Empty Words

Newsletter of the Glastonbury Chan Group

Issue 8 www.glastoburychan.org January 2009

Happy New Year! We humans love to mark special occasions, and New Year is traditionally a time for taking on resolutions: one of mine is to try to get our newsletter out a little more regularly! As you will see from the column on the right of this page, there are many opportunities to deepen our practice on offer, from one day to full-length residential retreats, as well as talks and of course regular group meetings. Practicing with others, and under the guidance of teachers, is absolutely invaluable. But of equal importance is our own moment-to-moment practice, of mindfulness, wisdom and compassion.

The Buddha’s last words to his followers were appamādena sampādetha: this has often been translated as “seek your own salvation with diligence”. Interestingly, however, the term appamādena, according to Pali scholars*, is best approximated in English by the term “vigilance”, and the term sampādetha means "to cause to succeed"; in terms of the Buddha’s teachings, this would refer to awakening. So another way of hearing the Buddha’s final advice would be thus: “Come to awakening through vigilance”. Rather than striving to achieve enlightenment, we return to it, moment by moment, by giving our full attention to life-as-it-arises. Now that’s what I call a New Year Resolution!

Gassho

Ned Reiter [Guo Ji]

* (see http://jayarava.org/buddhas-last-words.html)

Coming Events

Every Monday -
Our usual meeting for meditation, tea, discussion and service at Shekinashram, 7:00pm. Meditation instruction available. Call Ned for details on: 01458 832931

Every Thursday-
Glastonbury Gaia House sitting group: from 7:00pm - sitting, tea and discussion. Anthony/Johnny: (01458) 835997/834902

Sun 18^th January –

One Day Zen Retreat – 9:30-5:00 – Ermington, Devon. Details: Francoise Elvin 01364 653640 or Devin, 01749 813969

Wednesday 21^st January: Talk by John Crook – Westbury-on-Trym, nr. Bristol. Details: Bristol Chan Group – 01749 676249 or 0117 924 8819

19th January to 24th January

5 Day Chan Retreat - Leader: Fiona Nuttall

Venue: Maenllwyd – Details:

www.westernchanfellowship.org/retreats.html

Saturday 31^st January:

One Day Chan retreat with Venerable Jin-Ho from Dharma Drum Mountain – Winscombe Community Hall, 10:30 – 6:00. £7.50 - Meal after for £12.50 if desired. Contact Bristol Chan Group – 01749 676249 or 0117 924 8819 or Ned 01458 832931

Sunday 1st February -10pm on Radio 3 - John Crook will be talking with the Archbishop of Canterbury on the latter's programme on "SILENCE".

Sun 22 February:

Chan one day retreat at Shekinashram, Glastonbury - Email: reiter@clara.co.uk Phone: Ned: 01458 832931

14th March to 19th March

Western Zen Retreat - Leader: Simon Child

Venue: Maenllwyd – Details:

www.westernchanfellowship.org/retreats.html

Wed 25 - Sun 29 March

5 Day Sesshin: Meiya Wender -

Gaia House, Devon

Phone: 01626 333613

18th April to 25th April

Silent Illumination Retreat - Leader: John Crook

Venue: Maenllwyd - Details: