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

Dec
12
Tue
Dealing with Stress Workshop
Dec 12 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Is life a little much sometimes? Do you find yourself saying things you wish you wouldn’t? Want to recover your sense of ease and joy? This 2-hr workshop teaches a variety of simple but effective techniques that reduce stress and emotional reactivity. The focus is on internal mindfulness practices that we can make use of in any situation. As proficiency grows, many find increased happiness, adaptability and confidence. A mix of explanation, meditation, experiential exercises, and facilitated discussion are used to ensure that the workshop is practical and translates to your life. No experience or affiliation necessary. This is an in-person only event. Advance registration is not required.
Taking Your Seat
Dec 12 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Taking Your Seat is a program designed to help newer members of Dharma Rain establish their meditation practice, create cohort-like warm relationships with other members, and delve deeper as part of the temple community. This program is for active members of Dharma Rain in their first two years of practice. The program begins in October and includes 5 meetings. Meetings are Tuesdays from 7-9pm.

Meetings include discussions and exercises, as well as informal social time and chances to practice forms. Topics are based partly on what the group wants and needs, and may include a review of foundational teachings, practicing oryoki, investigating mondo, exploring the purpose of formal practice, learning how Dharma Rain is organized, and investigating gateways for practice at Dharma Rain — or just having dinner together.

Dates are: October 3 and 17, November 14 and 28, December 12.

Registration closes October 1.

Registration is now closed for Taking Your Seat.

 

Dec
14
Thu
Intro to Zen Meditation
Dec 14 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 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.

Dec
15
Fri
Free Qigong Workshop
Dec 15 @ 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.

Dec
16
Sat
Starting a Practice
Dec 16 @ 1:30 pm – 3:30 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.

For Zoom attendance, clicking the link brings up a form to provide your first name and email before joining the meeting.

 

 

Jan
3
Wed
Precepts Wednesday Class
Jan 3 @ 7:45 pm – 9:00 pm

This class is about the 16 Bodhisattva Precepts, the ethical guidelines of Zen practice. The class prepares those who wish to take Jukai in February, as well as allowing everyone to explore how to work with these in everyday life. This year’s preceptor is Gyoshi.

All Wednesday night classes are open to the public. There is no charge, though donations are gratefully accepted.

This class is in-person only, no Zoom option, though it is recorded. Audio files can be found here.

We meet on this schedule:
7-7:10pm Evening Service
7:10-7:40 Zazen
7:40-7:50 Tea, Announcements
7:50~9 Class
9-9:10 Vespers

 

 

 

 

 

Jan
4
Thu
Intro to Zen Meditation
Jan 4 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 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.

Jan
10
Wed
Precepts Wednesday Class
Jan 10 @ 7:45 pm – 9:00 pm

This class is about the 16 Bodhisattva Precepts, the ethical guidelines of Zen practice. The class prepares those who wish to take Jukai in February, as well as allowing everyone to explore how to work with these in everyday life. This year’s preceptor is Gyoshi.

All Wednesday night classes are open to the public. There is no charge, though donations are gratefully accepted.

This class is in-person only, no Zoom option, though it is recorded. Audio files can be found here.

We meet on this schedule:
7-7:10pm Evening Service
7:10-7:40 Zazen
7:40-7:50 Tea, Announcements
7:50~9 Class
9-9:10 Vespers

 

 

 

 

 

Jan
13
Sat
Starting a Practice
Jan 13 @ 1:30 pm – 3:30 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.

For Zoom attendance, clicking the link brings up a form to provide your first name and email before joining the meeting.

 

 

Jan
17
Wed
Precepts Wednesday Class
Jan 17 @ 7:45 pm – 9:00 pm

This class is about the 16 Bodhisattva Precepts, the ethical guidelines of Zen practice. The class prepares those who wish to take Jukai in February, as well as allowing everyone to explore how to work with these in everyday life. This year’s preceptor is Gyoshi.

All Wednesday night classes are open to the public. There is no charge, though donations are gratefully accepted.

This class is in-person only, no Zoom option, though it is recorded. Audio files can be found here.

We meet on this schedule:
7-7:10pm Evening Service
7:10-7:40 Zazen
7:40-7:50 Tea, Announcements
7:50~9 Class
9-9:10 Vespers

 

 

 

 

 

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