Dharma Rain Zen Center - Events Calendar
Events Calendar
We are now on Ango schedule.
We have zazen and services most weekday mornings and evenings, special Saturday
events, and a regular Sunday program. New to
Dharma
Rain
Zen
Center
and
want
basic
information
about
DRZC
events? Check
out the FAQ
page.
Unless otherwise indicated, we offer all classes and events at the Zen Center
free of charge. The Center is supported primarily through membership and donation,
and donations to free events are always appreciated. If you have questions
about membership, please contact us. Donate to
our general fund or to our Capital Campaign.
Connect with the Center’s Google
calendar of events.
WEEKLY EVENTS
Wednesday Evenings
On Wednesday evenings we begin with Evening Service at 7pm followed by one
30-minute period of zazen, a short break, and then a class, usually starting
a few minutes before 8pm. That goes until about 9pm, followed by Vespers.
Beginning March 27, we study Bodhisattvas, enlightened beings who inspire
and encourage us. Several people will take various of these to present.
- March 27 — Introduction by Gyokuko
- April 3 — Samantabhadra by Shin’ei
- April 10 — Manjusri by Genko
- April 17 — Avalokiteshvara/Kanzeon by Erin
- April 24 — Vimilakirti by Fumyo
- May 1 — Jizo and Akashagarbha by Jyoshin
- May 8 — Maitreya and Shakyamuni by Genko
- May 22 — Prajnaparamita by Jiko
- May 29 — Fudo and other Dharma protectors by Jiko and Koken

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Introductory Workshops
Each month Dharma Rain Zen Center offers introductory workshops on Zen practice
that are open to all without charge. “Zen Meditation” covers the
essentials of zazen (sitting meditation). “Starting A Practice” describes
how to bring zazen practice into daily life with an explanation of the forms
used in the zendo and during services. Learn
more about our workshops. They are offered without charge, though donations
are gratefully accepted. There is no need to register or bring anything other
than comfortable clothing. Workshops are held at the Dharma
House (SE 26th and Madison).
Workshop Schedule
Introduction to Zen Meditation
- Thursday, April 25, 7-9pm
- Saturday, May 11, 1-3pm
- Thursday, May 30, 7-9pm
Starting a Buddhist Practice

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Dharma Studies Classes / Seminary Program
The seminary class offering
for the spring 2013 term is The Avatamsaka
Sutra and Hua-yen Buddhism. This ten-week class
series is scheduled for Tuesday evenings from March 5 through May
21,
2013, excluding the Tuesdays during
Jukai and Denkoe (March 19 and May 14).
During this class, we explore the basic principles of the Hua-yen philosophy
through discussion and through selected readings of the Avatamsaka Sutra and
other sources. In the process, we consider the various aspects of the
totality of existence as an expression of emptiness. The goals of this
class series are to experience the practice of devotional sutra reading
and to discover the living world of “Indra’s Net” and its
myriad implications as part of our daily Soto Zen practice.
The primary reference texts for this class series are The Flower Ornament
Sutra: A Translation of the Avatamsaka Sutra by Thomas Cleary and Hua-yen
Buddhism: The Jewel Net of Indra by Francis H. Cook. Other supplemental
readings will also be used. Because the sutra text is expensive, its purchase
is optional;
copies may be borrowed for class readings. The class will be led by lay teachers
Bukkai Washburn and Fumyo Mishaga, both of whom have a special relationship
the Avatamsaka Sutra. Look at the
Syllabus.
It is strongly recommended that students who are taking this class for seminary
credit have successfully completed the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras seminary
class prior to this class.
In the fall of 2013,
Jiko will teach a Dogen class, assisted by Genko and Kengan. This is a seminary
requirement. In spring 2014 Fumyo, Shintai, and Shin’ei will teach a
class on Chinese Ancestors. This fulfills the Lineage requirement for seminary.
For information on joining the three-to-five-year study program, contact
the Center.

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DharmaGarden
Dharma
School for children 3-18 meets two Sunday mornings most months during
the school year, beginning September 9.
Our DharmaSchool continues to grow and thrive! In November we
assessed the number of children attending and try
to open up spots in January for those interested in joining DharmaSchool.
All of our classes, with the exception of the High School Group, are full. Registration
is closed for the rest of 2012-13. We typically open pre-registration
for the following year during the summer, so watch for that.
Child care is available on Sunday mornings at the Dharma House for children
aged 2-18 years so that parents can participate in practice at the Zendo. The
hours are 8:15am-10:00am on Dharma
School Sundays, and 8:15am-11:30am on non-Dharma School Sundays. The cost of
child care is $30 per child per month or $50 for two children per month. A
$10 drop-in fee per child is also possible. Registration / Emergency
Contact forms are available at the Dharma House every Sunday morning along
with copies of the child care policies. Child care is cancelled if providers
are unable to be present and capped when the number if children present on
any given day gets up to the maximum for
safe care.
If you have questions or need further information, please contact
the Center.
Parents Practice Group meets May 19, from 10:30-11:30am
in the lecture room, downstairs at the Zendo. This will be the last parent
gathering of the school year, and it will be something special. All parents
of children in Dharma School are welcome.
Don’t forget to register for Dharma
Camp July 14-20.

