|
Blue Mountain
Zendo by Andrea Davis |
|
For my Eastern Encounter, I visited Blue Mountain Zendo. When I first began my research I was going to visit a Buddhist temple in Allentown (40 miles away). However, later I found that this practice took place right here in my hometown. Mind you, my family was as shocked as I was when I told them due to the area in which we live consists more of Catholic and Protestant background. When I first called, I was in disbelief due to the address they gave me. When I was a child the house they spoke of belonged to old family friends of mine years ago. So needless to say I had already seen the inside of this house and didn’t know what to expect for my visit. This past October, the Zendo relocated to a winter location at 633 Patterson St Lansford, PA. The center is open 24 hours and offers a place for Zen practice and acts as a personal retreat. The house has six bedrooms, full kitchen, and hardwood floors with mahogany trim. Also included are a dinning room, library, living room, attic and yard. The center offers meditation every morning and night for the exception of Tuesday. They provide accommodation for those who wish to stay for a few days or weeks as well as two full time resident positions that remain open. The center is open for those who would like to dwell in a sacred space and surround themselves in the Zen Lifestyle. Yoga is offered on weekly bases as well as other special activities. I met with Warren who is the first resident lay-monk and also acts as groundskeeper. I went to visit on a Sunday from 12:30-1:30 when they do Lunch and Fellowship. I was informed that Zendo Membership is $30.00 a month and includes the following: a personal key to access the center as desired, free access to am/pm sittings, 25% discount of items from the Zendo Store, 25% discount on retreat and activity fees, overnight accommodations and access to the library. Non-member fees are as follows: $5.00 for sittings (zazenkai), $10.00 for Sunday Zazankai and lunch, $20.00 overnight guest fee w/meal, $35.00 for Day Events and $100.00 for weekend sesshins. (Blue Mountain Zendo is a non-profit organization). I was also educated about their meditation practice which is “called zazen, this word comes from the Japanese root word "zen" which simply means meditation. Za in Japanese means cross-legged or sitting; so zazen is sitting meditation. In zazen they seat on a Classic zafu (cushion), which tilts us slightly forward. This tilt keeps the pressure off the spine as well as keeping our diaphragm (Hara) open and free to expand and contract. Our eyes are focused on the floor about 12 inches in front of our zabuton (large square cushion) and we remain still and silent until the gong is rung signifying the end of the meditation round. After our first round of zazen there is usually a dharma talk given on the Teaching's of Master Rinzai or a personal discourse is offered. Depending on the day of the sitting another round of zazen may ensue. To conclude our zazen we offer informal tea and conversation.” I was also given a written page with a chant on it as follows second in English: ENMEI JUKKU KANNON GYO KAN ZE ON NA MU BUTSU YO BUTSU U IN YO BUTSU U EN BU PO SO EN JO RAKU GA JO CHO NEN KAN ZE ON NEN NEN JU SHIN KI NEN NEN FU RI SHIN*X3
ENMEI JUKKU KANNON In closing, the knowledge I have received I found to be extremely refreshing. I don’t think I will be getting a membership any time soon. However, I believe in my heart it was a wonderful experience and might even visit with my children, as they get older. |
| Created by Laura Ellen Shulman |
Last updated: January 2003
|