announcements

Last updated April 20, 2008

Urban Sesshin
The sign-up sheet can be found here. It will be held from May 2nd to May 4th. CHANGE IN 1-DAY SITTING SCHEDULE (April 26)
This short, non-residential retreat will include periods of zazen (sitting meditation), kinhin (walking meditation), teisho (daily talks), and dokusan (individual interviews with the teacher), as well as traditional ceremonies, community meals, and periods of outside and inside work.

Partial participation in the sesshin may be possible; please inquire.

Suggested offering is $50.
This amount is set to cover direct costs; AZC welcomes all participants regardless of ability to pay the full amount.

Additional Information:
Out-of-town participants: Please inquire to zen@alaska-zen.org about the possibility of a homestay arrangement with an AZC member.

All participants should expect to share in meal preparation, serving and clean-up. Participants should bring clothing appropriate to sitting as well as clothing suited to working outdoors. Please bring garden gloves.

The schedule: Sesshin begins Friday, May 2, at 6:30pm with zazen. The Saturday and Sunday schedule begins at 6am. Zazen will conclude Saturday night at 8pm; the sesshin will end on Sunday at 5:30pm after the evening ceremony. We will depart after clean-up and an informal meal. For further information write to zen@alaska-zen.org or call (907) 278

-0878. Because some people are currently sewing a rakusu in preparation for the May 10th precepts ceremony, the last one-day sitting of this practice period (April 26th) will be a sewing intensive.

MEMBERSHIP/BOARD MEETING (April 27)
Concurrent with our potluck, our spring board meeting will begin with a short meeting of the membership to discuss a change in the definition of membership itself within the by-laws (a move toward a monthly, rather than annual, pledging system). The regular board meeting will follow immediately after--please submit agenda items by at least the previous Sunday.

URBAN SESSHIN (May 2-4)
We'll be holding a short urban retreat at Uto-an from the evening of Friday, May 2nd through Sunday, May 4th. Details and registration information will be posted here soon. Suggested donation: $50. ...Because we are staying at Uto-an, this retreat will not be as logistically difficult as the sesshin at Meier Lake, but we still need assistance with cooking 5 or 6 meals. If you are interested in helping, please write to zen@alaska-zen.org.

PRECEPTS CEREMONY (May 10)
Please join us in support as five of our members receive the precepts. Events will start at 2pm.

JOINT RETREAT WITH HOMER SANGHA
In partnership with the Floating Leaf Sangha, we will be hosting a wilderness-themed retreat at the Alaska Center for Coastal Studies on Peterson Bay, August 7-11. Technical details are being worked out now, but we know we have great facilities, the price will be reasonable, and it will be possible for families with children to attend. If you would like to be part of the team making this happen (publicity, etc.), please let us know.