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MONTHLY/BIMONTHLY EVENTS
- Zazenkai Saturday, June 22,
5am-5pm. Zendo.
- Prison Transition Support Group Sundays, May
5, June 2,
noon. Zendo.
- Gay Tea Sunday, May 19,
5pm, Zendo.
- Men’s Group Thursday, May 9, June 13,
7pm. Zendo.
- Seven-Up Group, Saturday, May 11,
10am. DH.
- Sangha Film Saturday, May 25,
7:30pm. Zendo.
- Fusatsu Thursdays, April 18, May 23,
7pm. DH.

Senior Practice Group — “Seven-Up”
The meetings of the 7-Up group are from 10am-noon at
the Dharma House. Designed to address the needs of senior practitioners in
the community, this group
is
open to DRZC members who have
had at least seven years of practice in a meditation tradition.
Not all of the years accrued have to have been at Dharma Rain, or even in
the Zen tradition. The aim is for real and considered engagement without
intellectualizing. If you have questions or feedback you can contact
the Center.

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Prison Transition Support Group
Dharma Rain Zen Center facilitates a monthly support group for former inmates
making the transition into life “outside.” This group meets at
noon the first Sunday of each month downstairs in the Zendo. It is open to
released inmates who have an interest in buddhism or meditation, to those whose
lives have been touched by incarceration, and also to prison volunteers
as well as those interested in volunteering, for mutual support and ongoing
training. The discussions focus on ways to apply buddhist teachings and meditation
to
the challenges of transitioning from prison back into the community. The group’s
goal is to provide a supportive setting in which former inmates may become
valuable and contributing members of a sangha and the larger community.
If you know of anyone who might find this of benefit, please pass along information
about the group. For more information, contact Genko Rainwater at [PTSG at dharma-rain.org].
Read more about our prison
program.

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Gay-2-Z Tea
The Gay Tea group meets monthly. The next meetings are Sunday, May
19,
from 5-7pm at the Zendo. This is a potluck — please bring a vegetarian
dish to share. If you fit into the GLBTQIQ
alphabet soup, and are interested in practicing Buddhism,
please join us.
For more information about the group,
contact Genko Rainwater [keidogenko at gmail.com].

Zazenkai
Saturday, June 22, will be a Zazenkai:
a day of silent, contemplative practice.
The retreat will be in the style of Soto Zen Buddhism, though meditators from
other traditions are warmly invited. The schedule runs from 5am to 5pm, and
includes 8 hours of formal meditation. Meditation is silent and seated, and
in 25-minute periods. We will also do walking meditation, ritual meal practice,
and several different chanting services.
Participants must commit for the full day. Pre-registration is
required and registration will be closed after June 19.
The cost is $15 for Dharma Rain members and $20 for non-members. Breakfast
and lunch are included in this cost. If you have questions or wish to sign
up, please contact the Center.
The next Zazenkai will be August 17.

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Fusatsu
Fusatsu includes recitation of the Precepts, zazen, and a group meeting. We
share things that are going well in our practice as well as challenges.
7:00pm at the Dharma House. Thursday, May
23.

Sangha Film
DRZC hosts a more-or-less monthly sangha film series, in which we explore Dharmic
themes in modern cinema. Donations of $1-2 are requested to cover building
costs. Popcorn is provided; please bring snacks and/or soft drinks to share.
This is a great space to bring friends, family and people from outside the
Sangha. Films begin at 7:30pm in the Zendo building, downstairs in the lecture
room, and are followed by informal discussion.
Please join us May 25th for O
Brother, Where Art Thou? Written and directed by brothers Joel and Ethan
Coen, this comedy adventure is loosely based on Homer’s Odyssey. Set in the
Great Depression of the 1930s, three companions bust out of jail and set out
on a road trip filled with picturesque adventures. The soundtrack, produced
by T-Bone Burnett, was largely responsible for the resurgent interest in American
root music when it came out in 2000.

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SPECIAL EVENTS
Spring Term Ango
Spring term is March 1 through May 31.
Spring seminary classes fit within this term. In addition, the term is marked
by increased sitting meditation times,
resident oryoki breakfasts, and two week-long retreats. Summer Term begins
June 1,
and is marked by lighter schedules. See the Wheel
of the Year.

