMZC except where otherwise stated
Spring Sesshin with our teacher Ryushin Paul Haller Roshi  to be held at Benburb Priory. http://www.servites-benburb.com/ Haller Roshi is one of the foremost living Zen masters and is also the only senior Buddhist teacher to be born and raised in Northern Ireland, kind in manner and speaking with the wisdom and compassion that come from decades of zazen and study. We encourage people to register early and for an entire five day period. Those who wish to come for less than five days will have their names added to a waiting list and will be accommodated as space allows. Shared accommodation is in use on this Sesshin to allow us to accomodate more of those who wish to attend. Unfortunately single accommodation cannot be guaranteed except in exceptional circumstances. Tuesday 23rd & Wednesday 24th March 2010  Visit by Myo Dennis Lahey 'Can You Hear The Dragon Song?' 7pm to 9pm each evening @ BMZC. All wellcome. Rev. Myo Denis Lahey is a Soto Zen priest practicing in the lineage of Shunryu Suzuki-Roshi. Myo is practice leader at Hartford Street Zen Center in San Francisco and at Iron Bell Zendo in Sacramento, California. A Dharma heir of Tenshin Reb Anderson, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Soto Zen Buddhist Association of North America (SZBA) and is a member of the Association for Soto Zen Buddhism of Japan (ASZB). Myo was drawn to religion and spirituality at an early age and found Zen Buddhism in his teens. He began sitting in 1969 with Shunryu Suzuki-Roshi at San Francisco Zen Center, and later with Issan Dorsey at Hartford Street Zen Centre. 12th March - 14th March 2010  Dharma Weekend @ BMZC with Ingen Breen.
Friday 12th March 2010 7.00pm to 8.30pm Zazen & Dharma Talk Saturday 13th March 2010 7.00am to 9.00pm One Day Intensive Sesshin An intensive day of zazen, Dharma talks, and questions & answers. To book your place please email treasurer@blackmountainzencentre.org 2 Entry points - 9.30am & 1pm 2 Exit points - 1pm & 6pm Full Day: £30 (waged), £10 (unwaged) Half Day: £15 (waged), £5 (unwaged) Half Day: 7am-12.30pm or 1.30pm-9pm **Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner provided in-house for Full day participants **Half Day participants (Breakfast or Dinner provided) Fees help pay for the cost of the visit and the core running costs of BMZC, allowing us to offer our daily schedule on an ongoing basis throughout the year. Sunday 14th March 2010 9.00am to 12.30pm 'Everything you ever wanted to know about (Za)Zen but were afraid to ask' 3rd March - 7th April 2010
Visit by Ingen Breen
 BMZC are pleased to welcome back our good friend Ingen Breen in 2010. Originally from Dublin, Ingen trained at San Francisco Zen Centre and Tassajara Mountain Monastery for over a decade, and has previously led Practice Periods at BMZC. No doubt many of you who know Ingen from his previous visits will appreciate the opportunity to sit togther with him again. Manifesting a calm intimate wisdom, Ingen will be leading several events at BMZC over the next few months. Details of events in February and March will be confirmed and announced shortly. Meanwhile please find below details of his January visit this coming weekend. All are very welcome and we look forward to seeing you there. Saturday 16th January 2pm-5pm
Zazen Posture & Practice Workshop A £10 fee applies. Scholarships are available to the unwaged. Sunday 17th January 9am-4.30pm Dharma Day A special day of zazen and teachings, discussion, questions and answers, and a few surprises. A £20 fee applies. Scholarships are available to the unwaged. Fees help pay for the cost of the visit and the core running costs of BMZC, allowing us to offer our daily schedule on an ongoing basis throughout the year. 3 Day InterFaith Retreat with Robert Kennedy SJ Roshi
 to be held at Benburb Priory. http://www.servites-benburb.com/ Booking forms are also available from BMZC or can be emailed upon request to contact@blackmountainzencentre.org Friday 11th December: Registration 5-6PM; Dinner 6PM; Retreat begins 7PM. Sunday 13th December: ends 3PM. He studied Zen with Yamada Roshi in Kamakura, with Taizan Maezumi Roshi in Los Angeles, and with Bernie Glassman Roshi in New York. He received dharma transmission from Glassman Roshi in 1997. During Zen retreats Kennedy Roshi teaches only Zen in his public talks. However he is generally willing to answer questions on other subjects during one to one dokusan practice interviews. This may be a particular advantage to those who combine Christian faith with Zen practice. He is the author of Zen Gifts to Christians and Zen Spirit, Christian Spirit. His approach to Zen combines some aspects of both the Soto and Rinzai traditions. Visit by our teacher Ryushin Paul Haller Roshi Schedule of Public Events
Please note Sharing Circle * is only open to those who can commit to all five mornings
All events held at BMZC except where otherwise stated or where noted as ** which means venue to be confirmed
Sangha members who wish to volunteer to assist with sesshin duties or doanryo, or at other times during Roshi's visit, are very welcome and should email contact@blackmountainzencentre.org or use the sign-up sheet in BMZC. Thank you.
