We would like to invite you to meet representatives of four Buddhist traditions that have their centres in Olomouc:

- Dzogchen
- Theravada
- Kwan Um
- Soto Zen

Our school will be represented by a Zen nun Myoka (Irena Pavlikova), a close disciple of Master Sando Kaisen and a head of the dojo in Olomouc.

     7th March 2012 at 6 p.m.

Palác Bohemia / The Bohemia Palace
Reprezentační sál ANAG / The ANAG hall
Kollárovo náměstí č. 7 / 7 Kollár square
OLOMOUC

Admission fee: voluntary donation.

This event is a part of the ProTibet Festival.

Organized by: Bodhi Olomouc, Dzogchen Olomouc, Samten Tse Praha, Kwan Um – Olomouc, Soto Zen – Olomouc

See the invitation here.

Krajská vědecká knihovna (Malý sál) / District Science Library (Small hall)
Rumjacevova 1362/1, Liberec
see the map

Introduction to the teachings and the zazen meditation.
The lecture is going to be presented by a monk Radek Steiger,
a close disciple of Master Sandó Kaisen.

Admission: 50 CZK

The Practice will be led by a monk Masho, a close disciple of Master Sando Kaisen.

___________________________________________________

Kesa je šatem mnicha, předáním dharmy, tělem a duchem buddhy.

V Buddhových časech žil král Kusala, který k Buddhovi choval hluboký obdiv. Jednoho dne, spatřil v dálce mnicha, kterého považoval za Buddhova žáka. Když však zjistil, že je to bráhman, vydal se za Buddhou a pověděl mu: „Měli byste se nějak odlišit od jiných mnichů. Měli byste nosit takový šat, který umožní vás poznat.“
A tak během jedné z cest, když Buddha kráčel v doprovodu Anandy, Ananda náhle pohlédl na rýžové pole a zvolal: „A co kdybychom si vytvořili šat podle rýžového pole?“ Tato myšlenka se Buddhovi okamžitě zalíbila, a vzápětí pomyslel: „To pole sytí všechny bytosti, je dobře odít se do takového pole.“

Buddha pak odevzdávaje pravou dharmu Mahakášjápovi předal mu pravdivé kesa, které bylo dále předáváno z patriarchy na patriarchu… „Od Bódhidharmy k Enovi, z patriarchy na patriarchu, bylo předáváno z mistra na žáka, bez přerušení, po generace; opravdové kesa bylo předáváno spolu s autentickým odkazem učení. Není to pouze oděv. Kesa je samo v sobě zazenem a naopak.“ (Dógen, Šóbógenzó, Den e)

Po staletí je předáván s kesa rovněž přesný způsob jeho šití, nošení a péče o něj, a tomu bude věnován tento sesšin (víkend intenzivní praxe). Neboť mistr Dešimaru říkal, že ti, kteří nosí kesa, a zvláště ti, kteří ho šijí, jsou lidé skutečně čistí, opravdoví žáci.

___________________________________________________

Scout´s Centre, Domasov/Skautská základna Domašov
Lesní 167
Domašov nad Bystřicí
(map)

Beginning: Thursday 2nd February 2012, 8 p.m.
End: Sunday 5th February 2012, 2 p.m.

Please, take with you:

- a meditation pillow (zafu) and a mat (futon);
- loose, dark clothes;
- three bowls (not plates) + cutlery and a napkin;
- personal things for three days;
- slippers;
- a sleeping bag (for sleeping on beds);
- a long ruler, tailor´s chalk, a pincushion and scissors.

Food will be provided.

Financial contribution: Will be specified (maximum 1200 CZK).

Registration: At the latest by 27th January 2012 at sekretar@sotozen.cz

Ku: mouth.
Sen: teachings.

Kusen is teaching of a master to his disciples in a dojo during the zazen. Kusen is a secret langure, a zen technique of speaking reserved to the disciples of the Soto Zen school during the zazen in a dojo.

It is a secret between a master and a disciple, that no outsider can understand. Kusen goes from a master to his disciple and from a disciple to a master.

Sometimes, a master uses a kusen to criticize his disciples.

He uses very simple and important words: “Push your chin in.” “Don´t move.” “Straighten up your spine.” (Teachings related to the position and attention.)

