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The Season for Gratitude

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Here it is the beginning of November. The trees have let go of their leaves and they turn red and yellow and drop off. A couple of nights ago we had a killing freeze.

I sit here in my sweater, my throat dry from the heated air. Thanksgiving is on its way, but what is there to be thankful for in the cold? Well, there were summer sunflowers and strawberries. And the apples I’m still eating. Leaves in autumn and snow in winter are beautiful. My friends will enjoy skiing and skating.

Gratitude is noticing what we have and being thankful for it. It’s appreciating what comes to us.

Gratitude is a good thing. It promotes our relations with others – human beings naturally return gratitude for gratitude just as we return revenge for revenge. Appreciation can really turn things around. Experiencing our gratitude, others are more joyful and confident, more eager to participate. Together we can get things done.

It helps us, too. Noticing and acknowledging the good in our lives as well as the problems is part of being awake. Experiencing gratitude lightens us up and makes us more flexible and clear. We feel supported and confident, so we tackle whatever needs to be done with enthusiasm and a sense that we can do this.

It’s good to cultivate it. We can start small, appreciating a warm cup of coffee or the flavors in our lunch. As we climb into our cars let’s be grateful for a fast, safe way of getting places. In Japan, an elderly friend told me about getting groceries in the mid-sixties. She and the temple priest would walk the fifteen miles into town with their wagon and stay the night with friends. The next day they would do their shopping and walk back, pulling the wagon up the mountain. Most of us don’t have memories like this let’s appreciate cars and electricity anyway. We can wake up to and appreciate all the small helpful things in our lives that we seldom notice.

Let’s extend this and feel gratitude to our workmates for showing up.  And our family, with all their warts, for their support of our lives. Then our friends, who’ve seen our failings and stuck with us anyway. We can remember the people far away who grow our coffee and make our clothing with appreciation. Finally, let’s notice how the universe maintains our lives and the lives of everything around us and be grateful.

Finally, we can express our gratitude, too. We can thank a spouse by taking care of the chore they’ve been asking us to do. We can let a friend or co-worker know we appreciate their contribution to our work or life. Let’s say “thank you” to the grocery clerk, the server bringing our dinner, the barista at our coffee place, or our kid’s teacher. Yes, it’s their job, but without their effort where would we be? Let’s also say thank you to people we might not usually notice – the aide who helps our frail parent, the people collecting the trash. Life might not be ideal without football stars, but it would be impossible without sanitation workers. Also, smiling and waving at the trash collectors makes us cheerful.

In appreciating all the support we get and expressing our gratitude for it, we help others’ lives, and our spirits become fresh, vital, and clear. We can face whatever comes with a cheerful can-do attitude. And we need that. Winter is coming.

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November Highlights



 

November 15: Introduction to Zazen

7:30 -  9:00 pm

An introduction to Zen Buddhism and zazen, with a talk about Zen, zazen instruction, a short period of zazen and an opportunity for questions. Donations are welcome; there is no fee.

Invite your friends who keep asking about that strange thing you do. If you need a refresher, don’t be shy about returning. We’re always happy to see you.






 

November 19: All Day Sitting

5:00 am - 4:40 pm
 

A day of informally sitting together – a chance to do a mini-retreat for a morning or spend an entire day sitting, walking, chanting and sharing food. Arrive and leave as your schedule allows. If you’re from out of town and need to stay overnight, there’s room at the center. Breakfast is provided, but bring a dish to pass if you’re staying for lunch. Donations are welcome; there is no fee. A typical all-day sitting schedule is available here.
 
 

Other News

 

Our 2018 Calendar

If you enjoyed our 2016 calendar, you will enjoy our 2018 one too. Our monthly calendar features images from around Cedar Rapids Zen Center paired with dharma teachings from our resident teacher, Zuiko Redding.  These pictures were selected by our sangha members and include some of our favorites from 2017.

It has all-day sitting, sesshin, and introduction to zazen dates marked for each month.  A small percentage of each calendar sale is forwarded to the center.   You may purchase the calendar here.






 

Inter-Religious Council
Thanksgiving Service

Monday, November 20 - 7:00 p.m.

Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church

6621 C Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids

You are invited to attend the IRC’s annual interfaith Thanksgiving service and participate with the other faith groups in Linn County in giving thanks in this season. Representatives from the Baha’i. Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Humanist, Jewish, Muslim, Native American, and other traditions will give readings and make music. There are refreshments and conversation afterward – a chance to get to know good people of other faiths. It’s a joyful way to begin the celebration of Thanksgiving later in the week.  More information is available on the Facebook event page.



 
 

 



Coming in December

 

December 1 - 3: Rohatsu Session

Friday - 7:00 p.m. to Sunday - 5:30 p.m.

Please sign up by November 22 to assure a place. You can sign up by clicking here.

We begin at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 1, with a short orientation followed by zazen at 7:30. We end at 5:15 p.m. on Sunday,December 3. Oryoki instruction is available at 6:00 p.m. on Friday. For a complete schedule, go to www.cedarrapidszencenter.org

Fees are $25 per day or $15 for a morning, afternoon or evening only. 

Sunday sitting and dharma talk are open to everyone.

Sesshin is a silent zazen retreat that’s more formal than all-day sittings. The daily schedule includes zazen, sutra chanting (service), a dharma talk, and work. Meals are eaten silently and formally. In chanting, zazen, eating, and work we turn our lights inwardly, illuminating and investigating our habits of thinking. The silence and attention to detail of sesshin point us away from self and toward the ground of being. To do sesshin, even for a morning or an evening, is to renew limitless mind.  A typical sesshin schedule is available here .

 

December 20: Introduction to Zazen

7:30-9:00 pm

The Zen Center offers a one-evening introduction to Zen Buddhism and zazen. This includes a talk about Zen, zazen instruction, a short period of zazen and an opportunity for questions. Donations are welcome; there is no fee.


 

Other Sitting & Sangha Opportunities

Bloomington-Normal, Illinois group meets at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings at Palms Together Yoga, 1717 R.T. DunnDrive, Unit E in Bloomington. For more information, click here or contact them at bnzengroup@gmail.com.

Cedar Falls, Iowa group meets Saturday mornings at 7:20 a.m. and Tuesday evenings at 7:20 p.m. in St. Luke’s Episcopal Church at 2410 Melrose Drive. For more information, email them at cfzensitting@cfu.net.

Weekly practice


Sundays 
9:00: Zazen
9:45: Dharma talk
10:30 - 11:15: Samu (working meditation)
11:15-11:45: Tea

Mondays
6:30 - 8:00 Monday Night Dharma
 
Tuesdays

12:15 – 12:55 pm Zazen

6:30 – 6:50 pm Zazen
6:50 – 7:00 Kinhin
7:00 – 7:20 Zazen
7:20 – 7:30 Kinhin
7:30 – 8:00 Zazen

Wednesdays
12:15 – 12:55 pm Zazen

6:30 – 7:10 pm Zazen
7:10 – 7:20 Kinhin
7:20 – 8:00 Zazen

Thursdays
6:30 – 7:10 pm Zazen
7:10 – 7:20 Kinhin
7:20 – 8:00 Zazen

Fridays
12:15 – 12:55 pm Zazen

Monthly practice


Third Wednesdays
7:30 – 9:00 pm  Introduction to Zazen and the Center

Second and fourth Thursdays
5:30 - 6:30 pm Baika

Mondays
6:30 - 8:00 pm Dharma Study

Fourth Sunday
Sangha meeting (following dharma talk)
Click here for more information about Cedar Rapids Zen Center.
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