Upper Valley Zen Center. Proposal for a Plan
Some of this is happening already. Some is work in progress and others are dreams. Your comment and involvement is welcomed.
1) Practice
a) Regular, and publicized schedule of daily, weekly and retreat practice.
b) Introductory practice sessions
c) Formal Commitment to practice, with ceremony and wakesa – the neck piece symbolizing
commitment
d) Development of practice leadership
e) Annual and seasonal ritual observance of upheld values.
2) Teaching
a) Support of a teacher
b) Cultivation of teachers
c) Public teaching
d) Personal dialog opportunities
e) Group and personal study of precepts and other core teachings.
3) Community
a) Community celebration
b) Community membership and leadership development
c) Local community involvement
d) Property and financial management
e) Publicity
Commentary (Gendo)
Practice. The awareness in your own mind brings Buddhism to life in this time and place. The Zen Center can do a better job of supporting practice through: A) advance and long range scheduling of practice and retreats; B) evaluating the introductory sessions now offered; C) recognition of practice commitment (wakesa ceremony); D) sharing the knowledge and responsibility for practice leadership: E) an annual calendar for observance and celebration of the people and values we uphold.
Teaching. Awareness of your own experience is ultimately ”the teacher.” But sometimes the guidance of others is needed. A) The Zen Center must be able to support a teacher if there is to be a sustainable Center. Not every teacher will be able to volunteer. Can UVZC develop the capacity to support – or help support – a teacher? B) Where will future leadership come from? Can we create the opportunity for that training? If not here, then where else, and who might want to go there? C) One aspect of teaching is public, both at the Zen Center and elsewhere, both by local teachers and by others More can be done, public libraries, for instance. D) UVZC offers “interviews” or dialog with students (Sunday mornings), but I would like to do more with that, and expect it of all newcomers. E) Finally, lets look at our study group, and move toward a dialog connecting Buddhist ideas to everyday life; and also integrating the precepts into our study, in support of practice commitment (1C).
Community. Awareness of others is the awakened self. A) I would like to see us celebrate together, in support of each other and the hard work of practice. Other tasks: B) develop membership and leadership - specifically, cultivate Board members and good governance, and assign administrative responsibility for any proposed event or celebration to member volunteers C) become more involved in our neighboring community around issues like youth drug addiction, exploring ways we can open our doors to young people; D) consider whether to keep the Zen Center where it is, owning property at some point, and the ongoing work of finances and fundraising; E) making our presence known.
Some of this is happening already. Some is work in progress and others are dreams. Your comment and involvement is welcomed.
1) Practice
a) Regular, and publicized schedule of daily, weekly and retreat practice.
b) Introductory practice sessions
c) Formal Commitment to practice, with ceremony and wakesa – the neck piece symbolizing
commitment
d) Development of practice leadership
e) Annual and seasonal ritual observance of upheld values.
2) Teaching
a) Support of a teacher
b) Cultivation of teachers
c) Public teaching
d) Personal dialog opportunities
e) Group and personal study of precepts and other core teachings.
3) Community
a) Community celebration
b) Community membership and leadership development
c) Local community involvement
d) Property and financial management
e) Publicity
Commentary (Gendo)
Practice. The awareness in your own mind brings Buddhism to life in this time and place. The Zen Center can do a better job of supporting practice through: A) advance and long range scheduling of practice and retreats; B) evaluating the introductory sessions now offered; C) recognition of practice commitment (wakesa ceremony); D) sharing the knowledge and responsibility for practice leadership: E) an annual calendar for observance and celebration of the people and values we uphold.
Teaching. Awareness of your own experience is ultimately ”the teacher.” But sometimes the guidance of others is needed. A) The Zen Center must be able to support a teacher if there is to be a sustainable Center. Not every teacher will be able to volunteer. Can UVZC develop the capacity to support – or help support – a teacher? B) Where will future leadership come from? Can we create the opportunity for that training? If not here, then where else, and who might want to go there? C) One aspect of teaching is public, both at the Zen Center and elsewhere, both by local teachers and by others More can be done, public libraries, for instance. D) UVZC offers “interviews” or dialog with students (Sunday mornings), but I would like to do more with that, and expect it of all newcomers. E) Finally, lets look at our study group, and move toward a dialog connecting Buddhist ideas to everyday life; and also integrating the precepts into our study, in support of practice commitment (1C).
Community. Awareness of others is the awakened self. A) I would like to see us celebrate together, in support of each other and the hard work of practice. Other tasks: B) develop membership and leadership - specifically, cultivate Board members and good governance, and assign administrative responsibility for any proposed event or celebration to member volunteers C) become more involved in our neighboring community around issues like youth drug addiction, exploring ways we can open our doors to young people; D) consider whether to keep the Zen Center where it is, owning property at some point, and the ongoing work of finances and fundraising; E) making our presence known.
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