Deepen my meditation practice

SP passed away just after 5pm on Sunday: may she rest in deepest samadhi.

This evening I participated in a zazen/sutra service, held in her room at the hospice, for a sangha member who is about to die. It was an emotional experience for us as a group, & for me as an individual; I hope that it provided some comfort to her.

Today I participated in a half-day retreat (a variation on/extension of the typical hour-long evening session), consisting of three 35-minute sitting meditations, two 10-minute walking meditations, & a “full-silence” vegetarian potluck (great food!). As before, it was an interesting & very positive experience. smile

This evening I spent three hours attending & participating in the annual business meeting of the meditation group that sponsors the weekly meditation sessions I’ve been attending (for about three years now, already!). It was nice to be able to contribute ideas, to feel the group “flow,” & to have a sense of real belonging there. smile

I was pleased to be able to walk through a Chartres-style labyrinth after our formal meditation session this evening; this activity (available free – but only during the week between XmasEve & NYEve – locally) offered a lovely continuation of the calm atmosphere of the sit. smile

[More information available at: http://www.labyrinthos.net/photo_library14.html & http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/maze/index.htm; image from: http://northernelectric.ca/medieval/labyrinth/labyrinth.htm]

Today I participated in the second half of a day-long retreat (a variation on / extension of a typical evening session); I took part in three 35-minute sitting meditations & two 10-minute walking meditations. As before, I found it an interesting & positive experience. I only wish that the opportunity to do this arose more frequently! smile

This evening, instead of sitting next to the chant leader, so that I could read along in the sutra book & observe the use of bells, bowls, & blocks in the chanting, I was the chant leader! smile

Edited to Add:

I didn’t do it “perfectly”—but things went well enough, especially for a first time (& some of the goofs were pretty funny! grin). I’m pleased to have been brave enough to try it just four months after beginning to learn the ino role. Also, I think it helped that I volunteered to do it fairly “last minute,” when someone else hadn’t shown up, & at a session with only half a dozen other people attending. This meant I couldn’t worry about it very far in advance & also that I didn’t have a very large “audience” if things didn’t go well! smile

I’m pleased to have had the chance to participate in two of the three days of the weekend retreat. smile

Again this evening I sat next to the leader, so that I could read along in the sutra book & observe the use of bells, bowls, & blocks in the chanting. smile

The documentary How to Cook Your Life is, in some ways, like a very informal dharma talk. I enjoyed lots of things about this documentary, & perhaps also learned a few, as well. smile