ABOUT CHISOKU-AN ZENDO
OUR ZENDO:
Chisoku-an Zendo is a Rinzai Zen practise centre located in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada, resting upon the Traditional Territory and Ancestral
Lands of Indigenous Peoples whom have called this place home since time immemorial.
It is the home of a community of practitioners who have joined together to
support one another in Zen training and in the study of traditional Zen art
forms. The Zendo offers a variety of programs and events.
OUR COMMUNITY:
Our community is committed to cultivating awakening and actualizing
insight through compassionate action which we practise by developing
a deep and intuitive understanding of boundlessness and
interconnectedness, by seeing through the illusion of separate
self-hood, by giving and receiving with no self and no other,
by attending to each moment with open hearts and minds and
by maintaining high ethical standards by interacting with all beings
carefully and in a manner which upholds the Precepts.
OUR PRACTISE:
Zazen practise and offering present-minded caring action in all our affairs is the heart of practise at Chisoku-an Zendo. The following programmes are offered
year-round:
Zazen:
Monday mornings from 6:30 to 7:30 except for statutory holidays.
Thursday mornings from 6:30 to 7:30 except for statutory holidays.
Beginners instruction available at specifically scheduled times.
(Contact the Zendo for further information.)
Dharma Interviews:
Are offered monthly.
Zazenakai:
One day intensive silent retreats offering Chanting, Zazen, Kinhin
(walking meditation), Dharma Talks, Dharma Interviews,
Sarei (formal tea).
See calendar for further details.
Sesshin:
Literally means to collect the Mind and is a time of seclusion
devoted to intensive Zen practise.
Five day Sesshins are offered twice yearly offering Chanting,
Zazen, Kinhin, Dharma Talks, Dharma Interviews, Sarei,
meals in traditional jihatsu form and Samu (work practise).
See calendar for further details.
Precept Study and Book Study:
Are offered at various times during the year. See calendar for further details.
O-Bon:
A ceremony of remembrance and celebration of Deceased friends,
family members and all Dharma Brothers and Sisters and is held each August.
See calendar for further details.
Zen Art Study:
Kado (The Way of Flowers), Chado (The Way of Tea) and Shodo
(The Way of the Brush) are practised by members of the Sangha.
Workshops for the study of these art forms are offered from time to time
with the assistance and support of visiting teachers from the
Saskatchewan Japanese Cultural Association to the community
at large.
See calendar for further details.
OUR FOUNDER AND SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR:
Komyo Seido began Zen practise with Genjo Marinello Osho at Dai Bai Zan Cho Bo Zen-ji in Seattle, Washington where she was
later ordained. Following ordination she continued her training
with Eido Shimano Roshi at Dai Bosatsu Zendo Kongo-ji in
Livingston Manor, New York until 2010. While at Dai Bosatsu
Zendo she also was able to study with Yamakawa Sogen Roshi,
Abbott of Shogen-ji, when he attended at Dai Bosatsu Zendo
as a guest teacher during Sesshins. For a number of years she has been
training though Nitartha Institute for Advanced Buddhist Studies with Dzogchen
Ponlop Rinpoche and Acharya Lama Tenpa Gyaltsen.
While training at Dai Bai Zen Cho Bo Zen-ji in Seattle she began to
study the Art of Tea at the East West Chanoyu Centre (Urasenke Seattle)
and continues to share the Way of Tea through events sponsored by the
Japanese Cultural Association in Saskatoon.
She has also been a long-time student of Ikebana and is a Teacher/member
of the Edmonton Branch of Ikenobo Ikebana as the holder of a
Kako Certificate.
COME TO REST AND GO ON.
FINISH AND GO ON.
COME TO THE COLD AND LONELY PLACE AND GO ON.
HAVE ONE THOUGHT FOR TEN THOUSAND YEARS AND GO ON.
BECOME COLD ASHES AND A WITHERED TREE AND GO ON.
BECOME THE INCENSE BURNER IN AN ANCIENT SHRINE AND GO ON.
BECOME A STRIP OF WHITE SILK AND GO ON.
-Sekiso Keisho