MembershipAnyone is welcome to participate in Sun Mountain Zen (SMZ) regardless of their affiliation with us. Those who wish to take the Zen journey within SMZ however, do so within a teacher-student relationship. Teachers are open to being approached by potential students at any time but usually this occurs in the context of formal interview (available after Dokusan) at our weekly sitting or weekend events.
New students automatically take up membership of SMZ as is spelled out in our membership pack and constitution. Some of these details are included below:
About SMZ:
The Sun Mountain Zen Community began in 2003 and incorporated as SMZ Association Inc., a nonprofit organization, on the 13th April 2006.
SMZA Inc. aims to facilitate Zen meditation practice by:
1. The provision of teachers: Gô'en An, Cecilie Lander and Gô'un Ken, Mervyn Lander and their Dharma Successors
2. The provision of volunteer assistants.
3. The provision of appropriate teaching resources and methods.
4. The establishment of a supportive community, the Sun Mountain Zen Sangha.
Sun Mountain Zen Inc is managed by a committee of elected members who carry out various responsibilities to ensure a harmonious and efficient
organisation. Our teachers, Mervyn and Cecilie are authorised teachers of the Sanbō Kyōdan and are dharma successors of Sei’un An, Roselyn Stone
Roshi. Sun Mountain Zen is therefore affiliated with the Sanbō Kyōdan Zen School or School of the "Three Treasures"[Buddha, Dharma
and Sangha]. This is a relatively young Zen school in Japan which has freely drawn on both Soto and Rinzai traditions. Members of SMZS can view the Sanbō Kyōdan Web site and learn more about the origin and history of our lineage. www.sanbo-zen.org
Sun Mountain Zen has three classes of membership:
1. Ordinary, defined as being a recognised student of Cecilie or Mervyn and being a financial member of SMZA Inc.
2. Life, defined as a recognised Teacher by SMZA Inc, and the Sanbō Kyōdan Society
3. Honorary, defined as a person who has been voted in as a honorary member by the majority of the committee and endorsed by the teachers of SMZAInc
Members responsibilities.
What unites us at Sun Mountain Zen is our commitment to realising and personalizing our “true self” through the practice of zazen and koan study with our teachers. We do this practice within a supportive community of ‘sitters’ - the Sangha. As members of SMZA Inc. we take this work seriously. We participate as much as we can
in the Sangha weekly meditation practice, either in Aspley, East Brisbane, Samford or Kenilworth. We participate as much as we can in the monthly Zenkai (one day sitting), Intensives (weekend sittings) and Mini-sesshin (a long weekend) and we make every effort to attend the annual 7 day Sesshin. Members are also asked if able, to participate in the running of the Sangha and Zendo eg. by assisting in various responsibilities such as setting up and cleaning up the Zendo before and after the sittings or coordinating Sangha events. Later on, as participants become well experienced in the practice, they may be asked by the teachers to take on other responsibilities such as Jikido (the time keeper), Ino (the chant conductor), Jisha (one who who looks after the teachers and coordinates the dokusan line). The position of Tanto (Zendo leader) is used at the longer Intensives and sesshin and is appointed by the teachers for each event. Please take your responsibilities seriously.
Members also contribute to the financial cost of running the Sangha - the details of which are spelled out below. (N.B. Bursaries are available and it is our postion that financial considerations should never bar one from participation. Please speak to the treasurer to discuss the need for bursary or sponsorship to an event)
Schedule of Fees:
Financial contributions to the running of the Sangha conform to the following options:
1) Casual evening sitting fee for East Brisbane, Samford, Kenilworth $5.00
2) Yearly Inclusive Membership fees for students of Mervyn and Cecilie* - Payable from January to January - $450.00
- Subscription to SMZS for membership & voting rights for SMZ
- Weekly sitting fees (for Aspley and East Brisbane)
- Dokusan (individual interviews with your teacher)
- 20% discount ($100) on 7 day Sesshin fees *
- Membership fee can be paid yearly ($450.00)
- Or quarterly ($112.50) or monthly ($37.50) by direct debit only
3) Membership only $250.00
- Does not include sitting fees
- Does not qualify for sesshin discount*
- Subscription to SMZ for membership & voting rights for SMZ
- Dokusan (individual interviews with your teacher)
Individual events for Members (‘3’ above) and Non members ('1')
- One day Zenkai $30.00
- Weekend Intensive $60.00
- 3 day Mini Sesshin including food and accommodation $200.00
- 7 day Sesshin including food and accommodation $600.00
- Inclusive Members doing 7 day sesshin receive $100 discount
SMZ Inclusive Participation Policy:
- Half price concession of above fees for students, pensioners etc.
- Special payment plans can also be arranged with the treasurer.
- Sun Mountain Zen does not exclude anyone from its teachings based on an inability to pay fees. If you are unable to pay for any fees, please contact our treasurer to arrange further concessions.
