Several times a month, typically on a Thursday evening or a Saturday afternoon, Dharma Rain Zen Center offers introductory workshops on Zen practice.

  • Intro to 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.
  • Basic Buddhist Teachings introduces the basic teachings of Buddhism.

These workshops are open to all and offered free of charge (donations are gratefully accepted). You do not need to register. Our address is 8500 NE Siskiyou. The workshops are held in the Sodo (the large temple building at the end of the driveway on the left).

See the calendar below to find out when an introductory workshop you are interested in is scheduled.

More about Workshops and Classes …

Classes and Workshops Calendar

Jul
19
Fri
Free Qigong Workshop
Jul 19 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Kakumyo offers this Qigong workshop open tor beginners as well as advanced practitioners, and all the physical postures can be modified to fit individual needs or limitations. We will focus on “the 14” (ie., the JinJing Gong Shi Si Shi), but do pieces of a few other forms as well. The goal is to have you leave with:
  • an exposure to the types of breathing and basic postural principles
  • a felt sense of what we mean by “tendon-meridian”
  • basic introduction to a variety of qigong techniques (shaking, walking, standing, percussion, sound, visualization) that can be used to support vitality and transformation
  • enough familiarity with the “14” and the “7” that you could practice on your own, (perhaps with the handout that will be provided)
The style is from the JinJing Gong lineage. Kakumyo is a fully authorized teacher, with 20 years of qigong practice. His teacher was Bill Frazier, who learned from Wang Shifu in China, whose teacher was Li Jie, a Taoist priest of the Quanzhen pai school, Longmen Pai sect. The JinJing Gong lineage is small, based around Chengdu, China, but a practice community has sprung up around Portland, OR, over the last 20 years. This is a vigorous style of qigong, with a variety of different forms/sequences. It has martial, medical and contemplative roots, incorporating graceful movements, challenging breathing, detailed mindfulness, and other elements into the overall exercise.
Jul
21
Sun
Recitation of the Avatamsaka Sutra
Jul 21 @ 11:45 am – 12:15 pm

Note: July 14 chanting will take place in the Sodo.

Fumyo and Kakuon lead the ancient, traditional practice of the recitation of the Avatamsaka (Flower Ornament) Sutra.

We will chant aloud as a group for approximately 30 minutes each week. No registration required; please attend as you are interested or able.

We meet in the library on Sundays after the dharma talk, or on Saturdays at 10:00 AM. Please check the online calendar; the scheduled dates are slightly irregular.

We plan to use Cleary’s translation of the Sutra. Please bring your own copy if you have one. There are a limited number of extra copies available for use in the library.

According to Thomas Cleary, this sutra “is perhaps the richest and most grandiose of all Buddhist sutras, held in high esteem by all schools of Buddhism that are concerned with universal liberation. Its incredible wealth of sensory imagery staggers the imagination and exercised an almost mesmeric effect on the mind as it conveys a wide range of teachings through its complex structure, colorful symbolism, and its mnemonic concentration formulae.”

If you have questions, please contact Fumyo or Kakuon at dharma-rain.org.

Jul
28
Sun
Recitation of the Avatamsaka Sutra
Jul 28 @ 11:45 am – 12:15 pm

Note: July 14 chanting will take place in the Sodo.

Fumyo and Kakuon lead the ancient, traditional practice of the recitation of the Avatamsaka (Flower Ornament) Sutra.

We will chant aloud as a group for approximately 30 minutes each week. No registration required; please attend as you are interested or able.

We meet in the library on Sundays after the dharma talk, or on Saturdays at 10:00 AM. Please check the online calendar; the scheduled dates are slightly irregular.

We plan to use Cleary’s translation of the Sutra. Please bring your own copy if you have one. There are a limited number of extra copies available for use in the library.

According to Thomas Cleary, this sutra “is perhaps the richest and most grandiose of all Buddhist sutras, held in high esteem by all schools of Buddhism that are concerned with universal liberation. Its incredible wealth of sensory imagery staggers the imagination and exercised an almost mesmeric effect on the mind as it conveys a wide range of teachings through its complex structure, colorful symbolism, and its mnemonic concentration formulae.”

If you have questions, please contact Fumyo or Kakuon at dharma-rain.org.

Aug
1
Thu
Starting a Practice
Aug 1 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

The Starting a Practice workshop offers a way to cultivate insight by looking at our own actions in the light of the Buddhist Precepts. We also look at the forms used at Dharma Rain, including an explanation of the altar and other items found in the zendo (meditation hall), chanting, bowing, and other practices. Advance registration is not required.

 

 

Aug
4
Sun
Recitation of the Avatamsaka Sutra
Aug 4 @ 11:45 am – 12:15 pm

Note: July 14 chanting will take place in the Sodo.

Fumyo and Kakuon lead the ancient, traditional practice of the recitation of the Avatamsaka (Flower Ornament) Sutra.

We will chant aloud as a group for approximately 30 minutes each week. No registration required; please attend as you are interested or able.

We meet in the library on Sundays after the dharma talk, or on Saturdays at 10:00 AM. Please check the online calendar; the scheduled dates are slightly irregular.

We plan to use Cleary’s translation of the Sutra. Please bring your own copy if you have one. There are a limited number of extra copies available for use in the library.

