Shitsu-go Ceremony:
Shinge-shitsu Roko Sherry Chayat Roshi names Chigan-kutsu Kyō-On Dokurō and bestows the title of Rōshi.
Congratulations to Charles River Zen being led by a fully authorized Zen master in the Japanese Rinzai-Haukuin-Takuju lineage!
A Dharma Talk referring to Case 23 of the Mumon-kan (無門関) by Dokurō Oshō touching on current events. Zen is a practice that always connects to THIS, the current times, and offers an approach to live authentically with compassion, conviction, and the energy to meaningfully contribute to change.
No-self, love, impermanence…
Listen to the online dharma talk that Dokuro Osho gave on May 3 to the Zen Studies Society, Zen Center of Syracuse, and all other sanghas which he serves.
Zen is the practice of no-self (無我 MUGA), Love (慈悲 JIHI), and study of impermanence (無常).
Please be aware that because of the pandemic in person events at Charles River Zen are suspended until further notice. There are online events in the Rinzai tradition available, which are open to the public.
Once we have connected to that what exists before the world of words appears we gain access to deeper levels of awareness, freedom, and timeless wisdom.
The world of intuition requires as much involvement as the world of discursive thinking.
No-self and self work hand in hand to lead us to the actualization of Zen.
Kyo-on Dokuro, Osho
Where there is full radiance, where there is full illumination, there is full consciousness.
Where there is only partial radiance, partial illumination, there is judgment, there is discrimination, there is doubt.
Kyōzan Jōshū, Rōshi
Zazen (座禅), seated Zen meditation, leads us to discover and realize our original nature. Sitting still and allowing the breath to flow freely awakens and clears the mind.
In the Zazen posture our mind and body develop great strength to accept things as they are.
As we develop equanimity and a nonjudgmental stance we learn to go beyond our limited perception of the world. We recognize underlying illusions and the origins of our own personal challenges.
Kinhin (經行), meditative walking, is alternated with periods of Zazen. This is meditation in motion, embodying movement and stillness. Walking in step brings the group together as one.
We also combine chanting with walking meditation, Gyōdō (行道), where we have the opportunity to manifest sound, breath, and step as one.
When we chant we manifest total presence as voice. Full engagement in the moment leaves no time for thinking. This aids us in transcending the confines of our limited selves to become free of opinions, ideologies, and beliefs.
Chanting is a transformative experience, yet no magic or esoteric forces are involved. What is required is your full attention.