Dear Mid City Zen Sangha and community, It's definitely feeling like spring in New Orleans, and we're more than half way through our Spring Practice Period, our first in about 4 years! While some sew Buddha's robes (pictured above left) and we take the opportunity to turn inward in this period of growth along with those observing Ramadan, Passover, Lent, Super Sundays, and many more!
With this spirt of openness, we continue to respond to requests to get outside of the temple, including having a booth at the amazing Chakra Music Festival on Bayou Road (pictured above right), co-hosting Lama Lena, or continued meditation instruction and discussion at Kinship Senior Center. Especially during this Practice Period, so many Mid City Zen members and volunteers have stepped up their involvement and offerings, making all of this possible.
There's much more to come this April, as you'll see in this newsletter. We hope to see you in the zendo soon!
Your Mid City Zen Board:
Jon, Patty, Tilde, Victoria, and Miles |
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The Spring Practice Period Concludes This Month |
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We're excited to have Greg Fain and Linda Galijan from Tassajara Zen Mountain Monastery guiding us in a period of intensive and committed practice this spring. As Greg explains it: "Practice period is a tradition going back to the time of the Buddha, when the monks would cease their wandering in the forests and gather during the rainy season to practice together as a community. In the tradition of Japanese Zen, they tend to be three-month periods of time where the monastic community intensifies their practice. They are known as “ango,” which is often translated as “Peaceful abiding.” While the Practice Period is already underway, you can still register and attend the ongoing classes and talks, the concluding three day retreat April 21-23, or any portion of the events that suits you. Registrants will receive access to the recordings of the talks and classes as well. |
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April 23, 2pm Jukai Ceremony |
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All are welcome to attend the final event of the Practice Period this year, which will be on April 23 at 2pm: the Ceremony of Formally Receiving the Bodhisattva Precepts, or Jukai, for Mid City Zen members David Olivier, Ereeni Roulakis, Miles Moody and Tilde Carbia. In this ancient ceremony, the initiates will receive and recite the 16 Bodhisattva Precepts from their teachers Shinchi Linda Galijan and Zenshin Greg Fain. Each initiate has sewn a Buddhist robe, or rakusu. Each initiate will formally receive the rakusu along with a Buddhist name and the lineage chart showing their place in the long line of Zen practitioners from the time of Shakyamuni Buddha. A reception will follow nearby offsite afterwards. (Thank you to Houston Zen Center for the language for this ceremony!) |
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More Upcoming April Events |
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Every First Friday Meditative Yoga with Victoria Cvitanovic, April 7 |
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Dharma Talks This Month Please join us for dharma talks this month: Note that we will be open on Easter Sunday, April 9! Sunday April 9: Linda Galijan (remote from Tassajara) Sunday April 16: Greg Fain (in person) The talks will be at 10:45am each week as part of our regular Sunday program and available in the zendo and through the virtual zendo. Shinchi Linda Galijan was ordained as a Zen priest by Sojun Mel Weitsman in 2004 and received Dharma Transmission from him in 2012. She has been a professional musician and licensed clinical psychologist, and has practiced Buddhism and yoga for over 30 years. Linda practiced at Tassajara for almost 10 years, including four years as the Director. She completed her service as President of San Francisco Zen Center at the beginning of 2021. |
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Zenshin Greg Fain got his first introduction to Zen at San Francisco Zen Center when he was 19, and has been training closely with Sojun Mel Weitsman Roshi, the Abbot of Berkeley Zen Center, for over 20 years. He was ordained as a Zen priest in 2002, and received Dharma Transmission in the lineage of Suzuki Roshi from Sojun Roshi in April 2012. |
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Tuesday Evening Sittings and Class on the Six Paramitas We are continuing the weekly Tuesday evening sittings we started trying out this summer. You're welcome to join a period of sitting meditation at 6:30pm every Tuesday. Please try to arrive to get settled into your seat a few minutes before then. There are only two more classes for Practice Period participants, April 4 and April 18 from 7:15 - 8:15pm following zazen (no class April 11). |
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This month's Sober Zen on *second Thursday*: April 13 at 6:30pm |
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Come join fellow Zen practitioners at various places on their sober journeys for a casual monthly discussion group. We’ll chat about how Zen, mindfulness, and meditation have played a role in our sobriety, and offer each other community and support. This group is not affiliated with any sobriety program, but rather, an open place to be met where you are. |
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Mon, Wed & Fri Morning Sittings You're welcome to join a period of sitting meditation at 8am every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning. Please try to arrive to get settled into your seat a few minutes before then. We've added Mondays during Practice Period only. |
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Our Sunday Schedule Our full Sunday program is now in full swing every weekend (except for the first weekend of the month which will be half day sitting days). 8:30am- 9:15am Introduction and Meditation Instruction (No instruction first Sunday of the month.) 9:15am -9:30am Chanting Service 9:30am - 9:55am Zazen 9:55am - 10:05am Kinhin (walking meditation) 10:05am - 10:35am Zazen 10:35am - 11:30am Dharma talks, Way Seeking Mind talks, Board Meeting, Study Group or Community Brunch 11:30am - 11:40am Soji (mindful cleaning) |
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The virtual zendo will remain open for sitting for all of our regulary scheduled programs and services (tech problems notwithstanding!). On Sundays, the virtual zendo opens at 8:30am. On the first Sunday of every month, we have a half day sit, opening at 7:50am and alternating sitting and walking meditation from 8:05 - 11:45am. |
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Additionally, for days that we don't have anything on offer, you may be interested in attending the online zendo at San Francisco Zen Center, which keeps a very full schedule of opportunities daily. San Francisco Zen Center is Their daily morning practice is almost identical to our Sunday schedule (it starts at 7:50am New Orleans time), concluding with the same morning service. There are also opportunities to meet online with SFZC teachers in the evenings every first and third Thursday. See their schedule for more information. |
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Consider becoming a member |
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All of Mid City Zen's activities are free to all and supported by donations. By becoming a monthly member you are sustaining the community of practice here. Your support allows us to have a place for people to settle their minds and hearts and steep in the teachings of the Buddha. Monthly membership is essential to creating the stability and development of our sangha. Mid City Zen's legal name is Zen Meditation Center of New Orleans, is a 501c3 non-profit organization, and all donations are tax deductible. Also please note if you mail checks, our new address for mail is: Mid City Zen PO Box 791400
New Orleans LA 70179 | | |
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