Zazenkai
Zazenkai is half a day of intensive zazen and a Dharma talk which provides an opportunity to deepen your practice. If you have not practised with us, please arrange an orientation before attending a zazenkai.
Zazenkai can be an introduction to longer practice, and is a good preparation for sesshin (retreats) where we sit for multiple days. When held at the zendo, Zazenkai is a rich practice format that includes a dharma talk given by a teacher or senior student, a sutra service, extended zazen and dokusan (interview with the teacher). Wearing a mask is optional in the dojo and at the discretion of the teacher for dokusan.
The Sydney Zen Centre relies on the financial support of its members and visitors. If you’re not a member and are attending the zendo for the zazenkai, the facility fee is $10. Please make a bank transfer via PayID using our email: info@szc.org.au Please tag the payment with your name and the letters “FF”. Or you can leave cash in the donation box at the zendo.
2025
January – No zazenkai this month
February 16 – Chinese Brush Painting workshop with Janet Selby
Last year I attended a Chinese painting course to learn the basics of using ink on Xuan paper, or Sumi paper. I now want to share a small portion of my skills so you can have an experience. We will sit for one period at 10am, then I will give an introduction on the philosophy and demonstration. Then we will all explore creating small ink designs, drying them with a hair dryer, then adding some colour and a background. That will all we will have time for, but the idea is to glue the best pieces onto a blank greeting card. I will show you that, and you can finish it at home.
Finish about 12pm. Please book so I know how much material to bring. A small donation would be welcome to SZC as a fundraiser.
March 22, 23, 24 – Walking the Country Retreat with Will Moon, in lieu of zazenkai
April 13 – Buddha’s birthday & Baby Naming Ceremony at Annandale with Gillian Coote, roshi
May 18 – Kodoji – Peter Bursky will be leading an all-day Zazenkai at Kodoji.
Come join us for a full day’s sit, from 9am to 5pm, amongst the cold cliffs and deepening mist. Peter will be offering dokusan and teisho in what will otherwise be a full day of silent sitting. This is a unique opportunity for those who have not yet experienced the healing silence of our forgotten valley temple to get a taste of the joy of sesshin.
It is BYO lunch (cutlery provided) and the use of Kodoji’s amenities will be kept to the bare minimum.
If you plan to come, it is essential that you register/forward questions to Peter Bursky at petermbursky@protonmail.com so we can set up the dojo accordingly.
June 1 – Samu at Annandale in lieu of zazenkai
July 20 – Annandale – Dharma talk and dokusan by Jane Andino, roshi
August 17 – Annandale – Dharma talk “Three Bodhisattvas” and dokusan with Gillian Coote, roshi.
Gillian practised with three Bodhisattva teachers – Robert Aitken, roshi; Thich Nhat Hanh & Dr Joanna Macy – and will share some of their life stories and insights.
September 14 – Annandale – Dharma talk “Let’s Be Wise Together” and dokusan by Maggie Gluek, roshi
In an old story we meet Manjusri, Great Wisdom Bodhisattva as well as the Much Lesser Bodhisattva Delusive Wisdom and A Young Woman Meditating. And in them—as Aitken Roshi points out—we meet dimensions of ourselves. In all of this there’s deep encouragement at hand.
Schedule:
09.30 sutras
10.00 zazen
10.30 teisho
11.00 zazen & dokusan
12.00 End
October 19 – AGM and potluck – replaces zazenkai – meeting starts at 10.30am (9-10am zazen) Potluck lunch
November 16 – Annandale – Dharma talk and dokusan by
December – No zazenkai this month