Sometimes the teaching is simple, at other times it is long and profound. But it is neither a literature, nor a lecture.
A master has to hit the spirit of the disciples, to move it.

If we write a kusen in lovely words, it will lose its strength and becomes weak and charming; it ceases to be a kusen.

A kusen uses a direct language, sometimes cynical, sometimes humorous, biting. Sentences are short, direct. Brief sentences are necessary, because they must attack.

Silence itself is a teaching.

The aim of a kusen is not to educate with knowledge and information, it must deeply influence the brain and make the intuition and the highest wisdom spring out.

In the same way, during the zazen, unconsciously, naturally, a disciple listens to a kusen and it is not necessary to remember it. A kusen penetrates the unconscious and the memory records it automatically, without thinking, spontaneously.

A master creates in a kusen a teaching transmitted by his master. It is important that it would be created here and now.
If you were a master and simply read the kusen in a dojo, it would not be a kusen.
If someone comments or explains a kusen, it is no longer a kusen. Only an authentic master of transmittion can create a kusen from the bottom of the cosmic unconsciousness.

Taken from: Le Livre du kesa:

DESHIMARU, Taisen, Maître. Qu´est-ce que le kusen ? Le livre du kesa. Paris : Association Zen International, 1986. s. 13-14, 231 s. ISBN 2-901844-05-7

Monks have been offering beautiful flowers to Buddhas since long, in Japan, however, the way of putting flowers on an altar was thorouly developed and systematized. It became a way of reflecting the Buddha nature present in each of us through the beauty and fragility of flowers – it became a way – kado.

Kodo, otherwise known as ikebana, i.e. the art of flower arrangement, later spread outside temple walls amongst the common folk and a few decades ago outside Japan as well. And therefore everyone can nowadays admire the majesty and beauty of these arrangements.

Saturday 26th November 2011
9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Centrum GOTAMA, Dolní nám. 33, Olomouc / Gotama Centre, Lower square 33, Olomouc

AGENDA:
- A bit of history and theory on the principles of ikebana
- Choosing and buying flowers together
- Techniques of cutting, placing the flowers and keeping them
- Introduction of different schools and their styles
- Ikebana as a way of expressing our nature
- Arranging flowers together
- Discussion

Contribution: 300 CZK

Please, register by 25th November the latest at: olomouc@sotozen.cz, the number of places is limited.

Please, take with you a sharp knife, garden scissors (if you have them), and vases or containers where you would like to arrange the flowers.

The event will be led by a Zen nun Myoka (Irena Pavlikova), a disciple of Mister Sando Kaisen.

A short lecture, meditating together, questions and answers.
Led by a Zen monk Masho, a close disciple of Master Kaisen.

Thursday 10th November 2011
7 p.m.

Varsavska 11, Ostrava – Hulvaky

Take with you: comfortable clothes, a zafu (a meditation pillow) or a blanket.
Admission fee: 50 CZK.

A short talk, meditating together, questions and answers.

Led by a Zen monk Tomas Dabrowski, a close disciple of Master Kaisen.

Wednesday 9th November 2011
7 p.m.

Klatovska 2, Pilsen

Take with you: comfortable clothes, a zafu (a meditation pillow) or a blanket.
Admission fee: 50 CZK.

A WEEKEND OF AN INTENSIVE PRACTICE -SESSHIN

Sesshin is a time of an intensive practice in a dojo or  monastery. We do four or five zazens (meditations) a day, we eat together, work, and there is some free time to relax. We try to be attentive in every moment, to every action we are doing, and to follow the rhythm of sesshin completely. Here and now to live the spirit of zen and forget ourselves.

Kapucínský klášter / Capuchin Monastery
in Mnichovo Hradiste
V lipách 151, Mnichovo Hradiste
(map)

Beginning: Thursday 17th November 2011, 8 p.m.
Ending: Sunday 20th November 2011, 2 p.m.

Registration: By the noon of 13th November 2011 at sekretar@sotozen.cz

Financial contribution: 1200 CZK

Please, take with you:

- a meditation pillow (zafu) and a blanket (futon);
- loose, dark clothes;
- three bowls (not plates) + spoon, fork and a cloth serviette;
- personal things for three days;
- slippers;
- working clothes.

