Reading Priory News
Posted 02/09/2010 - 11:19am
by Rev. Alicia
Last Sunday we celebrated the Festival of Great Master Eihei Dogen, the founder of Soto Zen in Japan in the 13th century. As Dogen holds such an important place in our tradition study of his teachings is highly recommended. That said, Dogen's unique use of language and the fact that he was writing in a time and culture so different from our own can make such study rather a daunting prospect so I'd like to suggest a few ways in to his writings.
The first recommendation is to read a small amount at a time, perhaps just a paragraph, and not be too concerned if no immediate sense of its meaning comes to mind. Come back to it later, or another day, and read a little more. Just wait and see what understanding the words may call forth from you. You could start with one of the early chapters of Shobogenzo, such as Bendowa or Genjokoan, or with the much smaller book Shobogenzo-zuimonki.
A good commentary can also be a great help, and the newly-published 'Realizing Genjokoan' by Shohaku Okumura is definitely worth reading.
And last but by no means least I highly recommend the book 'Buddha Recognizes Buddha' by Rev. Master Daishin Morgan, the abbot of Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey who says at the start of the book that it is 'strongly influenced by the writings of Dogen Zenji, the founder of Soto Zen in thirteenth century Japan. His interpretation of the Buddha's teaching is a great inspiration in my life.'
Yesterday I visited the Bath meditation group and we had an afternoon retreat together and looked at the verse from Genjokoan (quoted from 'Realizing Genjokoan'):
To study the Buddha Way is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be verified by all things.To be verified by all things is to let the body and mind of self and the body and mind of others drop off. There is a trace of realization that cannot be grasped. We endlessly express the ungraspable trace of realization.
Hope this whets your appetite!
Rev. Alicia after the Festival of Great Master Eihei Dogen
Posted 28/08/2010 - 4:52pm
by Rev. Alicia
Just got back from B&Q and have also figured out how to use the camera so here you have proof of both!
A boot full of paint
Posted 26/08/2010 - 11:06am
by Rev. Alicia
Recently Rev. Master Mugo recommended her readers to this site and I would like to repay the compliment by linking to her Jade Mountains website. Rev. Mugo is the Lay Ministry Advisor for our order which involves her in a fair amount of travelling in Europe and North America. I was particularly taken with her piece called Stop Means STOP! Rev. Mugo takes a very good photograph and you may be interested to look at the Pilgrimage 2005 category on her site.
The mail came this morning with the replacement USB lead that I need to be able to use the camera that I was given. Give me a few days to play with it and then you should start seeing more photos here.
Off to B&Q tomorrow to get all kitted up with everything that we will need for decorating the common room.
Posted 22/08/2010 - 8:35am
by Rev. Alicia
Yesterday we had a meditation day, a completely silent day with a 40-minute meditation period on the hour every hour from 9am to the last one at 5pm. Each period was followed by 10 minutes of walking meditation and a 10 minute break. The idea was that people could arrive any time during the day and sit for as many periods as they wanted to, bringing a packed lunch if they were here over lunchtime. The garden, the common room and the spare room upstairs were available as quiet spaces where people could have an hour off to eat lunch or just have a break.
I think the day was very successful. Some people dropped in for an hour, some came for half the day and some were here for the full day. At the end of the day we dedicated the merit of our day of meditation for the benefit of all beings, so that they may be able to realise the truth.
Those who were here at the end of the day told me that they were keen to do this type of day again, so I shall be putting a meditation day on the calendar once a month. I definitely think there is something to be said for making time like this, whether it is here at the Priory or whether you make time at home once in a while, for being in silence and focussing purely on zazen with no other activities to distract you. I don't even do spiritual counselling on these days so that there is nothing other than the sitting. I sat for most of the day, taking a 2-hour break in the middle, and I must say that I feel pretty refreshed this morning and am myself keen on doing more of these days. The format is particularly easy on me as there is nothing much to organise - we just sit!
I got the matchpot of jade white paint for the common room and have daubed a few patches around the room - I think it will look fantastic.
Posted 18/08/2010 - 4:25pm
by Rev. Alicia
Last Saturday morning I spent a couple of hours planning the re-decoration of the common room with one of our regular folk who has volunteered to make it all happen whilst I am away at the Rules Conclave of our Order at Shasta Abbey in the US during September. I think it would be good to do a thorough number on it i.e. strip off the wallpaper, take down the picture rails and repair the plaster (I've had a plasterer come and quote for re-skimming the room). I've chosen a Dulux paint called Jade White for the walls and I want to try and get to B&Q tomorrow to get a sample pot and try it out. The ceiling and the woodwork would be brilliant white. I like the idea of the room looking light and airy. It's a south-facing room so it gets lots of sun. The plan is to do all the preparation work on the weekend of 11th & 12th September then get the plasterer in, leave the new plaster to dry and re-paper and paint the weekend of the 24th & 25th. The spare room upstairs can be used as a common room so regular events can continue as normal. I'm really looking forward to having a bright new common room!
