Instructions to the Cook Online Retreat

What does a bodhisattva do when handed a bunch of lemons? Make lemonade. What does the Village Zendo do? Also make lemonade. But ours is a potent brew to be taken under advisement. We’re referring to our new revamped online retreat Instructions to the Cook to be held during the week of the now canceled Wisdom House retreat (Aug 6th-15th). It is guaranteed to be a powerful experience. And we hope you’ll sign up for as much of it as you can.

Instructions to the Cook online retreat will combine the traditional elements of sesshin with the expressive arts of Dotokuji’s True Expression Temple. First we soak in silence for three days to allow ourselves drop all our ideas about who we are and return to Beginner’s Mind. Each day, there will be the opportunity for extensive sitting (zazen), to hear a dharma talk and see teachers in interview.

Then on the following four days (Aug 10th-13th) we will be gently guided towards a re-education of our senses by skilled facilitators who will awaken us to listening, seeing, moving and using language as if for the first time. These explorations will also be held within the subtle container of zazen and allow us to safely investigate the meaning of ‘true expression.’

We will wind down with a final day of silence (zazenkai) on the 14th with a dharma talk by Enkyo Roshi O’Hara.

On the 15th our dear Shuso, Willie Mukei Smith, will be recognized by the community during the Shuso Hossen ceremony which promises to be a rousing culmination to an extraordinary week and our Summer Ango practice period.

Don’t miss this opportunity to add your own ingredient to Village Zendo’s bewitching brew. It wouldn’t be the same without you!

Below find the schedule for the retreat along with the recommended fees.

For questions, please contact our registrar at registrar@villagezendo.org.


See Roshi’s Summer Ango letter, and Shuso’s letter and commitment form, below:

Letter from Enkyo Roshi

Letter from Shuso, Willie Mukei Smith

Summer Ango 2021 Commitment Form

Study Text: Dogen’s Instructions for the Cook


Online Retreat Schedule

Friday, August 6

Ango Entry Ceremony

In the time of the Buddha, the rains would drive the community indoors and the custom of ‘peaceful dwelling’ arose. Following this tradition, the Village Zendo sets aside time each year for a summer and winter Ango when we intensify our sitting practice. We begin with a ceremony in which each person announces their intention to practice wholeheartedly for the period of Ango and the community bears witness to their declaration and pledges support.

This year, our ‘peaceful dwelling’ will be conducted in our own homes and everyone is invited to the Ango Entry ceremony online, regardless of whether you have registered for the retreat or not. All that is required is that you have an intention to practice. We live at a time where peaceful dwelling is needed more than ever. We hope you’ll consider joining us.

Remembering that ango means ‘peaceful dwelling,’ and in keeping with the theme of practice in our homes, offices, streets and neighborhoods, we vow to realize ourselves in the midst of activity, in the midst of our daily lives.

DaoWu said, “Give yourself over to everyday mind, for there is nothing sacred to be realized outside of this.”

~ Enkyo Roshi, 1999.

6:00pm Zazen
6:25 Stretch
6:30 Ango Entry Ceremony
7:00 Zazen and Retreat Precautions
7:25 Four Vows

Ango Entry will take place via our public Online Zendo link.

Saturday, August 7 – Monday, August 9

3-Day Sesshin

Morning zazen between 7:30 – 9:00 is open to the whole sangha and will take place at our regular online zendo link. The remainder of the day will only be available to registered participants.

7:30am   Zazen (Gatha of Atonement ~7:35)
7:55   Stretch
8:00   Zazen
8:25   Verse of the Kesa, stretch
8:35   Zazen
9:00   Work Gatha, Shuso words

Breakfast & Work Practice

10:30   Zazen
10:55   Stretch
11:00   Dharma Talk
11:25   Stretch
11:35   Zazen
11:50   Morning Service (Heart Sutra, Sho Sai Myo, Ennmei Jukku) followed by
announcements

Lunch

2:00pm Zazen
2:25 Stretch
2:35 Zazen
3:00 Extended stretch and movement practice
3:20 Practice Circle/Interview
3:50 Evening Service
4:00 Dinner Break

Dinner

6:00   Zazen
6:25   Stretch
6:30   Zazen
6:55   Stretch
7:00   Zazen
7:25   4 Vows/Roshi

True Expression Week

Tuesday, August 10 – Friday, August 13
Morning zazen and evening zazen are open to the whole sangha and will take place at our regular online zendo link. Workshops will only be available to registered participants and will take place via a private Zoom link that will be emailed by the registrar.