According to Thomas Cleary, this sutra “is perhaps the richest and most grandiose of all Buddhist sutras, held in high esteem by all schools of Buddhism that are concerned with universal liberation. Its incredible wealth of sensory imagery staggers the imagination and exercised an almost mesmeric effect on the mind as it conveys a wide range of teachings through its complex structure, colorful symbolism, and its mnemonic concentration formulae.”

If you have questions, please contact Fumyo or Kakuon at dharma-rain.org.

Aug
9
Fri
Free Qigong Workshop
Aug 9 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Kakumyo offers this Qigong workshop open tor beginners as well as advanced practitioners, and all the physical postures can be modified to fit individual needs or limitations.

We will focus on “the 14” (ie., the JinJing Gong Shi Si Shi), but do pieces of a few other forms as well. The goal is to have you leave with:

  • an exposure to the types of breathing and basic postural principles
  • a felt sense of what we mean by “tendon-meridian”
  • basic introduction to a variety of qigong techniques (shaking, walking, standing, percussion, sound, visualization) that can be used to support vitality and transformation
  • enough familiarity with the “14” and the “7” that you could practice on your own, (perhaps with the handout that will be provided)

The style is from the JinJing Gong lineage. Kakumyo is a fully authorized teacher, with 20 years of qigong practice. His teacher was Bill Frazier, who learned from Wang Shifu in China, whose teacher was Li Jie, a Taoist priest of the Quanzhen pai school, Longmen Pai sect.

The JinJing Gong lineage is small, based around Chengdu, China, but a practice community has sprung up around Portland, OR, over the last 20 years. This is a vigorous style of qigong, with a variety of different forms/sequences. It has martial, medical and contemplative roots, incorporating graceful movements, challenging breathing, detailed mindfulness, and other elements into the overall exercise.

Aug
11
Sun
Recitation of the Avatamsaka Sutra
Aug 11 @ 11:45 am – 12:15 pm

Note: July 14 chanting will take place in the Sodo.

Fumyo and Kakuon lead the ancient, traditional practice of the recitation of the Avatamsaka (Flower Ornament) Sutra.

We will chant aloud as a group for approximately 30 minutes each week. No registration required; please attend as you are interested or able.

We meet in the library on Sundays after the dharma talk, or on Saturdays at 10:00 AM. Please check the online calendar; the scheduled dates are slightly irregular.

We plan to use Cleary’s translation of the Sutra. Please bring your own copy if you have one. There are a limited number of extra copies available for use in the library.

According to Thomas Cleary, this sutra “is perhaps the richest and most grandiose of all Buddhist sutras, held in high esteem by all schools of Buddhism that are concerned with universal liberation. Its incredible wealth of sensory imagery staggers the imagination and exercised an almost mesmeric effect on the mind as it conveys a wide range of teachings through its complex structure, colorful symbolism, and its mnemonic concentration formulae.”

If you have questions, please contact Fumyo or Kakuon at dharma-rain.org.

Aug
17
Sat
Intro to Zen Meditation
Aug 17 @ 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm

The Introduction to Zen Meditation workshop is designed for complete beginners, but it is also recommended for anyone who has not received instruction in the Soto Zen style of zazen. No previous experience is necessary.

This meeting is available both in person and online. Advance registration for attendance, whether in person or on Zoom is not required. Clicking the link for Zoom attendance will bring up a form to provide your first name and email before joining the meeting.

Aug
18
Sun
Recitation of the Avatamsaka Sutra
Aug 18 @ 11:45 am – 12:15 pm

Note: July 14 chanting will take place in the Sodo.

Fumyo and Kakuon lead the ancient, traditional practice of the recitation of the Avatamsaka (Flower Ornament) Sutra.

We will chant aloud as a group for approximately 30 minutes each week. No registration required; please attend as you are interested or able.

We meet in the library on Sundays after the dharma talk, or on Saturdays at 10:00 AM. Please check the online calendar; the scheduled dates are slightly irregular.

We plan to use Cleary’s translation of the Sutra. Please bring your own copy if you have one. There are a limited number of extra copies available for use in the library.

According to Thomas Cleary, this sutra “is perhaps the richest and most grandiose of all Buddhist sutras, held in high esteem by all schools of Buddhism that are concerned with universal liberation. Its incredible wealth of sensory imagery staggers the imagination and exercised an almost mesmeric effect on the mind as it conveys a wide range of teachings through its complex structure, colorful symbolism, and its mnemonic concentration formulae.”

If you have questions, please contact Fumyo or Kakuon at dharma-rain.org.

Aug
20
Tue
Advanced Study Group – Dogen’s Shobogenzo
Aug 20 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

This advanced study group will examine the first ten fascicles of Dogen’s Shobogenzo. Each week, a different member will lead the group discussion.

If you would like to join this study group, we ask that you:

-Be a Dharma Rain member
-Have Seminary or similar dharma study experience.

If you have any questions about the class or joining the class, please contact Tsuho at above email.

Required Text

Master Dogen’s Shobogenzo, Book 2, translated by Gudo Nishijima and Chodo Cross, Published by Dogen Sangha, 1994

You can purchase the bound version, download the pdf , or borrow from the library.

Note: Participating in this study group does not count for seminary credit.

August 20
September 10
September 17
September 24
October 1
October 8
October 15
October 22
October 29

Registration (required) for the class closes August 17. 

 

 

 

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