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Full Day Meditation. Meets on the first Saturday of every month from 09:00 AM to 05:00 PM. 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. 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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to be held at Benburb Priory, Benburb. Please email with bookings or enquiries to Suggested donation to cover costs £135 Please book early. Booking Forms can be obtained from Black Mountain Zen Centre 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. Robert Kennedy 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.  will be giving a series of teachings on the 'Sandokai' via video link every Monday at BMZC @ 7pm during October & November 2007 Commencing Monday 22nd October 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. 'Sandokai' can be translated as meaning 'The Harmony of Difference and Sameness' or 'The Merging of Difference and Equality'. Sandokai is a teaching that skillfully expounds "a transmission outside the teachings; not founded on words and phrases" in terms of the dualistic aspects of difference (not interacting) and equality (interacting). This short poem clearly teaches that the true nature of the Buddha-dharma is such that it is absolutely impossible to be biased toward either side, difference or equality. Sandokai was written by Sekito Kisen Zenji, who was the 35th Ancestor in the lineage following Shakyamuni Buddha, and it is regarded as one of the three foundational teaching poems of the Soto Zen school. It was through Sekito Kisen Zenji, along with Ungan Donjo and Tozan Ryokai Zenji's, that the Buddha- Mind of the Great Sage of India was passed on and the Soto Zen school was born. Sandokai, comprised of 220 Chinese characters, is a very concise sutra in which there are no wasted letters. It says everything there is to say about the source of Zen and the true meaning of the Buddha- dharma. Other sutras proceed to speak from the standpoint of the Dharma, but the special characteristic of Sandokai is that it expounds the teaching from both the standpoint of the Dharma as well as the self. It is here that there is a deep meaning in Sandokai and it is our great duty as practitioners to convey and transmit this. Full Day Meditation. Please bring along something to share for lunch.  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. Booking Forms can be obtained from contact@blackmountainzencentre.org Weds 15th 7.30pm Public Talk @ Queen's University Belfast
Theme: 'Being Fully Alive'
Venue: The Peter Frogett Centre - Room 211
Thursday 16th 7am Zazen @ BMZC Belfast
Thursday 16th 9.30am - 4.30pm
'Mindfulness and Psychotherapeutic Strategies' Workshop.
"Paul facilitates to train and develop the group
skills base through the process of employing
experiential methods that reveal how to integrate mindfulness into everyday life.He shares the embodiment of the wisdom of his own life commitment to zen practice and how that influences his professional training and work in the area of psychotherapeutic strategies.Group feedback and discussion on the techniques applied is integral to deepen understanding of the process involved." Lunch is provided. Suggested donation £50.
Venue - Survivors of Trauma, 151 Cliftonville Road, Belfast, BT14 6JR
Download details here.
Friday 17th 7am Zazen @ BMZC Belfast
Friday 17th 7pm Zazen, Talk and Q&A @ BMZC Belfast
Saturday 18th 9am - 4.30pm
Creativity Workshop 'Zen and Mindful Movement',
with Alastair Maclennan.
@ Larne Mindfulness Group, Drumalis Retreat Centre.
The day will involve zazen, 2 hours of Mindful Movement,
and discussion.
Vegetarian lunch is provided. Numbers are limited to around 20.
Participants should bring clothing they can move comfortably in,
and 2 objects of any kind which hold personal meaning for them.
Suggested donation £20.
Sunday 19th 10am - 4pm
Mindfulness Workshop @ Newcastle Zen Group
@ Annesley Hall, South Promenade.
If you would like to reserve a place on this course,
please ring Clare on 07708 581064.
The cost is £20 (£10 unwaged), lunch and refreshments included.
"Mindfulness is a technique in which a person makes a conscious
decision to be aware of his or her thoughts and behaviour in the
present moment. Being mindful to our everyday activities helps to
improve our physical and mental well-being, reducing stress and
anxiety and promoting a sense of calm.
The day will be a mixture of practical activities and discussion. No previous experience is necessary." Download details here.
Monday 20th 7am Zazen @ BMZC Belfast
Monday 20th 7pm Zazen, Talk and Q&A with
Ballymena and Coleraine Zen Groups
@ St. John's Hall, 11A Corlea Gardens, Ballymena.
Tuesday 21st 7am Zazen @ BMZC Belfast
Tuesday 21st 7pm Zazen, Talk and Q&A @ BMZC Belfast
Wednesday 22nd - Sunday 26th Sesshin @ Benburb Retreat Centre.
Registration from 3pm. Please see details above.
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