Dharma Rain - Term Student
Term Student Program
The Term Student program is designed to provide structure for members of
Dharma Rain Zen Center who wish to intensify their practice and Sangha connections
for a specific period
of time. Terms are 3 months long, with one term in the Fall, and
sometimes one in the Spring. Committing to a term provides a clear beginning
and end to a period when Zen practice and involvement at the Zen Center take
a higher priority in your life. Because you are not making a long-term commitment,
and because you are joining others in the term, the chances of following
through on your intention to intensify practice can be greatly improved. See
the fall dates below.
The Term Student program consists of three basic elements: your own daily
practice at home and/or work; regular involvement at the Zen Center, especially
monthly Fusatsu;
and the special events.
These are tied together with a Vow of Practice. A
Vow of Practice is something that can be done on your own,
independent of the Term Student program. It often includes a theme, or statement
of purpose. When we wish to intensify our practice, there is usually an underlying
motivation that calls us to do this. It can be helpful to recognize and identify
this purpose, and include it in the vow.
After the statement of purpose,
include a description of your basic daily practice. This includes things
like your daily zazen, any service you do, verses you incorporate in daily
life, reading and study. We encourage flexibility, with a “bottom line” description,
i.e. “I will try to do morning zazen five days a week, but will always
do it at least two days a week.” The idea is to make a vow that will
cause you to stretch, but is doable over the whole period of time. Then list
the weekly Center events you plan to attend: things like Wednesday night
sitting and class, Sunday morning practice, etc. You can include weekly events
like Saturday Dharani Chants (Fudo Ceremony, Special Kanzeon Ceremony, and
Victor’s Ceremony) if these are meaningful for you. Here we emphasize
monthly Fusatsu, which is
scheduled on one Thursday each month. Monthly Fusatsu is an important element
in the Term
Student program that helps maintain the
deeper connection we establish at the special Term Student events.
Finally
list the major events in which you plan to participate. These include the
sesshins held each term like Rohatsu in the Fall term, and Jukai in the Spring,
and other special events like practice with a visiting teacher. Out of all
these events, the only ones that are required are the Term Student retreats.
Even here, there is some latitude, especially for those who have done a number
of terms. During the opening retreat each term, students summarize their
vows during the term dedication ceremony and then place them on the altar.
This ceremony is taken from the monastic term dedication ceremony in which
monks
agree to spend the term in training together. Sharing our vows at this time
permits the group to witness each person’s commitment, and we also
have the opportunity to share something of what it is that brings us together
to practice.
One major purpose of the Term Student program is to create a venue in which
a group of lay people can go through a practice period together. Because
we are
not a monastery, it can be difficult to meet each other in the intimate way that
develops when people live in close proximity for an extended period of time.
Much of the first retreat each term is spent connecting with each other. To do
this, people new to the program are asked to prepare by taking the time to write
out three personal outlines. You would start by looking back over your life and
writing a chronological outline of your life events. Next, you would write a “karmic
outline.” This is a list of events or circumstances that have marked you
in some way, and have contributed in making you who you are. These can be specific
things like alcoholic parents, or more general ones, like growing up in the country,
or near a lake. Third, make a “spiritual outline.” This is, perhaps,
not very different from the “karmic outline,” but we have found that
what people have in mind when they take the time to look back on their lives
causes different things to emerge. Think specifically about things that have
formed your spiritual point of view. So please take the time to look back from
these different perspectives. What you write can be for your own use only, or
you may give it to the priests if you wish. This exercise is to prepare you to
make a five or ten minute presentation at the first retreat of the term. We want
people to say something about who they are, what has brought them to this practice,
and what they bring to the practice and to the group. After each person speaks,
the others will ask questions.
Other elements often included in the Term Student program are a text that
is studied for the term with Dharma Talks during meditation, and mondo practice,
which is an exercise that brings the way we meet each other into the realm
of
Dharma. The Dharma is not some thing that is grasped in the mind, but something
that is realized in our lives. Deep and intimate Sangha connections are vitally
important in helping us bring the Dharma to fruition in a real way. That is
what we hope to accomplish in the Term Student program.
Events for Fall 2012
Application Deadline Sunday, September 2
Events in Bold are recommended
| Weekly |
- Daily sitting and service (see schedule)
- Wednesday Evening sitting and class
- Dharma Studies/Full
Member Classes
- Sunday morning practice: sitting, sanzen, service,
Dharma Talk
|
| Monthly |
- Monthly Fusatsu:
usually third Thursday
- Gay Tea — One
Sunday a month as scheduled, if applicable
|
| Special |
- Leading or helping at classes or workshops
- Abhidharma Intensive Retreat September 20-23
- Segaki Retreat,
Friday, October 26 - Sunday, October 28
- Rohatsu Sesshin,
Sunday, December 2 - Sunday, December 9
|
| Term |
- Opening Retreat: Saturday, September 8, 8:30am–5pm
- Mid-term Retreat: Saturday, October
20, 8:30am–5pm
- Closing Retreat: Saturday, November
17, 8:30am–5pm
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