What Gets In The Way Of Meditating?

Have you ever come back from sesshin vowing to sit regularly but somehow it doesn’t stick? Or maybe an intense experience kicked you back onto your cushion, but you drifted away after awhile. What keeps you from sitting strong?

This fall, we are going to explore that question in a series of talks by senior students, a workshop on adaptation, and a debate. The Thursday series begins on October 3rd with Jiryu, who will explain the five ways to start the habit and stick to it. On October 10th, Soten will tackle attractions and aversions, including busyness. On Sunday October 13th, Yuuka and Howard will offer a workshop on how to attend and adapt to our bodies, and experiment with non-customary ways of meditating. Our Thursday series concludes on October 17th with a fierce debate between Jiryu and Yuuka on the matter of Zen and adaptation, moderated by Fusho. A traditionalist and an innovator enter the ring; only one leaves!

Each Thursday night’s schedule begins with two periods of meditation, followed by a talk. You need not stay for the entire event: come and go during either of the walking meditation periods.


October 3 — Five Ways to Establish the Meditation Habit

A. Jesse Jiryu Davis explains why we’re tempted to give up on daily meditation, and how to make our practice rock-solid.

5:30 – 6:00pm meditation
6:00 – 6:05 walking meditation
6:05 – 6:30 meditation
6:30 – 6:35 walking meditation
6:35 – 7:15 talk

October 10 — Attractions, Aversions, and Busyness


Dr. Neil Soten Theise destroys our misconceptions, and shows how Zen practice is possible in the midst of hectic daily life.

5:30 – 6:00pm meditation
6:00 – 6:05 walking meditation
6:05 – 6:30 meditation
6:30 – 6:35 walking meditation
6:35 – 7:15 talk

October 13 — Zen and Your Body: Mutual Adaptation


Elena Yuuka Taurke and Howard Thoresen lead an ease-shop workshop in discovering creative ways to meditate.

2:00 – 4:00pm

Details and Online Registration for “Zen and Your Body: Mutual Adaptation”


October 17 — Adaptation or Tradition?

Elena Yuuka Taurke debates A. Jesse Jiryu Davis: Must we uphold Zen’s ancient, rigorous practices no matter what, or should we abandon tradition and adapt Zen to modern American life? A panel moderated by Traven Fusho Rice, with audience Q&A.

5:30 – 6:00pm meditation
6:00 – 6:05 walking meditation
6:05 – 6:30 meditation
6:30 – 6:35 walking meditation
6:35 – 7:15 debate

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