centre news 2007

Tei Taku has made and donated a new han. A han is the large wooden block that is struck morning and evening in a particular pattern. Tei Taku was a monk in North Carolina before moving to Port Townsend in WA. He is always a welcome guest when in Vancouver visiting his daughters.
   
The centre had been at Brant Street for twelve years. It's now outgrown the facilities and a new building has been purchased. The new place is 50% larger allowing for most of the planned expanded activities. Please refer to photos and details in the 2007 Photo Gallery on the Sangha home web page.
 
The third sesshin of the year was filled. There were four newcomers and four people at their second sesshin. More and more of the sangha are finding the importance of sesshin practice. The next sesshin is in November.
 
Another successful yard sale was held late July. It was a chance to clean out unwanted items from the centre before the move. A big thanks to all the sangha who donated items and helped with the sale
     
The May sesshin was medium sized allowing the dojo to be used as the zendo. More and more of the sangha are finding the importance of sesshin practice. Congratulations to Klare for her first sesshin with the ZCV.
 
Buddha's Birthday ceremony and potluck occured in late April. This year was the largest group yet. It was wonderful to see and welcome so many friends, supporters and families. The ceremony expresses our gratitude and joy to the historical Buddha and our determination to journey the same path.

Two more Buddhist ceremonies were introduced this year. They were the Rinzai Memorial in January and Nirvana Day ceremony in February. Now that the centre has two ordained people besides Eshin all five Buddhist ceremonies will be acknowledged each year.
These ceremonies are Shakyamuni’s (the historical Buddha’s) birth day in April or May, enlightenment day in December and death day in February, Bodhidharma’s memorial in October and Rinzai’s memorial in January. The first three are common for all Buddhists and the last two are specific to our lineage.

Eshin gave a talk to a religions class at the SFU downtown campus in February.

The centre has organized trips to two guest speakers sponsored by Tun Lin Kok Yuen temple and the Dalai Lama Center. The group was too late for the second speaker and everyone ended up playing a fun game of 5 pin bowling in the lanes under the theatre.
Speakers will likely be a regular feature of the Dalai Lama Center. The Zen Centre will not be organizing further trips and suggests folks check the DLC web site for information if they are interested.

The first sesshin of the year was held in February. The place on Galiano Island was filled with the fifiteen people.

 
The Nirvana Day ceremony was held on February 4. Nirvana Day marks the passing of the historical Buddha, Shakymuni.

 
The Rinzai Memorial ceremony was held on January 7. This ceremony expresses the gratitude and connection we have to the great Chinese Zen Master.

 
New Years day was marked with a ceremony and a potluck lunch. Eshin spoke on appearing together within emptiness. As usual a warm welcome was given to spouses and children. Everyone stayed a long time with the good food and good conversation.