Today I've been doing some work on the accounts, reconciling the bank statement for the end of July and putting together a deposit to take to the Post Office this afternoon, talking of which, I better get over there before it closes!
Posted 14/08/2010 - 9:20am
by Rev. Alicia
I went for my walk along the canal last Sunday. The brambles along the path were heaving with ripe blackberries and I wished I had a container with me. The following day I met up with two monastic friends from other Buddhist orders and we had a day out at Avebury. I hope to soon acquire a simple digital camera so that I can put more photos on here with my news.
On Tuesday I made it round to the local swimming pool in the late afternoon. The pool is less than 10 mins walk, though I must admit I drove as it was pouring down with rain. It is a good facility and I plan to take more advantage of it.
We had a day retreat here on Wednesday, including a Precepts Reading Ceremony in the afternoon. So it made sense to have a look at one or two of the Precepts in the tea and class that we had at the end of the afternoon. During the hour before lunch we did working meditation , getting various jobs done around the Priory including re-potting some house plants, sorting some invoices and washing the Priory car. I really recommend these day retreats. We usually have them one Wednesday and one Saturday each month and it is fine to come for just part of the day. It is a very good opportunity to immerse yourself in the practice for a day, in the company of others in the Reading sangha.
On Thursday morning I got the hall floor fixed - thanks Philip! - and hope it will not be too long before I can get the remaining new carpet down.
The Priory office is at the front of the house, south facing, and I can already see some autumn colours on the leaves of one of the trees in our front garden. The hazel is covered in nuts, which will provide me with a good supply when they are ripe. Perhaps I will take some containers to the canal this weekend and harvest some blackberries.
Posted 08/08/2010 - 8:50am
by Rev. Alicia
Sunday morning. People will arrive for meditation shortly after 9am. There are a few people who come pretty regularly now on Sundays. We have longer meditation periods than we have time for on the Dharma evenings, two 40 minute periods with walking meditation in between, followed by short morning service. People are welcome to stay for a cup of tea afterwards and it is more informal than on the Dharma evenings.
Yesterday I went to Chichester to lead a day retreat for the Chichester and Portsmouth Groups. The retreat was held in the Friends Meeting House which has very good facilities. It makes such a difference to have a well-appointed room, clean and neat toilet facilities etc., especially when new people come along to the group. On that note, I am so glad that the London Group have found wonderful new premises to meet in: see the group's website www.lsrmg.org .
Talking of neatness, it was lovely to arrive back from Chichester yesterday evening to a neat and tidy garden - thanks once again J!
I had a plumber round on Thursday to look at replacing some of the taps at the Priory. He will replace the taps at three of the sinks with taps that have ceramic washers so that they can't be over-tightened and won't drip (I hope!) and with lever-style handles to make them easier for any folks who have difficulty gripping things.
I'm hoping the rain will hold off this afternoon so that I can get a walk. I spent an hour walking around the centre of Chichester after the retreat yesterday, including a quick look around the cathedral. Today I would like to go for a walk along the Kennett and Avon canal which passes quite close by here. Whether it rains or not, I intend to go - I really feel in need of some fresh air and exercise!
Posted 04/08/2010 - 10:06am
by Rev. Alicia
Seven new people came to the introductory evening yesterday. I always enjoyed seeing people arrive for introductory retreats at Throssel and I enjoy teaching the introductory evenings here. When I see people coming to the temple for the first time, experiencing meditation and hearing the Dharma for the first time I am reminded of how I felt when I went to my first class at a Buddhist centre in London in the mid-1980's. I knew by the end of the evening that I had found something infinitely precious, that the practice of the Buddha's teachings would henceforth be at the centre of my life.
Not everyone feels that way on their first contact with Buddhism, but for all of us who have practised for any length of time I think there is a knowledge of a heart-felt connection with the Dharma and it is good to be reminded of that, especially at times when our inspiration seems to be wearing a bit thin for whatever reasons. However far we may feel we have gone astray from our practice we can come back in an instant. The past has gone, what matters is what you do in this moment. If you have let your meditation practice go, all you have to do is go sit today, it is as simple as that.
On Saturday I am visiting the Chichester Serene Reflection Meditation Group to lead a day retreat. Next Wednesday (11th) there will be a day retreat here at the Priory.
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