Alice:

"How long is forever?"

Zen Practice

Kozan Jim Matson

The historical man, the Buddha, began his spiritual journey with a fundamental question.  Why do people suffer?  Why is there so much conflict and misery in the world?  Why does this suffering seem to reside solely with human beings?  We see other creatures struggle in their lives, but humans seem to transform life into a constant battle.

So that is the question, the perennial koan that presents itself to us.  Looking around us - in the wars and conflicts in what we see as the outer world; in the conflicts we see in our own relationships within our families or in our jobs; in the conflicts we see in our own minds, striving constantly to be a better person, to be more compassionate and loving in a world that is seen as anything but compassionate or loving. 

What is your response to a question like this?  Our conditioned response is to consult an authority, someone that will offer the answer to all of this.  And certainly there is no shortage of people and experts that will give us answers; political answers religious answers, philosophical answers, ethical answers.  In this area Zen is unique.  Zen realizes that any answer you accept that doesn't come from your own realization, from your own understanding will simply produce more conflict and suffering as you attempt to mold your thoughts to conform to someone else's concepts. 

So like any good koan, you are thrown back on the question.  To realize the absolute necessity of coming to an understanding of all this conflict and suffering while at the same time seeing the utter impossibility of getting this understanding from another. In Zen this puts us up against a wall - figuratively and literally.  It challenges us to doubt.  To doubt the answers that culture or philosophy or religions offer.  This presents a real challenge because the answers offered are so ingrained in our psyche that we don't really see them as answers at all.  We see them not as concepts or descriptions but as realities.  But not only realities, but Realities with a capital R.  Something that cannot be changed and are not open to question.

And that is the challenge of Zen.  To question what we don't see as open to question, that we don't see as opinion and ideas that have been conditioned in us and  reinforced by tradition, by habit, by acceptance, by hundreds or thousands of years of institutionalized ritual.  We bring all of that onto a cushion and give our attention and energy into coming to an understanding.

Thursday June 20th thru Sunday June 23rd 

A Meditation Retreat [Sesshin] is an excellent opportunity to deepen your meditation practice.  We invite and encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to practice Zen meditation in a peaceful and quiet atmosphere. 

Meals and a sleeping space are provided.  Please bring a sleeping bag or bedroll.  A donation of $100 is asked for the entire retreat [pro-rated]. 

To register or for more information please click here.

Regular Services

Three Regularly Scheduled Services are held in Evanston each week.

June 1st
July 13th

Introduction to Zen Meditation Workshop

Public Talk 2PM Sunday June 2nd

Zenku Jerry Smyers

American Zen Pioneer
Soyu Matsuoka, Roshi
Life, Legacy & Teachings

Soyu Matsoka, Roshi was the founder of the Zen Buddhist Temple of Chicago.  Sent to America by the Soto Zen headquarters in Japan in the 1930s, he initially began teaching in California.  During WWII, he was among the Japanese held in detention camps in the west.  After the war, he migrated to Chicago and founded our temple in 1949.  He was one of the first and among the most influential teachers of the Soto Zen tradition in the US.

Zenku Jerry Smyers began his Zen practice at the ZBTC over 40 years ago.  He is currently the founder and  director of Mission Mountain Zen Center in Dayton, Montana.

Please join us as Zenku offers an exposition of the legacy of this important teacher of Zen in this country.