Online Only

The Path of the Precepts

Select Sundays
2:00pm — 4:00pm

Image: Bokushu Tucker, Japan 2019

The Path of the Precepts

with

Roshi Shinryu Thomson, Sensei Bokushu Tucker, Kenzen Randolph,
and guest teachers Sensei Tokuyu Manasia, Sensei Fusho Rice, Hoshi Daishi Koebner, and Hoshi Ryoshin Kalmanek

Select Sundays: Feb 22, Mar 29, Apr 26, May 17, Jun 28, Aug 30, Sep 27, Oct 25, Nov 22
2:00pm — 4:00pm Eastern

For many years, the Village Zendo has offered an annual, year-long workshop simply called the “Path Class.” Initially created by Enkyo Roshi and Joshin Roshi, these classes offer an opportunity to broaden individual study and practice while deepening connection with others in our community.

The 2026 class will center on the Bodhisattva Precepts, the core existential and ethical values in Zen, which can serve us to live a life that is healthy, sane, and of benefit to others. We will work with the Three Treasures (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha) and the Three Pure Precepts (Refraining from Evil, Doing Good, Doing Good for Others), and begin to look into the Ten Grave Precepts. In 2027, the Path of the Precepts class will continue and we will complete our study of the Ten Grave Precepts.

Our aim is to go beyond schematic thinking about moral codes and rigid notions of right and wrong. We will try to cultivate honest inquiry as well as a natural and free responsiveness to the challenges we face in life. We hope the workshop will help us to integrate the precepts into our daily lives.

We will examine what the Zen precepts are and how they function in Bodhisattva practice. We will consider the value and the traps of literal, relative, and absolute perspectives on the precepts. We will explore each of the precepts in grounded and first-hand personal terms.

Meeting monthly over nine Sunday afternoon sessions, the Path of the Precepts will combine study materials with exercises for personal reflection, dialogue, and council-style collective expression. We will draw on existing Zen commentaries as well as other creative material in the spirit of the precepts. Everyone is welcome.

This year’s Path class will be led by Village Zendo Abbot Roshi Shinryu Thomson, Sensei Bokushu Tucker, and Kenzen Randolph with guest teachers Sensei Tokuyu Manasia, Sensei Fusho Rice, Hoshi Daishi Koebner, and Hoshi Ryoshin Kalmanek.

Everyone is welcome. Attendance at all sessions is strongly encouraged but we understand that personal circumstances may require some exceptions.

For the year-long class, the fee is $600 for members of the Village Zendo; and $675 for non-members.

To request a scholarship, please contact scholarships@villagezendo.org.

For questions, please contact registrar@villagezendo.org.

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