Temple News

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JANUARY & FEBRUARY 2012 EVENTS

JAN: 1st Shusho-E Service 10am

2nd-4th - temple closed

8th A Day of Zazen: One Day of Sitting Meditation 7:10am

10th Board Meeting 7:30pm

16th Martin Luther King Jr.’S Day - temple closed

22nd Dr. Kato’s Buddhism Lecture in Japanese

29th Fujinkai Meeting 1pm

Monthly Service & Memorial 2pm

Annual General Meeting for All Temple Members 3pm

New Year’s Party 5pm

FEB: 5th Setsubun -E ( Bean Throwing ) Service 1:30pm

2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd & Mar.1st Introduction to Zen Meditation

12th Dr. Kato’s Buddhism Lecture in Japanese

14th Director’s Meeting 7:30pm

19th Fujinkai Meeting 10am

Nehan-E, Monthly Service & Memorial 11am

Daruma-Kai 12pm

20th President’s Day - temple closed

26th A Day of Zazen: One Day of Sitting Meditation 7:10am

INTRODUCTION TO ZEN MEDITATION - Lecture series by Rev. Daigaku

5 classes – every Thursday evening

February 2nd through March 1st

From 7:30 to 8:45 p.m

This class series provides an introduction to Zen meditation for

beginners. It is open to people of all faiths. The classes include a

presentation of the basic principles of Zen and zazen meditation,

and discussions of how to practice Zen in daily life – while at work

and at leisure – that is, how to find inner peace anytime, anywhere.

Each class includes zazen meditation, beginning with 10 minutes

during the first class, and working up to 30 minutes at the end of the

series. Each class also includes walking meditation. The classes

are led by Bishop Daigaku Rummé, a Zen priest in the Soto Zen tradition, who is the head priest of Zenshuji and director of the Soto Zen Buddhism North America Office. Cost: $70 for the series ($35 for temple members). Register by calling Zenshuji (213) 617-0100 or by email to webmaster@zenshuji.org. Include your name and contact information. Payment may be made at the first class. Scholarships are also available. No one is turned away for lack of funds.

A DAY OF ZAZEN: One Day of Sitting Meditation

The Zazenkai is delighted to announce that we will be having One Day sitting, “A Day of Zazen” almost every month this year also. In January, it will be on the 8th, in February on the 26th, March 25th, April 22nd and so on. It will be from 7:10am to 4:40 pm, include 8 periods of zazen, a Dharma talk by Daigaku Sokan, breakfast, lunch and a question period. Please see the flyer for the detailed schedule. Please email webmaster@zenshuji.org if you are planning to attend.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! - ANNUAL MEMBERS MEETING 2012

You are cordially invited to attend the Annual General Meeting for 2012 on January 29, 2012. The schedule is as follows:

2:00 PM - Service, 3:00 PM - Annual Members Meeting, 5:00 PM - New Year’s Party

Your voice is an important part of our meeting. We need to hear from the congregation on how we (the Board of Directors) are doing: things that you enjoy, things we might add to our program, changes we might consider, problems we need to be aware of, and ideas for the future. We have had many good ideas, suggestions, and recommendations in the past but we need your input to continue supporting the needs/wishes of the congregation. We will also be voting to re-elect/elect Board Members who will be serving a 2 year term; read financial statements from the 2011 year; reports from the various organizations; review/adopt the 2012 budget; question/answer period; make changes if appropriate; and discussion of other topics as needed.

Please take advantage of the opportunity to attend the meeting and participate. Help us make changes and expresss your suggestions that will make Zenshuji a better place for us to be active. Changes can occur and time is on our side. Your voice is very important to us!

We look forward to seeing everyone: the youth and veteran generations working side by side to make Zenshuji a great spiritual and socially active place. Please come and join us at the New Year General Meeting!

SETSUBUNE - Bean throwing ceremony

This service is related to the last day of the year in the old lunar calendar, usually falling around February 2 or 3 of the present calendar. At the temple we will have the festive ceremony of 'bean throwing' (mamemaki) at 1:30pm on the 5th of February this year. The dried roasted soy beans are thrown to bring in good fortune and drive away evil spirits. Everyone yells, "Fukuwauchi, oniwasoto!" Translated: In with good luck; away with demons. People born under the zodiac sign of the year (12, 24. 36. 48. 60. 72, 84, 96, etc, year old)

are selected as bean throwers and the crowd of people try to catch the thrown beans which are said to bring good fortune. Please come and join us. If you were born in the year of Dragon and would like to be a bean thrower on stage, wearing Kamishimo (Japanese traditional costume), please fax this form below to the temple at (213)624-8650.