7:30am – 8:30am Zazen
10:00am – 12:00pm Workshop
1:00pm – 3:00pm Workshop
5:30pm – 7:00pm Zazen

Tuesday, August 10

Listeningwith Tokuyu Hoshi

This workshop will explore how we perceive and experience sound, and see what arises when bearing witness with our ears. Through different exercises we will explore what it means to listen from the heart, what that means for you and how it makes you feel. You may be surprised!

A good pair of headphones is strongly recommended.

Pianist Jeremy Tokuyu Manasia has been a fixture on the New York City jazz scene for over 20 years, as an in-demand sideman, bandleader, composer, recording artist, and educator. His 6 records as a leader spotlight more than 40 compositions, and his bebop rooted, soulful, impressionistic sound on the piano.

Wednesday, August 11

In the Kitchen:
A Writing Workshop
with Joshin Roshi

In the Kitchen: A Writing Workshop is an invitation to summon, sample and savor, through language, the six flavors that comprise the supreme meal that is our life. Using words, in response to writing prompts, we’ll taste the bitter, sour, sweet, salty, mild, and hot. Come with a hunger to write, ready to roll up your sleeves!

Joshin Roshi, co-Founder of VZ, educator for 30 years and a psychotherapist in private practice, loves stimulating the creative juices of groups she leads.

Thursday, August 12

Cook up a Sumptuous Visual Meal with the Traditional Art of Watercolor with Emma Seiki Tapley

With simple tools and and exercises I will guide you in the Ancient Art of Watercolor. Using your hands, eyes and attention we will align the six flavors and three virtues using color and texture to make a beautiful visual meal of your true expression. Come laugh and play with me!

Emma Seiki Tapley is an American painter who lives and works in New York City. She is known for her oil paintings on panel of inverted landscapes or reflections.

Starter Set of Watercolor Supplies

Here is a list of supplies – Total Under $25

Paper
12 9 x 12″ sheets ($6): https://www.jerrysartarama.com/strathmore-300-watercolor-pads

Paint
Marie’s Student Watercolor Set of 12 – 12 ml tubes ($7): https://www.jerrysartarama.com/maries-watercolor-and-gouache-sets
Colors include Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Crimson Red, Lamp Black, Lemon Yellow, Prussian Blue, Sap Green, Vermillion, White, Yellow Ochre, Violet, and Green Deep.

If your budget allows, you can instead purchase Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor tube set:
https://www.dickblick.com/items/00325-2129/
It is more expensive but much more saturated in color and you won’t have to purchase the Palette below

Palette
12 wells that fit the 12-tube set ($7): https://www.jerrysartarama.com/eldajon-palette

Brushes: https://www.jerrysartarama.com/polar-flo-watercolor-brushes

$2 for the Try-It! Polarflo Brushes Pack of 2
$4 Polar-Flo Watercolor Brush 700R Round

This is very useful to have https://www.dickblick.com/products/blick-essentials-craft-value-brush-set/
It is an assortment of brushes this will add an extra $10 and can replace the brushes above

You will also need a bucket or two of water to rinse your brushes in (empty yoghurt containers work well) some paper towels, a sponge perhaps, some salt, an old toothbrush and rags.

Friday, August 13

Stirring The Golden Body: Dancing with Keely Rakushin Garfield

Using all the ingredients of our lives, we will concoct recipes made of movement, breath, stillness, stories, and discovery. Mixing the flavors of high and low places, turning in ten directions, and tasting the golden body’s seasoning, we will serve up delicious dances to nourish us all along the way.

The workshop is open to all bodies and abilities—no previous dancing or movement experience required. Wear comfortable clothing, and have pen and paper on hand.

Keely Rakushin Garfield’s wide-ranging work in the field of arts and wellness engages dance, yoga, and chaplaincy. www.keelygarfield.nyc

Saturday, August 14

Zazenkaiwith a Dharma talk by Enkyo Roshi

Note that all zazen periods during zazenkai will be available to registered participants only.