Food will be provided.

We would like to invite all to our regular zazens in Litvinov.

Every Saturday from 7 a.m.
„Camellia“ Tearoom
Ruská Street 2121, 436 01  Litvinov

For more information, see:
http://www.sotozen.cz/centra/litvinov/

Staruday,  5 of November 2011 at 11 am
Zábrdovická 10, areál podniku Hlubna, 2. patro, Brno

Our new dojo is in a building of the Hlubna company, close to the Vojenska nemocnice tram stop (trams no. 2 and 3); continue in the direction of the tram and you will see the building on the right. At the reception say that you are from the Soto zen group and go to the 2nd floor.

Programme:

- zazen
- ceremony
- refreshments

Regular zazens
every Monday and Thursday from 7.00 p.m.
More information here

Short lecture – zazen position, the basics of the practice, sitting zazen together, questions and answers.

VRATISLAV
Monday 10th October 2011
7:00 p.m.
Art Hotel, Kiełbaśnicza 20
Contakt: Wojtek, zazen.wroclaw@gmail.com, tel: +48 889 049 544

POZNAN
Tuesday 11th October 2011
7:00 p.m.
Polska Akademia Nauk, ul.H.Wieniawskiego 17/19
Contakt: Marta, zazenpoznan@gmail.com, tel: +48 784 725 384

WARSAW
Wednesday 12th October 2011
7:00 p.m.
Warszawki Dom Technika NOT, ul.T.Czackiego 3/5
Contakt: Wojtek, wdraus@gmail.com, tel: +48 692 12 89 65

Entrance fee: 20 zł.

Please, take with you loose clothing, a zafu (meditation pillow) and a blanket.

WEEKEND OF INTENSIVE PRACTICE – SESSHIN

Sesshin is a time of an intensive practice in a dojo or a monastery. We do four to five zazen meditations during the day, we have meals together, we work together and there is some time to relax. We try to be attentive in every moment, pay attention to every activity we do, and let the flow of the sesshin carry us. To live here and now in the spirit of zen and forget ourselves.

„Rancho Pod Bocianem”
Wieś Przypki, Nadarzyńska 15, 05-555 Tarczyn
(map)

Beginning: Thursday 13th October 2011, 8.00 p.m.
End: Sunday 16th October 2011, 2 p.m.

Registration: By noon of 2nd October 2011 at sekretar@sotozen.cz

Financial contribution : 395 zł

Take with you:

- a meditation pillow (zafu) and a blanket (futon),
- loose dark clothes
- three bowls (not plates) + spoon, fork and a textile napkin;
- personal things for three days;
- indoor shoes;
- working clothes.

Food will be provided.

11th October 2011 at 6 p.m.
Nove Mesto na Morave
Fitklub Brady

12th October 2011 at 6 p.m.
Zdar nad Sazavou
Klub Univerzum, Dolni 1

There will also be a practical introduction to zazen meditation.

BRING LOOSE COMFORTABLE CLOTHES, A BLANKET AND A PILLOW TO SIT ON DURING THE MEDITATION.

Entrance fee: 50 CZK

The lectures will be led by a Zen monk and a close disciple of Master Kaisen, Robert Klimo.

Zen Dojo Mushinji in Pilsen would like to invite everyone to a festive opening of a new dojo and starting regular meditations.

The opening will take place
on Wednesday 14th September from 7 p.m.
at Klatovská 2, Pilsen.

Programme:
Zazen
Ceremony
Refreshments

Thursday 8th September 2011 from 7 p.m.
Bořivojova 114, 1st floor, Praha 3

Programme:
- zazen
- ceremony
- refreshments

We would like to invite you to a demonstration of the traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony led by a zen monk Radek Steiger.

Čajomír fest
Saturday 27th August 2011
Michnův palác – japonský salónek (Japanese Room)
Praha 1 – Kampa
Tea ceremonies begin at 12.00, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.

For more see www.cajomirfest.cz

We would like to invite you for the first zazen
on 7th July 2011 at 7 p.m.
Bořivojova 114, Praha – Žižkov – see the map