Zen Meditation Course 2012

Zen Meditation Course
A comprehensive introduction to meditation and Zen Practice.

When? Thursdays: 8th, 15th, 22 and 29th of March. 6.30 to 8.30pm
Saturday: 24th of March or 21st of April. 9.00 am to 3.00 pm
Where? Thursday evening: St Pauls Anglican Church Hall, 554 Vulture Street East Brisbane.
Saturday Retreat: Aspley, address to be confirmed.
Cost? $130.00 for entire course including day retreat.
Full costs to be paid in advance prior to commencement
of course.
Payment can be made online:
Account Name: Sun Mountain Zen inc.
BSB:064163
A/C number: 10166486
Description: Please insert ZMC followed by your name.
What to bring? Loose fitting clothes, BYO lunch for the one day retreat.

Course Details:

More about the course:

• This Zen meditation course is designed to introduce participants to all aspects of Zen practice. To this end, the course is structured into 4 evening segments and a one day retreat.

• During the evenings, participants will learn how to practice both sitting meditation (Zazen) and walking meditation. (Kinhin)

• The evenings are conducted in a workshop format including formal sitting practice. Each evening concludes with an informal get together and Tea.

• The day retreat (Zenkai) introduces participants to a traditional Zen meditation re-treat, which includes lectures, sitting and walking meditation, a dharma talk by a Zen teacher, and a private interview with a Zen teacher if requested.

• The Zen Meditation Course is designed for participants to gain a basic intellectual and experiential understanding of Zen. After the course, participants will be able to continue their practice by participating in weekly groups in East Brisbane, Samford or Kenilworth. Monthly retreats are also available to participants.

What if I miss an evening?
Any missed segment of the course can be made up at a later date including the Zen retreat which is held monthly. The meditation course itself will be held throughout the year subject to minimum participation.

Who is teaching the course?
The course will be taught by Arno Hess. Arno has been practicing Zen for over 10 years and is an assistant teacher in the Sun Mountain Zen Sangha.
Arno is also the facilitator of the Samford Zen group as well as the “Inside Zen” prison meditation group in Woodford Queensland.
His background is in business, having co-founded and managed his own technology based manufacturing company in Brisbane.
He currently lives with his wife Diana in the Samford Valley north of Brisbane.
For more information phone: Arno Hess on 0429 600 308 or e-mail
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Cecilie and Mervyn on ABC Radio 'The Spirit of Things' 25/12/11

Cecilie and Mevyn will be interviewed by Rachel Cohn on the Spirit of things broadcast: Sunday 25 December 2011 6:05PM

A link to the ABC website and description is below.

Link: http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/spiritofthings/christmas-day-couple/3740552

Cecile and Mervyn Lander are both specialist medical doctors, both Anglican priests, and both Zen teachers living in Brisbane. Intellectually, spiritually, and emotionally they have lived a life that has been demanding, but highly rewarding. They attribute much of their success to regular and open communication, a shared faith, and a contemplative practice that includes both Christian and Zen meditation. As parish priests jointly in charge of St Paul's church in Brisbane, for almost 14 years, they also ministered to a congregation, alongside their busy medical practices. As parents they are proud of their two successful sons. Christmas, says the Rev'd Mervyn, is about 'Christ born in every child' and for the Rev'd Cecile, it is only meaningful when demonstrated in the way one lives day to day. Theologically, they both point to the future of faith that is profound but less beholden to literalist understandings of scripture.

Sesshin 2011

Sesshin 2011 is over! Thanks to all to all who participated and supported a great week of sitting practice.

Congratulations also to Arno Hess who has been appointed as an assistant teacher by the Abbot of Sanbo Kyodan!