The Zen of Screens – a workshop September 24th, 8am-9:30am

Join us for this exploration of the way in which the time we spend looking and interacting with Screens (smartphones, computers, etc.) has an impact on body, mind and soul.

“Our growing use of screens (smartphones, computers, etc.) raises questions for each of us: What is our relationship with our screens? How do screens make us more and less connected?  How do they bear on our spiritual journey?

8am-9:30am                            Please RSVP: inryu@allbeingszen.org

Here is a basic outline of our upcoming event

Program for “The Zen of Screens”

  • Ten-minute meditation
  • Motivation for workshop—Surveys show that adults think they spend two hours of screen time per day, but they actually spend four hours. The dominance of screens in our life raises new questions: What is our relationship with your screens? How do screens make us more or less connected?  How do they bear on our spiritual journeys?
  • Discussion 1—Each participant can say a few words on screens in their life.
  • Exercise 1—Each participant spends 10 mindful minutes on their screen doing their most common activities, followed by a 10 minute body scan meditation. Discussion.
  • Discussion 2—Most folks feel they are too caught up in screens, and their posture and thinking reflect excessive use. What is it that explains our excessive use? Screens could be another way for us to avoid our discomfort and naturally leads to consideration of the four noble truths.
  • Discussion 3

o   Skillful screen use—Practical tips for how we use screens eg clean up apps, keep screen in different room…

o   Skillful screen time— Record your screen time; hide digital distractions; digital fasting.

  • Final discussion

 

Shinren Mark Stone will help us develop our awareness of the influence of screens on body, mind and soul. Bring your favorite device!”

 

May All Beings Be Happy!

The All Beings Zen Sangha welcomes and affirms all who come here to seek the Way, and who will work toward respectful acceptance of others across our many differences, harmonizing the one and the many.

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All Beings Zen Sangha
27290 Woodburn Hill Road
Mechanicsville, MD 20659

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All Beings Zen Sangha
C/O  Rev. Inryū Ponce-Barger,
2801 Adams Mill Road NW 402
Washington DC 20009

Month: September 2017

  • Dharma Talk “Yunmen: All the World is You”

    Rev. Shojo Danny Parker will offer a talk on “Yunmen: All the World is You” – Thursday May 26th 7pm

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    Rev. Shojo Danny Parker is currently the resident priest at “The Zen Room” in Cocoa Beach Florida.  He is a long time friend and supporter of our All Beings Zen Sangha and will offer a teaching on May 26th.  Rev. Shojo received priest ordination at the Berkeley Zen Center in the lineage of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi in 2011.  His long time zen teacher, Edward Espe Brown was the preceptor.  In addition to being a Zen teacher, Rev. Shojo is a writer, scientist and cook.

     

  • Dharma Talk on the Daoist Roots of Zen

    Daishin McCabe Dharma Talk on the Daoist Roots of Zen – Thursday May 5th, 2016

    Daishin Eric McCabe is a Soto Zen Buddhist priest.
    He teaches Buddhist philosophy, meditation, yoga, and calligraphy to people of all walks of life and spiritual paths. Daishin undertook a 15 year mentorship with Abbess Dai-En Bennage of Mount EDSCN1058quity Zendo, located in rural central Pennsylvania. During this time he trained at various Soto Zen Monasteries in Japan, France, California, and Nebraska.

  • Reading Group May 29th: How the Swans Came to the Lake

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    All Beings will continue with our reading group!  This has been a fun way for folks to get together and talk about the practice in an informal environment, and with tea and cookies!

    For Sunday, May 29th, we’re reading How the Swans Came to the Lake, by Rick Fields.  It’s an overview of how Buddhism has mingled with ‘western’ cultures and specifically the US.  Pretty engaging read, I can assure you, and it should provide ample material for discussion.  For the 29th, we’ll focus on the first half of the book, roughly.

    We’ll meet at the All Beings Zendo space at 8 am.  Contact Inryu for more info if you need it.

    Here are some helpful links.  Libraries and local bookstores are encouraged, but there’s always used copies on Amazon too.

    http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/24955175

    Hope to see you there!  These are both pleasantly serious and engaging and very non-stuffy.

    Sam

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  • When we eat in peace, we create the conditions for peace

    John Flanagan
    April 4 at 1:17pm

    In Zen, we say “When we eat in peace, we create the conditions for peace.” All of this starts in the kitchen, under the direction of the Tenzo. On Sunday, I had the great opportunity to watch the chefs of All Beings Zen, under the direction of Inryu Bobbi Ponce-Barger, create oryoki lunch for the Sanga during a one-day workshop at Woodburn Hill Farm. Watching Buddhists prepare food is an experience unlike any other (and eating the food is, too!)

     

  • Shuso Entering and 2016 Spring Practice Period

     

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    Inryu Offered a Way Seeking Mind Talk on 2/25
  • Song of Mind text with Dairyu

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    Hi Everyone – Dairyu Michael Wenger would love to have us do this book for book club.  He’s been studying it lately and will be giving a talk on it when he comes back to DC in April.

    It seems the best way to procure a copy is via Amazon.

    Thanks everyone!  This should be a fun one!

    Sam

     

  • February 7th Sutra Copying Session

    Sutra copying is considered a merit in Buddhism. Other meritorious practices included the memorization and recitation of sutras. The effort of sutra copying is considered an expression of piety, and recognized as a devotional practice, since it comprises worship, literature, and calligraphy. Since early in history, it was also not uncommon for people to sponsor monks and nuns to recite or copy sutras, thus indirectly cultivating merit in one’s ancestors, family, and self by transference.

    The practice of sutra copying originated in China. Sutra copying was imported to Korea in the third century.[During the Nara period (710-794) in Japan, the practice of sutra copying became very popular in society. —from Wikipedia

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    Sangha member Gilligan has generously donated Heart Sutra tracing papers from Korea for us.

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  • Great Gathering for our First Meditation Retreat of 2016

    Wonderful Gathering of the All Beings Zen Sangha for our first Meditation Retreat of 2016 at Woodburn Hill Farm.

     

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  • Rev. Inryu visiting teacher at Empty Hand Zen Center Jan 10-12, 2016

    Rev. Inryu was the visiting teacher for the Empty Hand Zen Center in New Rochelle NY from Jan 10-12th, 2016, while their guiding teacher Rev. Konin Cardenas was in San Francisco for her transmission ceremony.

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    Rev. Inryu on Sunday Jan 10, 2016 following her Dharma Talk at Empty Hand Zen Center, New Rochelle, NY
  • Rev. Inryu officiating for an Arlington Va wedding in September 2015

    Our resident priest Rev. Inryu officiated for a recent outdoor wedding in Arlington VA.  We set up a simple Altar on a small table.Unknown

    As part of the ceremony those in attendance were asked to close their eyes and take a moment to bring full attention to the current moment.  Feeling their bodies, the air around them, the sounds in the environment and to observe their breathing. We then shared a moment of silence to settle into the beauty the moment and place.Roxanne & Jamal A-398

     

    The couple vowed to take refuge in Awakening, Truth and Community.

    The vowed to support and cherish life, to live generously with an open heart, to remain faithful in relationship, to communicate honestly and simply, to treat all beings and each other with dignity and respect, to work for the benefit of others, to be humble, to not hand on to grudges or angered and to awaken to their connection to all life.Roxanne & Jamal A-430Rev. Inryu has been the official celebrant for weddings in Maryland, Virginia, Georgia and Washington DC.  She is a registered officiant with the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

     

    The photos above are from Phyllis Petronello Photography