Upcoming Events September 2019 with Zen Master Chong An Sunim
Spiritual Friendship
The Sangha or Spiritual Friendship is at the very core of the Buddha’s teachings. Since the inception of the Ordinary Zen Sangha in the spring of 2015, I have had the honor to practice with many wonderful human beings who have had a profound effect on my practice and life journey. I am very grateful and consider each and everyone without exception, to be a spiritual friend. I will always hold each of you in my heart-mind with compassion and […]
An uprising of decency
In his opinion piece in the New York times today David Brooks makes the poignant point that “We need an uprising of decency”. He refers to the last debate where Marianne Williamson made some very interesting observations about politics in our country. He says “It is no accident that the Democratic candidate with the best grasp of this election is the one running a spiritual crusade, not an economic redistribution effort.” Here is a link to the article. I always […]
Chong An Sunim in Amsterdam
This latest Dharma talk from Chong An Sunim is as clear as a temple bell and is a wellspring of wisdom. We are fortunate to have Chong An Sunim come to Sarasota and share his wisdom. He will be at OZS in September. “Clarity: Zen means that you attain this moment completely and clearly. If your mind is clear, everything is clear. Zen schools are practice oriented, teach how to experience the mind before thinking. Zen originally means becoming one. It […]
Chong An Sunim – Dharma Talk at the Hague
What is mind, mindful and mindfulness? What is the ‘soul’? What is Dharma? Attention, awareness, consciousness. Great and small mind. How can we bridge these two? What is it that exists before birth and after death? How does the human mind function and how does the law of the universe work? Our guides on the spiritual way. “What is your original face?”
Talk by American Tibetan Buddhist Nun – July 17, 2019
Wednesday, July 17, 2019. 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm at OZS A special talk by Leigh Files (Ani Samten Chodron) an American Tibetan Buddhist nun living and volunteering in a monastery in Bylakuppe, the largest Tibetan refugee settlement in South India.
Earth Day – Every Day
Some 40 years ago I went back to the land, built a homestead and grew much of my own food. It was a dream many shared back then and still do today. It is in our nature to be in nature. It was during this time that I came across the writings of Wendell Berry. I went for a hike a couple of days ago at Myakka State Park. As I walked alone in solitude among the Oak hammocks […]
Why OZS Exists
OZS exists because it is needed. It isn’t a church or religious institution. We have enough of those. It isn’t a Buddhist Temple and we do not worship a Buddha, a god or deity. We do not belong to or adhere to an ideology. Yet when you walk into our zendo, you will find the triple treasure is very much present. OZS is a modern practice center. Here, presence is what matters. It is palpable. What do we practice? Our […]
Don’t Believe Everything You Think!
If we are caught in the bubble of our own thinking, we are not truly practicing Zen and are only deluding ourselves. We are Buddhist practitioners in name only and our commitment goes up in smoke with the fire of like and dislike! We may wander around from one Teacher, Spiritual Center or Zendo, to another, trying to make the world into how we think it is, or blindly following like sheep as long as it feels good. By believing […]