For more details on Sesshin, on BMZC Annual General Meeting, on N.I. Sangha Day, or on the public workshops,
please see the info below the following schedule. Please enquire for further details on any event.
10AM to 4PM
@ (St.Johns Ambulance) St. Johns Hall, 11A Corlea Gardens, Ballymena, BT43 7AR
Practitioners from each of the BMZC related groups will gather for a Northern Ireland Sangha Day.
Often we begin the day with zazen and a Dharma Talk, leading into group discussion and feedback about each groups needs and our shared vision.
During and after lunch, we'll have the opportunity to socialise and get to know practitioners from other groups better,
all those we might normally only encounter on silent sesshins!
The afternoon will see a period where our creative self expression is explored before we close the day with zazen.
All the N.I. Sangha is very welcome and encouraged to attend.
Please do come along if you can, bring lunch to share, and join the fun...
Mindfulness is a way of learning to relate directly to whatever is happening in your life, a way of taking charge of your life,
a way of doing something for yourself that no one else can do for you - consciously and systematically working with your own stress, pain, illness, and the challenges and demands of everyday life.
Restoring within yourself a balanced sense of health and well being requires increased awareness of all aspects of self,
including body, mind and spirit.
Mindfulness based stress reduction is intended to ignite this inner capacity and infuse your life with awareness.
Fortunately, mindfulness is not something that you have to "get" or acquire.
It is already within you - a deep internal resource available and patiently waiting to be released
and used in the service of learning, growing, and healing.
(* Suggested Donation -Waged £20 for morning or afternoon, £30 for both - Unwaged £10 for morning or afternoon, £15 for both)
1.30pm - 4.00pm
The Zen of Poetry : Zen Meditation and the Poetics of Waking Up
Explore the relationships between poetry and meditation, poet and 'self', and word and use.
As Zen became popularized in the West through writers and poets who translated the great works of East Asian literature,
a natural affinity has been assumed between Zen and poetry.
On the other hand, many of the traditional Chinese and Japanese poets influenced by Zen
were troubled by the relationship between literature and Zen practice.
After all, Zen emphasizes direct experience beyond words and repeatedly asserts that language distorts the fullness of reality.
Roshi will investigate how poetry may convey meaning beyond words, and what function literature fulfils in the context of Zen, leading you in an exercise of creative self expression.
(* Suggested Donation -Waged £20 for morning or afternoon, £30 for both - Unwaged £10 for morning or afternoon, £15 for both) We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the AGM.
All the N.I.Sangha is very welcome and encouraged to attend.
We will be presenting the BMZC Annual Report which will update you on a lot of behind the scene progress at BMZC,
and presenting you with a vision for BMZC's future.
We will also be unveiling our calendar of events for the next year,
which has been based on the input of Sangha members present at the previous N.I Sangha Day
and of those who completed our Survey earlier in the year. Thank you all.
We will also be electing a new Committee of Trustees for 2009/2010.
In order to vote, nominate candidates, propose motions, etc, you do need to be a member of BMZC or an affilated group in N.I.
Your nominees to Committee and your specific Office Holder nominees (2 Co-Chairs, 1 Hon.Secretary, and 1 Treasurer)
need to have been members of BMZC or an affiliated group for at least one year.
Nominations, and proposed motions to AGM, should be received by the Hon.Secretary at least 7 days prior to the AGM.
