Zen Study Group
A group focusing on "The Study and Practice of Zen" (beachsun.org) meets every Sunday evening at 7 pm in the Reeb Room on the UUCS campus (3975 Fruitville Road).
Each session is organized into two components:
1) The study of Zen. Explore a Zen topic for roughly 30 minutes. During this time we either (a) hear part of a recorded lecture, (b) view a short video on Zen Buddhism, or (c) listen to an excerpt from a tract written by a classic Zen master as read by one of the leaders or a class member.
2) The practice of Zen. Meditate for roughly 20 minutes, then we finish by chanting the centuries-old Heart Sutra.
All are welcome, beginners as well as experienced Zen practitioners.
The texts for the class are the writings of the legendary Zen master Shunryu Suzuki--in particular, his
"Zen Mind, Beginners Mind," and Zen Master, Thicht Naht Hanh's classic book "You Are Here."
Anyone interested in joining the group should just show up on Sunday evening. More information is available on the group's website at www.beachsun.org. Individuals can join the group at any time and need not attend every session to learn and appreciate the benefits of this classic discipline so related to the science of personal psychology and the attainment of what the Buddha referred to as enlightenment.
Class leaders are Don DeMaio and Paul Lewis. The leaders have a long-abiding interest and engagement in Zen Buddhism. Mr. Lewis has studied Zen for the past 30 years and has been hosting a regular Monday night meditation group for the past 12 years. Mr. DeMaio is a lifelong student of Buddhism.
To quote the late great composer Leonard Bernstein:
“Stillness is our most intense mode of action. It is in our moments of deep quiet that is born every idea, emotion, and drive which we eventually honor with the name of action. We reach highest in meditation, and farthest in prayer. In stillness every human being is great.”
Each session is organized into two components:
1) The study of Zen. Explore a Zen topic for roughly 30 minutes. During this time we either (a) hear part of a recorded lecture, (b) view a short video on Zen Buddhism, or (c) listen to an excerpt from a tract written by a classic Zen master as read by one of the leaders or a class member.
2) The practice of Zen. Meditate for roughly 20 minutes, then we finish by chanting the centuries-old Heart Sutra.
All are welcome, beginners as well as experienced Zen practitioners.
The texts for the class are the writings of the legendary Zen master Shunryu Suzuki--in particular, his
"Zen Mind, Beginners Mind," and Zen Master, Thicht Naht Hanh's classic book "You Are Here."
Anyone interested in joining the group should just show up on Sunday evening. More information is available on the group's website at www.beachsun.org. Individuals can join the group at any time and need not attend every session to learn and appreciate the benefits of this classic discipline so related to the science of personal psychology and the attainment of what the Buddha referred to as enlightenment.
Class leaders are Don DeMaio and Paul Lewis. The leaders have a long-abiding interest and engagement in Zen Buddhism. Mr. Lewis has studied Zen for the past 30 years and has been hosting a regular Monday night meditation group for the past 12 years. Mr. DeMaio is a lifelong student of Buddhism.
To quote the late great composer Leonard Bernstein:
“Stillness is our most intense mode of action. It is in our moments of deep quiet that is born every idea, emotion, and drive which we eventually honor with the name of action. We reach highest in meditation, and farthest in prayer. In stillness every human being is great.”