The practices of Zen meditation and poetry have a long history of connection. Both involve paying close attention to one's own lived experience, and a dialectic between contemplation and engagement with the world. Poetry, like all good art, can shift us out of our habitual ways of seeing and understanding, and that's why the Zen masters of old made use of it. It deepens, energizes and inspires us--and in hard times we need such inspiration.  During our 2014 practice period dharma seminar we looked at Zen poetry through the ages. Over the next four weeks we will find the dharma in poetry that is not explicitly Buddhist at all. Everyone is welcome, even it you think you 'don't understand' poetry. 

Two 25-min. zazen periods, followed by in informal talk by the teacher, small and large group discussion, and maybe a little poetry writing. 

By donation.