Work Practice at Siskiyou
We have regular Work Practice Parties at the new Siskiyou property
on certain Saturdays each month. There are many opportunities to help as we
prepare this land for construction of our new home. Come on out and join the
fun, on Saturday, May 25. And most days from June
1- June 7 we will also be working at the property, in preparation
for the Groundbreaking Ceremony (see below). Time is 10am to 4pm, and you can
come for all
or any part of the day. Bring work
clothes,
boots,
gloves
and
tools
if
you
have
them,
and
prepare
to
get
muddy and have fun. Park
at Glenhaven
Park
west
of 82nd
Avenue, then go east on Siskiyou across 82nd to the gate at 85th to
find us. If you have a pickup truck and are willing to contribute use of that
for
all
or
part
of the day, we would be most appreciative. Please contact
us.
See more pictures from our
November work party and more
from January and February. Future work parties will be held May
25 and June 1.

Groundbreaking Ceremony June 8
We’ve been working enthusiastically to prepare our new property, clearing
invasive species and removing debris, and now we’d like to extend a warm
welcome to the kickoff of construction Dharma Rain’s future campus on
Siskiyou Square. Come help celebrate the emerging of a space dedicated to cultivating
peace,
wisdom and compassion in our lives. The party will be June 8 from 3-4pm.
The program includes Buddhist and Native American ceremonial, some words from
community leaders, and a performance by Portland Taiko! Tours of the site to
explain the future structures and uses will follow. Come to the gate at NE
85th and Siskiyou.
We hope you will join us.

VBC Project
We are planning and organizing a Village Building Convergence project
for May 24-June 2 this year. We will be working on the Orchard and Pathway
projects on the South slope of our Siskiyou property.
You can be part of this exciting project by spending just one or two hours
volunteering or
by helping us organize and carry out the whole amazing project, depending
on your schedule and interest. No experience necessary. Please contact Jeff
Stookey to get involved [jstookey108 at gmail.com].
Watch the weekly e-bulletins and this space for dates of the next meeting.
For more information visit City Repair or VBC
City Repair.

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Denkoe Sesshin
Denkoe celebrates Dharma Transmission from master to disciple from Shakyamuni
Buddha down to the present day. This intensive retreat (sesshin) will focus
on a chapter in the Denkoroku, which chronicles the transmission of living
wisdom in the Soto Zen tradition. The stories reveal both the obstacle and
moment of awakening for each Dharma Ancestor in a unique, myth-like style.
Teachers make the stories accessible and relevant to our own daily lives
and practice. This year Kyogen is leading the sesshin.
Denkoe begins 7pm Monday, May 13, and ends Sunday
morning, May 19, before
the regular Sunday program. Deadline for registration is Wednesday,
May 8. Dawn and evening sittings are open for drop-in at no cost.
See the schedule.
Register for meals and
overnights. Part-time registration is available
to those who sign
up for at least 6 meals. More information about the retreat
and a copy of the study chapter will be sent with the confirmation of your
reservation.
For further information contact the
Center.

Festival in the Park
Portland
Buddhist Festival’s theme this year is You Are
Here: Navigating the Way. It will be June 1, from 11 am
to 5 pm at Colonel Summers Park, SE 17th and Taylor.
For nine years the Portland Chapter of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship has
hosted a pan-Buddhist festival in the Park. For this 10th year we want
to make it special, and for that we need
your help. Park fees alone
are $1000, an amount allowing us to have food available, as well as vendors
with goods related to Buddhism. Supplies, goodies for the kids, and
equipment
rental, could cost up to $1000 more.
The annual festival brings Buddhists together from all over the Portland
metro area. It is a wonderful opportunity to meet other Buddhists,
and for participating groups to introduce Buddhism to newcomers. The park
setting makes this a friendly, relaxed, and festive way to celebrate
Buddhism and our many Portland area communities.
Whether you can donate
money or not, please spread the word about
the Buddhist Festival in the Park. All are welcome!

Taking Your Seat
Finding your place in the practice of Zen and in a spiritual community
is not always easy. Taking Your Seat is a program designed to help newer
members of Dharma Rain establish their meditation practice, create warm
relationships with other members, and become part of the temple community.
Taking Your Seat is for active members of Dharma Rain in their first two
years of practice. The program begins in September and includes six meetings
over the course of four months. Leaders are Gay Kei’un Lewis and Sallie
Jiko Tisdale with support from Anthony Fujaku Stevens and Thomas Koshin
Bruner.
Meetings will include discussions and exercises, as well as informal social
time and chances to practice forms. Topics will be based partly on what
the group wants and needs, but may include a review of foundational teachings,
practicing oryoki, investigating mondo, exploring the purpose of formal
practice, how Dharma Rain is organized, and gateways for practice of Dharma
Rain — or just having dinner together. Attendance at all or part of
a formal sesshin during this six-month period will be encouraged and supported.
There will be many chances to ask questions and get to know each other in
the context of practice and the treasure of Sangha.
We will meet on Thursday evenings. Dates will be September 12, October
3 and 24, November 14, December 12, and January
2.
Numbers will be limited. Participants are expected to be pledging members
and attending events at the Zen Center with some regularity.
Fee: $60
Contact Kei’un if you’re interested: [dgaylewis at gmail.com]

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LOOKING AHEAD
Future Dates
Those who like to plan ahead may wish to note these dates.

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