Proposed motions which involve alteration to the BMZC Constitution should be received by the Hon.Secretary at least 21 days prior to the AGM.
You can download a copy of the Governing Constitution from the 'Governance' page of the website. Link below.
 to be held at Benburb Priory. http://www.servites-benburb.com/ Haller Roshi is one of the foremost living Zen masters and is also the only senior Buddhist teacher to be born and raised in Northern Ireland, kind in manner and speaking with the wisdom and compassion that come from decades of zazen and study.
PLEASE NOTE: Shared accomodation may be in use on this Sesshin to allow us to accomodate more of those who wish to attend. Unfortunately single accomodation cannot be guaranteed except in exceptional circumstances.  Zesho Susan O’Connell has been practicing Zen since 1987, and was ordained as a priest by Tenshin Reb Anderson in 1999. Following a period as shuso at Green Dragon Temple, she currently serves as vice president of San Francisco Zen Center. Before moving to Zen Center, Susan was a feature film producer and, when young, a film and television actress in Hollywood and New York. She has a son and two granddaughters. "When we first encounter Buddhism, we may think that the successful understanding and practice of the teachings is dependent on following cultural norms and customs from Asia, where the Dharma has been nurtured and developed from its initial expression by Shakyamuni Buddha over 2500 years ago. I would like to suggest that the Dharma is alive and well in our own Western culture." During the week Susan may speak on some of the following themes: 1) Taking Refuge, Study and Kindness 2) How to practice in times of extreme change 3) The positive and negative aspects of Hope 4) How to grow the Baby Buddha in each of us
5) Zen is more than stress reduction techniques, it offers liberation
to be held at Drumalis Retreat Centre, Larne contact@blackmountainzencentre.org A deposit of £30 by 5th December secures your place. Friday 19th December: Registration 6-8PM; Tea 6PM; Zazen 8-9PM. Sunday 21st December: ends with Lunch 1PM. He studied Zen with Yamada Roshi in Kamakura, with Taizan Maezumi Roshi in Los Angeles, and with Bernie Glassman Roshi in New York. He received dharma transmission from Glassman Roshi in 1997. During Zen retreats Kennedy Roshi teaches only Zen in his public talks. However he is generally willing to answer questions on other subjects during one to one dokusan practice interviews. This may be a particular advantage to those who combine Christian faith with Zen practice. He is the author of Zen Gifts to Christians and Zen Spirit, Christian Spirit. His approach to Zen combines some aspects of both the Soto and Rinzai traditions.
 Practice Period has its roots in the "rains retreats" during the time of Shakyamuni Buddha in India - a time when the monks gathered together, intensifying their meditation and study under the guidance of their teacher. This pattern of seasonal intensive practice continues to this day. After taking root in China, then Korea and Japan, it is now an integral part of the calendar in many Western Zen centers. In Japanese, this seasonal coming together is called Ango, or peaceful dwelling. Dogen Zenji opened a Practice Period in 1245 with the following words: "During this practice period, make each moment the top of your head. Don't regard this as the beginning. Don't regard this as going beyond. Even if you see it as the beginning, kick it away. Even if you see it as going beyond, stomp on it. Then you are not bound by beginning or going beyond...Dogen took up the whisk, drew a circle, and said, 'Dwell peacefully in this nest'. " You are all invited to join in as much as you can. All of us may benefit from "turning up the burner" of practice and from the wisdom and clarity of our visiting Zen teachers. This is a precious opportunity to increase our practice at the zendo, at home, at work.... "So although the kind of place and practice
"Dear Friends, greetings. I am looking forward to my visit next week, to seeing some familiar faces and meeting some new ones, looking forward to sitting with the BMZC Sangha again. My visit will be for about three weeks. The committee and I have come up with an engaging schedule and I ask you to look at the schedule and attend as much of it as possible – make the three weeks into a retreat or ‘practice period’ (a period of time where you/we pay more attention to our practice and make a commitment to practice more deeply for a given amount of time (3 & 1/2 wks) - sitting more, attending classes & talks and one-day sittings, deepening our understanding and harmony. It is a practice period for me as well as for you! The five classes being offered are progressive, each one building on the previous one, but I think they also stand alone; it would be great if you can attend all five, but if not, feel free to come to one or two. They offer a good introduction and a good overview/review of the Buddha’s basic teachings. I will also be offering daily bodywork sessions. Basically, you sign up for these, sign up for a session between 9am and 12:15pm, or between 2:15 and 4:30pm. If these times do not work for you, then we can check our diaries and figure out a time that will work for both of us. Feel free to email me if you have any questions about the bodywork sessions that I am offering, and see the flyer too. The Acupressure that I’ve been trained in is very gentle and perhaps should not be called bodywork – ‘mindwork’ might be a better term. The Shiatsu and Ashiatsu forms are bodywork. I am offering these by donation rather than by fee. The Acupressure takes about an hour, the Shiatsu and Ashiatsu about an hour and 20. I am also available for meeting with you one-on-one to discuss your practice (“practice discussion”). Again, please see me to set a date and time. Warm Regards, Ingen." Please do avail of this wonderful opportunity to attend events and for the Sangha here in N. Ireland to experience the Buddha Dharma together with our Teacher.
