Term Student Program: Spring 2022
February 13th – May 8th
Sincerity is the simplest thing in the world and also the most difficult to maintain. It requires vulnerability and uprightness in the face of a constantly shifting and challenging world. Meeting life squarely takes constant attention, and there are countless ways to escape. The foremost aim of the Term Student Program is to cultivate and guide our sincere heart through inquiry into the Buddha way. What calls to each of us has called to countless beings throughout the ages and in every corner of the world. What is the call now? Here? How will you respond?
In the traditional monastic practice periods held at Zen monasteries, training is accomplished through cloister and intense attention to every detail of daily life. Zazen, chanting, and studying sutras (the kinds of things we typically associate with Buddhist practice) are of course central, but equal attention is paid to cooking, eating, sleeping, relating to each other, and otherwise taking care of life. At a community temple like Buddha Eye, we model this kind of monastic training in sesshin and other retreats, but the practice term looks different than the monastic cloister. Recognizing that we all have diverse responsibilities and affiliations throughout the wider community, training is organized to help us wake up to the importance of our whole life, in and outside the temple walls. The approach is to embrace the terrain of our daily life as the field of Buddhist practice and at the same time to take refuge in the temple community, practice, and teachings in order to center our spiritual journey.
Requirements:
Attend Term Student Orientation if this is your first time participating as a term student or if you would like a refresher! Sunday 2/13 from 12:00 – 1:00. The orientation will cover constructing a zazen schedule, sutra recitation, logistics of signing up for Sanzen/Practice Discussion and other important term information.
Attend Term Student Meetings: Sunday 2/20, 3/20, and 4/17 from 1:00 to 3:00.
Regular daily zazen: Minimum 30 minutes daily (at least 6 days a week).
Regular recitation practice: short daily recitations along with zazen.
Assemblies: Students should be involved in the regular assemblies of the temple. The minimum requirement is attendance at one of the following: Sunday Assembly, Tuesday Class, or Thursday Assembly most weeks.
Dharma Talks: Students should attend, or listen on-line, to all the Sunday dharma talks given during the term. Thursday talks and Retreat Teisho are also highly recommended.
Homework: Students will prepare short written reflections for each of the term student meetings.
Sanzen and/or Practice Discussion: minimum of five times during the term. Sanzen is a formal meeting with the Abbot, Ejo, centered on a specific question arising in practice. Practice Discussion is a less formal meeting with a practice leader: Myobun, Jun-e, Anyu, Kogen, and Genjo can cover a range of practice topics. (See Sanzen and Practice Discussion information for more information and scheduling)
Participation in Retreats: You may want to consider participation in the Sesshin (Meditation Intensive) or Zazenkai (One day sits) held during the term, but retreat participation is not required to be a term student.
Please email the temple office (office@buddhaeye.org) or telephone (541-312-4576) if you have questions about the Term Student Program.
Please email the temple office (office@buddhaeye.org) or telephone (541-312-4576) if you have questions about the Term Student Program.