8:00am Zazen (Gatha of Atonement ~8:05)
8:25 Stretch
8:30 Zazen
8:55 Verse of the Kesa, stretch
9:00 Zazen
9:25 Service (Heart Sutra, Sho Sai Myo, Ennmei Jukku)

Breakfast, silent rest

11:00 Zazen
11:25 Stretch
11:30 Dharma Talk
11:55 Stretch
12:00 Zazen
12:25 Break

Lunch, exercise or rest

1:30 Zazen
1:55 Stretch
2:00 Zazen
2:25 Stretch

2:30 Zazen
2:55 Stretch
3:00 Honsaku Gyocha ceremony
3:25 Four vows and Announcements

Sunday, August 15

Shuso Hossen with Shuso Willie Mukei Smith

Shuso Hossen is a joyous celebration marking a student’s promotion to the rank of Senior. It concludes the intensive training period of Ango in which the student serves as a model and practice leader. Willie Mukei Smith will give his first dharma talk and will take questions from the community in a ceremonial conversation known as Dharma Combat. It is a participatory and stirring event.

No registration required. Shuso Hossen will take place in the public Online Zendo.

9:30am Zazen
10:00 Shuso Hossen Ceremony

Register Now

Online Retreat FAQs

Services & Chanting

Chanting serves many purposes. We chant sutras and verses that have been handed down because of their wisdom value. And we chant seed syllables that are valued for the quality of their sound. Blending all voices into one sound, harmonizing, and joining together are vital aspects of community practice. During our virtual retreat, you will hear both live and pre-recorded chanting, and you are encouraged to chant along with the chant leader (the “Ino”). Click here to view or download our sutras and chants.

Work Gatha

The work gatha is a short service to gather our minds and energy, and set our intention as we prepare for work practice.

Work Practice

Work practice, or samu, is an integral part of the sesshin schedule and our Zen training. It is an opportunity for us to bring our concentration and awareness off our cushions and apply our practice to everyday activity. Prior to the start of sesshin, we encourage you to designate some home activities as your ‘formal’ work practice—such as cleaning, dishes, knitting, sewing, artistic expression—so that you can enter into these activities with strong intention.

Dharma Talk

A talk on Buddhist and Zen teachings from a Zen teacher or senior student.

Interview with Village Zendo Teachers

Interview at the Village Zendo is a short meeting between a practitioner and a Village Zendo Teacher. It is an old tradition, a time that provides space for questions, expressions, and intimate personal communications. Often a student of Zen will have a question or a response about a koan, or about a reading, or something that has come to mind during retreat. Every meeting is different, private and confidential. In some ways, the Village Zendo interviews follow the old tradition of brisk exchange, and they rarely extend over ten minutes. Nevertheless, it is a supportive aspect of retreat practice.

Open Sozan

Open sozan is the practice of listening and speaking from the heart. This is one of the ways we traditionally close sesshin, sharing our experience and insight with the community.

Gathas & Chants:

Verse of Atonement

All evil karma ever committed by me since of old,
On account of my beginningless greed, anger and ignorance,
Born of my body, mouth and thought,
Now I atone for it all.

Verse of the Kesa

Vast is the robe of liberation.
A formless field of benefaction.
I wear the Tathagatha teaching,
Saving all sentient beings.

Work Gatha

Gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha

Customary Refrain

All Buddhas throughout space and time
All Bodhisattva Mahasattvas
Maha Prajna Paramita

Gatha on Opening the Sutra

The Dharma, incomparably profound and infinitely subtle,
Is rarely encountered, even in millions of ages.
Now we see it, hear it, receive and maintain it.
May we completely realize the Tathagata’s true meaning.

The Four Great Vows

Sentient beings are numberless, I vow to save them.
Desires are inexhaustible, I vow to put an end to them.
The dharmas are boundless, I vow to master them.
The Buddha way is unattainable, I vow to attain it.

To view the sutras that will be chanted during morning and afternoon service, and to download our sutra book, please visit https://villagezendo.org/practice/sutras-and-gathas/

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