We look forward to seeing you and to continuing in the warm heart of practice together one step at a time, one breath at a time, with no gaining idea...
Friday 22nd 7pm - short Talk and N. Ireland Sangha Tea & Social at BMZC Mindfulness is a way of learning to relate directly to whatever is happening in your life, a way of taking charge of your life, a way of doing something for yourself that no one else can do for you - consciously and systematically working with your own stress, pain, illness, and the challenges and demands of everyday life. Restoring within yourself a balanced sense of health and well being requires increased awareness of all aspects of self, including body, mind and spirit.
Mindfulness based stress reduction is intended to ignite this inner capacity and infuse your life with awareness. Fortunately, mindfulness is not something that you have to "get" or acquire. It is already within you - a deep internal resource available and patiently waiting to be released and used in the service of learning, growing, and healing.
(* Suggested Donation -Waged £20 for morning or afternoon £30 for both - Unwaged £10 for morning or afternoon £15 for both)
Saturday 23rd 2pm-5pm at Institute of Governance, 63 University Rd, Belfast
The Zen of Poetry : Zen Meditation and the Poetics of Waking Up
Explore the relationships between poetry and meditation, poet and 'self', and word and use. As Zen became popularized in the West through writers and poets who translated the great works of East Asian literature, a natural affinity has been assumed between Zen and poetry. On the other hand, many of the traditional Chinese and Japanese poets influenced by Zen were troubled by the relationship between literature and Zen practice. After all, Zen emphasizes direct experience beyond words and repeatedly asserts that language distorts the fullness of reality.
Paul will investigate how poetry may convey meaning beyond words, and what function literature fulfils in the context of Zen. (* Suggested Donation -Waged £20 for morning or afternoon £30 for both - Unwaged £10 for morning or afternoon £15 for both)
Sunday 24th 10am-1pm Zazen, Dharma Talk and Posture workshop at BMZC Sunday 24th 2pm-4pm Annual General Meeting at BMZC (see below)
Monday 25th 7am - Zazen & Sharing Circle at BMZC
Monday 25th 7pm - Zen Workshop at BMZC
Tuesday 26th 7am - Zazen & Sharing Circle at BMZC
Tuesday 26th 7pm - Zazen & Dharma Talk at BMZC
Wednesday 27th 7am - Zazen & Sharing Circle at BMZC
Wednesday 27th - Sunday 31st - Sesshin at Benburb Priory (see below)
Sunday 31st circa 8pm - After Sesshin Meal  to be held at Benburb Priory. http://www.servites-benburb.com/ Haller Roshi is one of the foremost living Zen masters and is also the only senior Buddhist teacher to be born and raised in Northern Ireland, kind in manner and speaking with the wisdom and compassion that come from decades of zazen and study.
PLEASE NOTE: Shared accomodation may be in use on this Sesshin to allow us to accomodate more of those who wish to attend. Unfortunately single accomodation cannot be guaranteed except in exceptional circumstances.
Sunday 24th August 2008 2pm-4pm @ BMZC
Annual General Meeting
We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the AGM, which will be chaired by our Teacher, Ryushin Paul Haller Roshi.
Everyone is very welcome to attend.
