SMS Practice Period, 2016
Dear Springs Mountain Sangha,
Here’s to Winter!
Over the Fall months, a number of you have expressed a desire to deepen, to strengthen your Zen practice.
As we take our first steps into Winter, we are fortunate indeed to have a community strong enough to offer a practice period to start off the year, running from January 9 toApril 17.
What’s a practice period? It’s a time that you can design for yourself, and that a community can design together. In a practice period, the community will offer a number of opportunities for you to engage deeply in practice—both individually, and collectively. And you might, for yourself, explicitly set out to protect time and energy for your Zen practice during this period. How much, and when, is such an individual matter! While our offerings will span a little over 3 months, of course you can determine the length of your own practice period.
Below is a listing of opportunities Springs Mountain Sangha will be offering. You’ll see, there are quite a lot! And remember, these are in addition to our regular schedule of meditations and community nights. As you mull this over, and consider what will deepen your practice and embed awakening more and more in your life, please be aware, also, that your practice—and your presence—are very significant gifts to your companions. You support the practice of the community, as it supports you. As a koan says, “Morning and evening, we entangle eyebrows and rub shoulders.”
We’ll be sending out a form that you might complete, as a reminder for yourself of the commitment to practice that you are making for this specific time. This is not necessarily about doing more. It might be about doing less, non-doing more!
Here’s a link to an article about the dark, for inspiration.
Recently I brought forward a koan that is still keeping me company, and it seems to be offering itself as a companion for a practice period, as well:
The World Honored One Points to the Ground
As the World Honored One was walking with the congregation, he pointed to the ground with his finger and said, “This spot is good to build a sanctuary.”
Indra, Emperor of the gods, took a blade of grass, stuck it in the ground, and said, “The sanctuary is built.”
The World Honored One smiled.
May all the beings bless your endeavors during this practice period, and may your practice bring joy— to you, and to others.
Yours in the Dharma,
Sarah Bender
Springs Mountain Sangha Opportunities,
Winter, 2016
Scheduled Events
Friday, Jan. 1:
“Simple Sitting” at The Woman’s Club, 20 Mesa Road, 10:00 to 2:30.
No registration needed, and part-time participation is fine. Brown bag lunch, 12:00 to 12:30.
Saturday, Jan. 9:
All are welcome; to register, contact Liz Cramer, elizabeth.cramer51@gmail.com
suggested donation, $20
Saturday, Jan. 23:
One-day Retreat with Andrew Palmer, Wet Mountain Sangha
Contact Andrew, alpsensei@gmail.com
Saturday, January 30:
Zen Practice for your Actual Life: An Introduction
A Workshop with Sarah Bender, Sensei,
Resident Teacher for Springs Mountain Sangha
9 AM to 3 PM (brown bag lunch)
20 Mesa Road, Colorado Springs (AKA The Woman’s Club)
Includes an introduction to Zen
Instruction and practice in seated and walking meditation,
Discussion of spiritual practice in this Buddhist tradition,
Time for exploration in community.
All are welcome. To register, please contact Liz Cramer, elizabeth.cramer51@gmail.com
Feb 26-27
Retreat Friday evening and Saturday, led by Andrew Palmer
Coordinator and Registrar, Robert King, kingrh5722@gmail.com
Saturday, Mar 19
Simple Sitting, The Woman’s Club, 10 AM to 2:30 PM
April 15-17
Integrative Retreat (to close practice period)
This may incorporate a bare bones meditation retreat starting Weds eve, Apr. 13 for any who would like the longer stretch, e.g. those taking refuge.
Ongoing Opportunities
Refuge and Precepts Practice Group will meet weekly, starting after Jan. 9. Dates and times to be announced. We will take up each of our 16 Bodhisattva Vows, one at a time, bringing them into the experience of our lives and into the stillness of meditation.
Dogen Study Group meets Fridays at 10:00, 1510 Hermosa Place 80906 (Clay Taylor’s home)
Contact Terry Crane, terrycrane@juno.com .
Buddhism and the 12 Steps Group meets Wednesdays at 7PM, 417 Prairie Road, 80909
Contact Jacque Minehart, jqminehart@yahoo.
Koan meditation with Andrew Palmer, Sensei at Sunwater Spa Sunday evenings, 6 to 7 PM
Work in the Room with Sarah Bender and Andrew Palmer will be available during this period, and we encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity for individual teacher support.
Contact teachers at sembender@gmail.com and alpse
Small-group practice support: Individuals may want to get together with one or more others for ongoing practice support. You can do this.