W7762 Falk Rd
Monroe, WI 53566
USA
Maezumi Roshi Memorial Zazenkai, May 12-14 2023
The Maezumi Roshi Memorial Zazenkai will take place from Friday evening, May 12 at 7:30 PM through Sunday morning May 14 at about 8 AM. This retreat is an opportunity to deeply appreciate our lineage of teachers. There will be a special service for our founder and the teacher of Myoyu Roshi, Taizan Maezumi Roshi, as well as tribute to our lineage, past present and future. Maezumi Roshi came to the United States in 1956, starting at Zenshuji Soto Mission in Los Angeles, then establishing the Zen Center of Los Angeles and eventually, the White Plum Asanga, the association of Maezumi Roshi’s dharma heirs, totaling more than 190 teachers today. Watch a 56 minute video from St. Nederlands Boeddhistisch Archief here featuring comments by Maezumi Roshi’s wife, Ekyo, oldest daughter Kyrie, bother Junyu Osho, several Dharma successors and Maezumi Roshi himself.
This Zazenkai also marks the beginning of Summer Ango, the 90 day practice period. The retreat will include an Ango Entering Ceremony and a Shuso Entering Ceremony for our shuso, Julie Seido Nelson. The best way that we can express our gratitude for the robust practice tradition that has come to us, honed through generations, is to make our own vow to practice deeply and unendingly. We acknowledge the profound legacy of our ancestry in the dharma – it’s forms and practices – and at the same time, acknowledge the ways in which the dharma seeks to manifest presently.
As in last year’s Maezumi Roshi Memorial Zazenkai, we will invite participants to speak for 3-5 minutes about how the teaching of Maezumi Roshi has impacted or guided their Zen practice. For example, you may choose a passage from one of Maezumi Roshi’s books – Appreciate Your Life, On Zen Practice 1, On Zen Practice II, Hazy Moon of Enlightenment or Teaching of the Great Mountain – to speak about in relation to your own practice. Or you may find quotes on the internet that inspire your reflections.This year, you can also choose to speak about the influence of one of Maezumi Roshi’s Dharma heirs on your practice. A list of the dharma heirs (many generations now) can be found on the White Plum Asanga website here. If you would prefer not to speak, that’s OK as well. After registering, you will receive complete instructions including a link to participate online if you would prefer to participate in that way. Part time participation and/or hybrid schedule (some in person/some online) is also allowed.
The following COVID precautions are in effect:
- Anyone attending in person is required to take a rapid antigen test (home test is fine) within 24 hours prior to arriving at this sesshin and only attend in person if the result is negative.
- We are requiring that anyone attending in person be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and require proof of vaccination. We strongly recommend also having the booster shot, but do not require it.
- Anyone with a medical contraindication for the COVID vaccine (or booster, should we require it in the future) can provide proof of a negative COVID test within 72 hours prior to attendance in lieu of the vaccine.
- Participants will be seated in the zendo at least 6 feet apart and asked to maintain distance during kinhin, services, and lunch.
- Masks must be worn indoors except when eating, sleeping, or if you are the only person staying in a room and have the door closed. We have very limited single rooms available. If you are uncomfortable sharing a room with others, we’ll let you know what other options are available, such as a motel room.
- Participants must sit at designated spots for meals and eat in silence.
- In-person participants must wear N95, KN95 or KF94 grade masks and will be provided with one if they do not bring one.
- Participants must wash their hands frequently, use hand sanitizer when handling shared equipment and wipe surfaces with disinfectant after use as appropriate.
- Please do not attend the retreat in person if you are ill and/or have any symptoms (COVID-related or not) that indicate a possible contagious illness.
Scholarships are available for any who need them. As always, we encourage those who are able to donate an additional amount for the retreat to help us keep retreats affordable for everyone. Participants will receive instructions, a detailed schedule, and Zoom access information after registering. The cost of this retreat is $75 for members and $85 for others for in person participation. The suggested donation for online participation is $10-30 per night, depedning on ho w much you will be attending. Please register no later than Monday, May 8.