In tough times it’s easy to contract in your thinking and your activities. The tradition we come from doesn’t advise this. Shakyamuni Buddha teaches:

“If people knew as I know the results of giving and sharing, they would not eat without having given…

Even if they were down to their last bit of food, they would not eat without having shared it, if those to receive it were present.”

Itivuttaka 26

Try it, in a manageable, sane, gradual way. Notice how your world completely transforms.

London, generosity, Dana, zen yoga, camberwell, zen, Meditation, Mindfulness, Teacher, Instructor, shakyamuni, buddha, Training, Roshi, Zen Master, Daizan, Wellbeing, Stress, Insight, Stress-reduction,London, generosity, Dana, zen yoga, camberwell, zen, Meditation, Mindfulness, Teacher, Instructor, shakyamuni, buddha, Training, Roshi, Zen Master, Daizan, Wellbeing, Stress, Insight, Stress-reduction,London, generosity, Dana, zen yoga, camberwell, zen, Meditation, Mindfulness, Teacher, Instructor, shakyamuni, buddha, Training, Roshi, Zen Master, Daizan, Wellbeing, Stress, Insight, Stress-reduction,London, generosity, Dana, zen yoga, camberwell, zen, Meditation, Mindfulness, Teacher, Instructor, shakyamuni, buddha, Training, Roshi, Zen Master, Daizan, Wellbeing, Stress, Insight, Stress-reduction,London, generosity, Dana, zen yoga, camberwell, zen, Meditation, Mindfulness, Teacher, Instructor, shakyamuni, buddha, Training, Roshi, Zen Master, Daizan, Wellbeing, Stress, Insight, Stress-reduction,

13 October to 27 October 2012

Early booking price £2630 fully residential.

We’ll be at Gaunts House, a beautiful and comfortable retreat centre in Dorset. More information about the venue here http://www.gauntshouse.com/ Enquire about the special Early Bird price for course fees and full-board accommodation of £2630. There are limited places available, so you’ll need to get in early. Your first step is to email zenways@london.com.

Gaunts House Dorset

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“The Yoga secret for maximum health is living in a way that brings joy to the very force of life itself, thus enabling the individual human being to manifest his own abilities to the full and to cooperate with others… According to the Zen Yoga system, in order for a person to be beautiful, the entire personality including its psychological, physical and lifestyle aspects, must be beautiful.”

Zen Yoga Therapy; Oki Masahiro Sensei

Alone, passgates closed, not inspecting the state.
Here, who is the Dharma King?
If people request a winter quote -
“From this dawn, day lengthens by a thread.”
Zen Master Ikkyu

The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year and from the next day the days lengthen. It is called the return of the yang. When yin reaches extremity it turns into yang. Similarly when we are able to fully open our hands, we realise the Way. The first line above is an allusion to the I Ching hexagram no 24, “Turning Back” which illustrates this day. “The ancient king, on the day of solstice, closed the gates of the passes, merchants did not travel, and the king did not inspect the state.”

Ikkyu follows this by echoing the Lotus Sutra and asking you to identify who you really are. And in this momentous change, at the same time things have hardly changed at all.
As the year turns, wishing you health, happiness and great success on all levels.

When sitting in the morning, courage will spring up
When sitting in the evening, gratitude will be born
When sitting alone, you will enjoy stillness
When all are sitting, harmony will arise
When sitting properly, you will keep your good health
When keeping on sitting, you are promised a long life.
From Rinzaishu Shingyo Kyoten (The Rinzai School book of scriptures)

“At every step the pure wind rises.”
Zen Master Daito Kokushi
Pack up camp, fill our water bottles
hoist our packs
find our direction and path
comment on the weather and nice surroundings
chat about work and life

the ascent kicks in
gentle plod turns to paced uphill steps

trees are left behind, chat is left behind
the going gets steep and rough
concentrate on the steps
boots tramping on stone and mud
no, feet caressing the ground with each pace

footfalls, step, step, step
uphill

one foot after the other
the rhythm
observing the body working, the feet moving – as if from the outside
where is the self, where is the foot, where is the ground, the mountain?
the body is moving, the mind is still, what is “I”?

I am the footfall, I am the ground beneath, I am the rhythm
true nature.

Mark Kakushin Westmoquette

Hiya, If you’ve ever felt held-back by fear, if you’ve ever avoided following your heart, if you’ve ever backed-away from stepping into something new and perhaps a little unknown, then you might be interested in what we have coming up.

The Japanese Zen teacher, Suzuki Shosan (1579-1655), a battle-hardened samurai who became a monk later in life taught his students, ‘True ‘no-thought, no-mind’ zazen is just one thing – to have a fearless mind.’

He developed a unique style of teaching and practice which emphasized fearlessness, freedom and complete engagement with life. He particularly urged his students to squarely face the koan or spiritual problem of death.

In October 12-17 we have a Zen retreat at Anam Cara in Scotland where we will be exploring Shosan’s teachings to transcend your deepest fears so that you can become freely able to shape your most authentic and satisfying life. There are only 12 places available. It’s suitable for new people as well as experienced practitioners. You can register at http://www.anamcara.org/. Please come and join us. Life is short. Let’s really live before time runs out.

Best wishes Daizan

A quote from the teachings of the Buddha:

I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was living among the Sakyans. Now there is a Sakyan town named Sakkara. There Ven. Ananda, his assistant, went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to the Blessed One, sat to one side. As he was sitting there, Ven. Ananda said to the Blessed One, “This is half of the holy life, lord: noble friendship, noble companionship, noble camaraderie.”

“Don’t say that, Ananda. Don’t say that. Admirable noble, noble companionship, noble camaraderie is actually the whole of the holy life.”

Announcing the publication of Wake Up and Live, a comprehensive guide to Zen meditation. For the first time, the full range of Rinzai Zen meditation is presented in English. The set of eight DVDs and two CDs provide a sophisticated and broad-based system which will enhance your health and well-being and foster the unfolding of your spiritual awakening. The first fifty are signed and individually numbered and available on limited release at £79. Email daizan@london.com to order your copy.

At Oxford University with Dr. Barbara Gabrys to teach “Mind-Body Harmony – A Dynamic Approach.” If you’re interested in practicing in the Oxford area, drop a note to daizan@london.com.