Posted on

Great Wave to Hold Rising Sun Zazenkai, July 9-11

Even when the clouds hang low, we always know when the sun has risen. Now, after the long night of the pandemic, we are at last able to rekindle our in-person practice. We hope you will join us at Myogenji Temple, in Ludington, Michigan, for the Rising Sun Extended Zazenkai. This retreat will begin at 7:00 PM, Saturday, July 9, and end at 9:00 AM, Sunday, July 11.

Practitioners of all levels of experience are welcome to attend this day that will be rich with opportunities for meditation, scripture recitation, teisho, and dokusan with Gendo Roshi. Four vegetarian meals will be included.

To participate, please complete our Event Registration Form by no later than July 1. Your timely registration and payment ($40) allow us to plan a menu and make other arrangements.

For those who are unable to attend this retreat, we are offering the opportunity to attend Gendo Roshi’s teisho (Dharma talk) by Zoom. To participate, please just let us know by using our contact form. We will respond with details and instructions for connecting via Zoom. We ask that Zoom participants make a $10 free-will donation, but no will be turned away for inability to pay.

We look forward to practicing with you!

Posted on

Great Wave to Allow In-Person Participation in Weekly Zazen Meetings

Image by Adam S. (CC2 license.)

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Great Wave Zen Sangha has been hosting meetings for zazen via the Zoom video conferencing platform.  We plan to continue doing so until all concern for transmission of the virus is behind us.  However, as of this month, we are now also allowing in-person participation in our weekly meetings for those who are fully vaccinated and immunized against the COVID-19 virus and have received an orientation to Zen practice.

Our weekly meetings take place on Thursday evenings from 7:15 PM to 8:15 PM and include two periods of zazen and one of kinhin.

To participate either virtually or in person, please log in and complete our Event Registration Form. After registering, you will receive an email with instructions for participating in your chosen mode of participation. If you choose to participate virtually, you will need to install the free Zoom client on your computer. (You can also download and install the free Zoom mobile app on your smartphone.)  If you choose to participate in person (and are fully immunized), wearing a mask is optional.

To ensure that we can start and end on time, please plan to join the Zoom meeting no later than 7:10 PM. In-person participants should arrive at Myogenji no later than 7:10 PM as well.

Posted on

Virtual Zazen to Resume May 27, 2021

Image by Adam S. (CC2 license.)

Great Wave Zen Sangha will resume Virtual Zazen meetings on Thursday, May 27, 2021.  Meetings include two periods of zazen and one of kinhin most Thursday evenings for the next few weeks. While the purpose of virtual zazen is to safeguard against transmission of the COVID-19 virus, those are who are fully immunized may attend zazen in-person at Myogenji Temple.

To participate virtually, you will need to register here. After you have registered, you will receive an email with a link that will allow you to join the Zoom session. You will need to install the free Zoom software on your computer. (You can also download and install the free Zoom mobile app on your smartphone.)

To participate in person, please use our contact form to inform us of your vaccination status prior to your first visit. Masks are encouraged, but optional.

To ensure that we can start and end on time, please plan to join the Zoom meeting no later than 7:10 PM.  In-person participants should arrive at Myogenji no later than 7:10 PM as well.

If you are new to Zen, please call 231-907-2910 or use our Contact form so that we can give you an introduction to Zen meditation practice.

Posted on

Great Wave Launches Book Discussion

Members and Friends of Great Wave Zen Sangha,

Please consider joining us for a book study and discussion beginning in late February 2021.  We will be taking up a collection of writings by our late teacher and founder of the White Plum Asanga, Taizan Maezumi, Roshi.  In Appreciate Your Life: The Essence of Zen Practice, Maezumi Roshi provides short, accessible explorations of topics including zazen, koans, and shikantaza, as well as the intimate relationship between our practice and our lives. The book will surely speak to the questions and curiosities of seasoned practitioners and beginners alike.

We will meet semi-monthly via Zoom video chat for approximately one-hour beginning at 9:30 AM, on February 28, March 14, March 28, and April 11.  Our discussion moderator, postulant priest Kevin Muzo Holohan, will choose a selection of readings and provide questions for consideration prior to each meeting.

To participate, obtain a copy of the book and complete the book discussion registration form. There is no cost for this series of events, (but free-will donations are sincerely appreciated).  If purchasing the book represents a financial hardship, a copy will be provided for you.  Simply make a request using our Contact form.

Once registered, you will receive a zoom link to join the meetings, the selection of chapters for the first week, and questions for consideration.

We look forward to deepening our understanding of our lineage and practice together through friendly dialogue and discussion!

Posted on

Online Zazen Tonight, Nov 5, 2020

Dear Friends,

This is just a friendly reminder that Great Wave Zen Sangha will be holding a period of zazen tonight via Zoom, starting promptly at 7:15 PM.

I know that votes in the presidential election are still being counted, and you may feel a compulsion to watch news outlets this evening, instead of sitting zazen.  That is fine.  There has never been a better time to find your center, your true home, than now.

To protect the security of our online sessions, we ask that everyone complete our registration form.  It’s free and easy to do.  Once registered, you will receive an email with a link that can be used to join the online Zoom video conferencing session.  You need only register once to join all future zazen sessions.

I look forward to practicing with you.

In Gassho,
Gendo Roshi