Plum Blossom Zendo

plumblossomzendo — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:17:32 +0000

What is Zen?

The word “zen” has been used so extensively to market goods and services, that its true meaning and relevance for our time has been often ignored. Throughout the ages, seekers have wrestled with such questions as “Who am I?” and “What is the meaning of life?” Throughout its 2500 year old history, Zen has offered a path to explore such questions.

If you are seeking meaning in your life, please join us for a lecture and orientation to Zen meditation by Sensei Janet Jiryu Abels, a teacher who understands the needs of Americans coming to Zen for the first time as well as those of more experienced practitioners.

Sensei Janet is the guiding teacher of Plum Blossom Zendo and co-teacher in residence at Still Mind Zendo in New York City.

Thursday, March 25, 2010
7:00 PM
Chatham Village Clubhouse
655 Pennridge, Pittsburgh, PA 15211 (Mt. Washington)
$5.00 suggested donation
Refreshments will be served.

For more information, directions, and to register, please contact Beverly Griebling at 412-431-8016 or bgriebling@comcast.net.

plumblossomzendo — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 15:02:09 +0000

Plum Blossom Zendo
A Pittsburgh Zen Meditation Center
5228 Beeler Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
412.687.7128

Plum Blossom Zendo, a Zen meditation center in Pittsburgh formed in 2005, is in the Soto-Rinzai lineage of Zen Master Taizan Maezumi Roshi and the White Plum Asanga. Our founder and resident teacher, Sensei Janet Jiryu Abels, is dharma successor to Roshi Robert Jinsen Kennedy in this Zen lineage as is Sensei Gregory Hosho Abels, the other resident Zen teacher at Still Mind Zendo in New York. Plum Blossom Zendo is an affiliate of Still Mind Zendo. Local experienced and new Zen practitioners are welcome, as are visitors to Pittsburgh who practice Zen.

Cover Photo copywrited by Andrew Gray - http://www.japanwindow.com

When the old plum tree suddenly opens,

the world of blossoming flowers arises.

At the moment when the world of blossoming flowers arises,

spring arrives.

- Dogen, Japenese Soto Zen Master

plumblossomzendo — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:19:32 +0000

Zazen is more than just meditation. It is not mere contemplation or introspection. It is not quieting the mind or focusing the mind. Zazen is sitting Zen–one aspect of Zen. There is also walking Zen, working Zen, laughing Zen, and crying Zen.

JOHN DAIDO LOORI

plumblossomzendo — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:49:45 +0000

One day, Suzuki Roshi turned his back to his students, pulled his robes up over his knees, leaned back, stuck his head between his legs, and grinned at his surprised audience. Everyone laughed at what he was doing. But when Suzuki Roshi said, “This is a demonstration of your English word understand,” the students could not help but laugh at themselves.

ZEN STORY

plumblossomzendo — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:22:01 +0000

We cannot put off living until we are ready. The most salient characteristic of life is its urgency, “here and now” without any possible postponement. Life is fired at us point blank.

JOSE ORTEGA Y GASSET

plumblossomzendo — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 11:12:20 +0000

Immediately after you stand on the peak of a mountain you step forward and begin to climb a higher mountain which is down below.

KOBUN CHINO

plumblossomzendo — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 11:40:30 +0000

Reality can be found only in understanding what is; and to understand what is, there must be freedom, freedom from the fear of what is.

KRISHNAMURTI

plumblossomzendo — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:12:48 +0000

So the thing to do when working on a motorcycle, as in any other task, is to cultivate the peace of mind which does not separate one’s self from one’s surroundings. When that is done successfully, then everything else follows naturally. Peace of mind produces right values, right values produce right thoughts. Right thoughts produce right actions and right actions produce work which will be a matrial reflection for others to see of the serenity at the center of it all.

ROBERT M. PIRSIG

plumblossomzendo — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:40:44 +0000

Our minds are continually active, fabricating an anxious, usually self-preoccupied veil which partially conceals the world.

IRIS MURDOCH

plumblossomzendo — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:20:42 +0000

Be master of yourself everywhere. All you do proves true.

ZEN SAYING