Zen Retreat May 21, 2006

The Northfield Buddhist Meditation Center will offer a half-day meditation retreat, known as a sesshin, from noon until 5:00 p.m. The retreat will be conducted in the style of the Japanese Soto Zen tradition, by Zen priest Ted Tuel. It is open to anyone who would like to participate. The afternoon will provide an opportunity for the elimination of distractions and direct experience of reality ? of the breath, the footstep, the voice, and the performance of simple work. Being open to direct experience requires some effort, and it also requires letting go of expectations. It is not likely to happen quickly, and participants therefore are urged to stay for the entire retreat. However, if your schedule does not permit you to be there for the entire retreat, or if you are not ready for five hours of continuous practice, you are certainly welcome to come for only part of the afternoon. Arriving at the beginning, when meditation instruction will be provided, would be best. Wear comfortable clothing.

This event, like all events offered at the Center, is given on a dana basis, ?dana? being the Pali word for generosity. Buddhist teachings
have been passed down over the centuries in the spirit of generosity,
and the Northfield Buddhist Meditation Center tries to continue this
practice. We depend on donations for operation of the Center, and we hope participants will experience this generosity and respond in kind withfinancial support the Center as well as our teachers. At all events we have two donation baskets: one for the Center, and one for the teacher. For more information, consult northfieldbuddhists.org