ZenGiftsToChristians

 

Zen Gifts to Christians   

led by Fr Robert Kennedy SJ and Fr. Patrick Eastman

 Friday 27 May to

Thursday 2 June                                         

Cost: see below

Please arrive by 6pm on Friday.  Course finishes with breakfast on Thursday morning, or earlier as suits.

 

This Zen Sesshin (retreat) will be a wonderful help to Christians seeking to awaken to their own true nature. It will be led by Fr. Robert Kennedy S.J. Roshi and Fr Patrick Eastman Sensei. Together they will help us develop a deeper contemplative prayer life through the practice of Zazen (silent sitting ). This is the practice of attentiveness to the breath which, coupled with the stillness of the body, frees the mind from its ordinary mental activities. When practised attentively, Zazen offers an ever-deepening insight into the oneness of life just as it is.

This is a silent retreat where much of the time is spent in sitting Zazen and Kin Hin (walking meditation), Dharma talks, chanting and Daisan (one to one interviews with the teacher). The days start very early, with Zazen at 7am, and conclude with a simple celebration of Eucharist, for those who wish to stay in the spirit of our encounter with a Zen practice.

Participants can come for either the weekend or leave after any other day during the week. The cost will be adjusted according to the length of stay. 

Those who have never practiced Zen before are welcome to attend and there will be an introduction for them at the beginning of the retreat.

Fr Robert Kennedy is a Jesuit priest who teaches theology at St. Peter's College, Jersey City, and is a Zen Master (Roshi) in the White Plum Asangha. He studied with the great Yamada Roshi in Kamakura, Japan, with Maezumi Roshi in Los Angeles and with Glassman Roshi in New York. He is the author of Zen Spirit, Christian Spirit and Zen Gifts to Christians.

Fr Patrick Eastman is a Catholic priest of the Diocese of Tulsa, USA, who now serves as the Parish Priest of Tetbury, England. He leads The Wild Goose Sangha (a Zen group based in Cirencester) and is a Zen teacher (Sensei) in the White Plum Asangha. He has studied with Dr. Ruben Habito Roshi of Maria Kannon Zen Center, Dallas, Abbot Daido Loori Roshi of Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, and Robert Kennedy SJ (see above).

Costs (including the cost of Fr Kennedy flying from New York to lead the retreat):

 

 

 

 

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Ammerdown Park, Radstock, Somerset, BA3 5SW - Tel: 01761 433709 Fax: 01761 433094 - centre@ammerdown.org

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