The "Middle Period" at Red Cedar Zen(three to ten years...or so)
What we call here the "middle period" might be for a lifetime. This is a life lived in steady and active conversation with Zen practice. For many people this middle period is not a step to move beyond, but a description of a practice that continues with shifts and changes, twists and turns, for the rest of your life. Learning & StudyTake our Dharma classes as they are offered. Look also at the major centers like San Francisco Zen Center and Upaya Zen Center and also at Tricycle and Lion's Roar for online classes too. Check out Norman Fischer's incredible Everyday Zen Study Guide - a massive collection of many of his talks and some of his senior students arranged by topic. By donation. The Zen Studies Podcast with Domyo Burke, a reliable Zen Teacher from the Dharma Rain Zen Center (Shasta Abbey lineage), is a great source. Many different topics covered in a friendly, accessible manner. Explore the Mahayana sutras such as the Diamond Sutra, learn more about the Heart Sutra, also explore the Lotus Sutra, Vimalikirit Sutra and more. Traditional Buddhist literature is vast. Dig more deeply into the Zen koan collections - explore some of these stories with one of our teachers in dokusan. PracticeTried one of the Doanryo roles yet in the zendo? Reach out to the ino (zendo coordinator) at ino@redcedarzen.org for training. You can sign yourself up right here on the website. Regularly join multi-day sesshin (Zen Meditation retreat). Close to daily practice is essential in this period. Our regular weekly schedule, especially weekday morning zazen via Zoom can be a great support for this. Visit other sanghas within our lineage like Mountain Rain Zen Community (Vancouver) or Seattle Soto Zen and centers beyond our lineage or even the Zen school. Sangha LifeConsider initiating sangha gatherings with the Zendo schedule and getting together with others in the sangha for walks or study. With a TeacherStart meeting regularly with at least one of our Teachers and Practice Leaders. It's important to get beyond your own perspective on your life and practice. Dokusan and Practice Discussion is available during almost all of our regular zazen periods. It may be time to consider if Jukai (receiving the precepts) is right for you. We offer an annual Zen Precepts Study group. Start a conversation with one of the teachers. More context on jukai is in the Going Further page of this section. You can also meet regularly for several months at a time with Practice Leader through our Mentorship program. | Zen Training at Red Cedar |