We will be hearing the BMZC Chairman's Annual Report and electing a new Committee of Trustees for 2008/2009.
You do need to be a member in order to vote, nominate candidates, propose motions, etc.
Nominations and proposed motions should be received by the Secretary at least 7 days prior to the AGM.
You can download a copy of the Governing Constitution from the 'Governance' page of the website. Link below.
Wednesday 23rd April to Sunday 4th May 2008  Weds 23rd to Sunday 27th April - Sesshin (see below for details)
Monday 28th April to Friday 2nd May each morning 7AM - 8.30AM at BMZC
During this week Roshi will lead morning sitting followed by tea ceremony and class. Each morning Roshi will introduce a topic with which to practice during the day, for discussion the following morning. If possible it would be useful for those attending to commit to the full five morning sittings.
Tuesday 29th April 7PM Zazen & Teisho at BMZC
Roshi will lead zazen, followed by service and a Dharma talk.
Wednesday 30th April 7.30PM Public Talk 'Spirituality and Passion'
with Newcastle Zen Group
Friday 2nd May 7PM Zazen & Teisho at BMZC
Roshi will lead zazen, followed by service and a Dharma talk.
Saturday 3rd May 10AM to 4PM - Northern Ireland Sangha Day
at Drumalis Retreat Centre
Practitioners from each of the BMZC related groups will gather for our first Northern Ireland Sangha Day. We'll begin the day with zazen and a Dharma Talk, leading into group discussion and feedback about each groups needs and our shared vision. During and after lunch, we'll have the opportunity to socialise and get to know practitioners from other groups better, all those we might normally only encounter on silent sesshins! The afternoon will see a period where our creative self expression is explored before we close the day with zazen. Please do come along if you can...
Sunday 4th May 9.30AM to 12.30PM Introduction to Zen Practice at BMZC
The morning will have an emphasis on the foundations of practice and will be suitable for newcomers and experienced practitoners alike.
Wednesday 23rd to Sunday 27th April 2008
to be held at Benburb Priory. http://www.servites-benburb.com/ Haller Roshi is one of the foremost living Zen masters and is also the only senior Buddhist teacher to be born and raised in Northern Ireland, kind in manner and speaking with the wisdom and compassion that come from decades of zazen and study.  will be giving a series of teachings on the 'Six Paramitas' via video link every Monday at BMZC @ 7pm during February / March 2008 Start Date 11th February 2008 The Zendo will be open from 6.30pm for those who wish to sit beforehand. Please get in touch by email or use the signup sheet in BMZC to let us know if you wish to attend. All are most welcome but its very useful to have an idea of the numbers involved. Many thanks.
Zen Weekend with Eido Michael Luetchford at Ballymena Zen Group  Michael Eido Luetchford studied with Nishijima Roshi in Japan for more than twenty years. He will tell the story of that journey, describing how the practice of zazen and the study of Dogen have impacted on his life. THE MEANING OF THE MIDDLE WAY
A day of Zen Practice and teaching by Eido Michael Luetchford
Sunday February 17th 10.00am - 5.00pm
Eido Michael Luetchford, teacher of Dogen Sangha U.K. http://www.dogensangha.org.uk/
will lead a day of Zen practice in St John's Hall, Ballymena.
The theme of the talks and discussions will be “The Meaning of the Middle Way” :
- Explanation of the Buddha’s original discussion on this subject in the Pali Sutras - Nagaruna’s interpretation of the middle way - Dogen’s interpretation of the middle way - Following the middle way in today’s society Michael is an exceptionally clear and accessible zen teacher. His book Beyond Heaven and Earth is a translation of Nagarjuna from the Sanskrit with a commentary drawing on Dogen's writings which he translated from medieval Japanese.
EQUIPMENT - We have some spare zafus, zabutons and kneeling stools but if you have your own please bring them along.
FOOD - Tea, biscuits etc will be provided. Please bring a packed lunch to share.
BOOKINGS - Please e-mail ballymenazen@yahoo.ie to reserve places. We can also e-mail you our directions and schedule.
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THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR ADMISSION. AN AVERAGE DONATION OF £15-£20 WOULD COVER THE COST OF ROOM HIRE, TRANSPORT, DANA ( a gift to the teacher) etc.
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