Samu – Annandale

Trainer: Gillian Coote Category: , ,

June 19 at Annandale Zendo

Zazen from 8.30am to 9.30am. There will be a talk by Brendon Stewart at 9.30am before we commence our jobs at about 10.15am. Feel free to come for as long as you can. Please bring some vegetarian food to share for lunch.

This is a wonderful opportunity to extend your practice into your daily life. Samu is an ancient way of giving something valuable back to the sangha through the generosity of your labour. Explore the joy of gardening, building maintenance, cleaning and mending at our city zendo. Our founding teacher, Robert Aitken, said that Zen without samu is a cult. So share with other members this most important part of your Zen journey by coming along to offer your time and skills, while having a great time with your sangha friends.

Contact: Brendon Stewart stewarts34@bigpond.com

Timetable

  Open Time Close Time Teacher Address
19/06/2022 8:30 AM 4:00 PM Gillian Coote
19/06/2022 8:30 AM 4:00 PM Gillian Coote 251 Young St, Annandale
19/06/2022
8:30 AM - 4:00 PM - with Gillian Coote - at
19/06/2022
8:30 AM - 4:00 PM - with Gillian Coote - at 251 Young St, Annandale

Gillian Coote, a senior resident teacher of the Sydney Zen Centre, met Robert Aitken Roshi in 1980, regularly attending his annual sesshin in Sydney as well as training periods and sesshin in Hawai'i. She also studied with John Tarrant and Subhana Barzaghi, from whom she received dharma transmission in June 2004 at Kodoji, Temple of the Ancient Ground. Gillian has been involved with developing sangha at Sydney Zen Centre since the early '80's - organising sesshins, editing SZC's journal, Mind Moon Circle and being involved in sangha ceremonies and activities. Inspired by their experience of sangha building at the Ring of Bone Zendo in California in 1982, Gilly and her architect/builder husband Tony, have built and maintained, with the help of the sangha, our bush zendo Kodoji at Gorricks Run. She trained with environmental activist and Buddhist scholar, Joanna Macy, and for fifteen years was the co-ordinator of the Sydney branch of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship. She has practised with Thich Nhat Hanh, attending his artists' retreat in Ojai, California and joined his pilgrimage to Buddhist sites in India and Nepal. She directed and produced 'The Awakening Bell', a documentary film made during his visit to Sydney. Gillian is a social documentary filmmaker, writer, grandmother and bush regenerator. She is supervising apprentice teacher, Will Moon.