The ZGWA Newsletter - October 2020

We will be holding our next Zazenkai at St Paul's on Saturday 31 October. Arrival time is 10:00am (earlier if you can make it) and the finishing time is 6pm. The Zazenkai will include opening words from Ross, zazen, dokusan, chanting and a dharma talk.

Lunch is not being provided this Zazenkai so please bring your own. There is a fridge in the kitchen, where you can store your lunch if needed. This change has been made for COVID safety reasons i.e. maintaining social distancing at 1.5 metres, as much as possible during Zazenkai. The fees have been reduced accordingly.

You can register online by clicking here or filling in your details on the registration sheet at the Zendo on Thursday evenings. The closing date for registrations is Thursday, 29 October.

If you have any queries about Zazenkai please contact the coordinator Andrea Donohue: Email donohues@iinet.net.au, Mob:0415913144.

Program for October
The ZGWA program for the remaining of October is:

Thursday 15: Zazen at St Paul's: 6.30 - 8.30 pm
Tuesday 20: Telephone dokusan with Ross Bolleter Roshi: 7 - 9 pm
Thursday 22: Zazen at St Paul's: 6.30 - 8.30 pm
Thursday 29: Zazen and Precept sharing - Not Defaming the Three Treasures: at St Paul's 6.30 - 8.30 pm
Saturday 31: Zazenkai at St Paul’s: 10:00 am - 6 pm

If you are attending St Paul's please:

Use the hand sanitiser and wipes, provided at the hygiene stations, on entry and before and after handling equipment.
Bring your own water bottle.
Bring the correct money for dana (donation) .
Maintain social distancing of 1.5m as much as possible.

Please don’t attend if you are feeling unwell or you have been in contact with a person who has or is being tested for COVID-19.

Telephone dokusan with Ross Bolleter Roshi, Tuesday 20 October
Ross will be offering dokusan by telephone on Tuesday, 20 October starting at 7 pm and finishing at approximately 9 pm.
Dokusan will be conducted at 15 minute intervals. The finishing time for the evening will be determined by Ross, after considering the number of people requesting dokusan for that night.
If you want to attend dokusan either:

add your name to the online list by clicking here
OR notify Kevin Donohue by email (kevin.zgwa@gmail.com) or text (0478 622 589) that you want to attend dokusan and he will add your name to the list.

Requests for dokusan will close at 7 pm Monday.

On Tuesday you can look up your allocated time for dokusan by revisiting the online list (using the link given above). Alternatively, if you sent a dokusan request by email or text you will receive a reply message with your allocated time.

Please phone Ross at your allocated time. His number will be provided to you once you have signed up.

*  Please note it is highly recommended that non ZGWA members, who do dokusan regularly, make a financial contribution to the group by becoming a member.  Becoming a member of the group helps to sustain Zen practice in WA. As a member you have a right to a reserved place and discount for zazenkais and sesshins and the use of the group’s library. You also have the opportunity to offer your ideas, creativity and energy to the group as you can opt to be on the ZGWA Council and you can vote at general meetings.

You can click on this link (to the ZGWA website) where instructions are provided on how to become a member.

St Paul's restoration fundraising
St Paul's is fundraising for restoration of its church grounds and buildings at Beaconsfield - where we sit together. The ZGWA Council agreed to make a donation of $500 towards this worthwhile cause. If you want to know more about this fundraising initiative you can click this link  https://au.gofundme.com/f/st-paul039s-beaconsfield-restoration

Lindy Lee art exhibition
For those of you who are interested in Lindy Lee, an Australian Chinese artist and zen practitioner, you can find more information about her art exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney, by following this link https://www.mca.com.au/artists-works/exhibitions/lindy-lee-moon-in-a-dew-drop/