Headwaters Newsletter of the Bozeman Zen Group

Winter 2003 Volume 2 Number 1

• Come and Sit Zazen
• Rohatsu
• Peace Marches and Vigils
• Retreat with Layla Smith
• Tassajara
• Zendo Rules
• Dana

Come and Sit Zazen

Through the generosity of a member of the Bozeman Vipassana community we are sharing a zendo with the Insight Meditation Community. Everyone is welcome to join us at 6:45 PM on Monday evenings. Please telephone Jenny McCune at 586 -7 044 or Joan Montagne at 587 - 2406 to get the address. The zendo is very close to the Montana State University campus. We meditate for 40 minutes, followed by a chanting of the Heart Sutra. Afterwords we savor tea while reading outloud one of the many books in our lending library.

Rohatsu

Japanese Zen Buddhists traditionally celebrate the enlightenment of the Buddha, known as Rohatsu, on the 8th of December. Many Zen centers organize a big meditation retreat early in December to mark this "holiday". The Bozeman Zen Group commemorated rohatsu with a week of early morning sittings from Dec 2 to Dec 8, 2002. Many people who are unable to attend evening meditation gatherings enjoyed this time to sit together.

Peace Marches and Vigils

Many of us from the Bozeman Zen Group participated in the second March for Peace in Bozeman. Approximately 750 individuals, accompanied by their dogs, walked the length of Main Street on Saturday, January 18, 2003. The crowd was met by speakers and singers on the steps of the Gallatin County Courthouse. The presenters extolled the virtues of peace and harmony in our everyday lives. Peace Vigils continue in front of the Main Street Courthouse every Saturday noon.

Retreat with Layla Smith, Boulder Hot Springs, April 4 - 6, 2003

Enclosed with this newsletter is a brochure for this retreat to be held in one of the most funky and relaxed zendo spaces in the Rocky Mountains! We are hosting this gathering with the Open Circle Sangha of Helena. Come join us by sending in your registration. Contact Bill Robinson in Bozeman at 586 - 8510 or at willrobin@earthlink.net for more info.

Tassajara

In the past, Tassajara, the mountain retreat center for the San Francisco Zen Center, has hosted Sangha Week in April. This year it will be from April 6-13. Practitioners from remote sanghas come together to get a taste of more formal zen practice in a beautiful setting. In April 2002, Matt Colon and Bill Robinson from the Bozeman Zen Group attended. If you are interested in this event contact Bill Robinson at 586 - 8510 or at willrobin@earthlink.net; or the San Francisco Zen Center directly at www.sfzc.com.

Are There Rules in a Zendo?

At our last retreat with Reb Anderson there seemed to be unease among people who had never attended a Zen retreat before with some of the traditions of a different culture. In terms of zen do's and zen don'ts, it is important to commit and stay for the entire retreat. It is inappropriate to leave early, leave and return, or only attend part of the retreat. It is also important to sit quietly so as not to disturb others. Sitting in full lotus is difficult for most Westerners and is not required. Sit in simple cross legged posture, half lotus, seiza (kneeling), or in a chair. If you have to move, do so, but do so mindfully and with full intent. Avoid fidgeting.

The Buddhism of America is as varied as our sangha and the Bozeman Zen Group prides ourselves in being "everything for everybody." However it is important to respect the deep traditions of Soto Zen and so we offer a few suggestions:

• Never point your feet toward the altar or the teacher
• Respect the silence of the zendo
• Restrain from bringing anything but the bare essentials into the zendo
• Food and drink should be left outside the zendo
• Upon entering it is traditional to separate the two "worlds" by bowing in respect to the altar and Buddha and remaining silent

A retreat is a time of simplicity when we let our minds go their own way. Once we let that happen, we usually find that everything settles, just like mud settling on the bottom of a pond leaving the water calm and clear.

Dana

The Buddhist teacher has always depended on the offering of "dana" for his or her support. As Buddhist teachings are regarded as priceless, the offering amount is left up to the individual student. This has not worked very well in most areas of the United States and so in the future the Bozeman Zen Group will include a suggested offering into the cost of retreats.

Please submit items of interest for our next newsletter to montagne@mcn.net

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