A monthly precepts study group with Nomon Tim Burnett and Ryushin Andrea Thach.
The Zen Precepts are a powerful tool for awareness that integrate the philosophy and attitude of Zen training with everyday life.
Who? (1) All Red Cedar Zen Members are invited to join. The group is not drop-in: students should have the intention to attend all 6 sessions and the two day retreats. (Schedule below, some is still preliminary)
(2) Students moving towards Jukai are expected to attend all 8 sessions. Please talk to one of our teachers or senior students before the first meeting if you are interested in receiving Jukai this year. (For more on Jukai and other training options at Red Cedar please see: the Going Further page on the website).
Use the registration form to RSVP to join the study group. Interested in receiving Jukai? Please speak with a sangha teacher.
What?
A monthly study group with readings done ahead from 3 key books on the precepts supplemented by additional articles and reflections. Each group meeting will include discussion, experiential exercises, and reflection in small groups on what these precepts mean for us as human beings and students of Zen.
In between meetings students will be invited to reflect on how the precept in focus shows up in their life and will asked to do some kind of active response. This response would be written, artistic or verbal. At each meeting a new assignment for the next month will be offered by the teacher of that month’s group.
When?
Meeting 1 - Wednesday April 11th, 5:45pm - 6:45pm - about the precepts, refuges
Meeting 2 - Wednesday May 2nd, 5:45pm - 6:45pm - pure precepts
Meeting 3 - Wednesday May 30th, 5:45pm - 6:45pm - - precepts 1 & 9
Meeting 4 - Wednesday June 13th, 5:45pm - 6:45pm - precepts 2 & 3
Meeting 5 - Wednesday July 18th, 5:45pm - 6:45pm - precepts 4 & 5
Meeting 6 - Wednesday August 8th, 5:45pm - 6:45pm - precepts 6 & 7
Meeting 7 - Wednesday September 5th, 5:45pm - 6:45pm - precepts 8 & 10
Cohort Retreat - Sunday October 7th, 9am - 3pm
Meeting 8 - Wednesday October 24th, 5:45pm - 6:45pm - reflection
Precepts Retreat & Ceremony - Saturday November 3rd, 6am - 5pm (ceremony at 3pm).
More on receiving Jukai.
For those it suits, receiving Jukai is a wonderful step and provides the student with a focus and structure in practice also also offers the sangha support and nourishment through the student’s publicly made commitment to practice and precepts.
If you’re interested in in receiving jukai: you must receive permission from a sangha teacher. Speak either to Guiding Teacher Tim Burnett, Sangha Teacher Ryushin Andrea Thach, or to one of our Mentors who have been shuso and are authorized to support you in preparation for jukai: John Wiley, Edie Norton, Talus, Bob Penny, Chris Burkhart, or Kate McKenna.
To clarify: in addition to attending the Precept Study Group and receiving permission from a sangha teacher, in order to move towards jukai you will also be meeting with a sangha teacher to discuss your process of engaging with the precepts privately in Practice Discussion or Dokusan.
And it’s important to note that it’s wonderful and complete to study the precepts without approaching jukai and that receiving jukai and wearing the rakusu is not a requirement (or a blanket recommendation) in our sangha. It’s a choice and a discernment to be made with a teacher. (For more on Jukai and other training options at Red Cedar please see: the Going Further page on the website).
Texts:
Diane Rizzetto, Waking Up to What you Do
Robert Aitken, Mind of Clover
Reb Anderson, Being Upright
Please use the registration form at the left to RSVP if you intend to come to study group.
