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| Enso (Zen circle) by Shinge Sherry Chayat Roshi |
Sittings have been suspended until further notice
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Founded
in 1998, the Falling Leaf Sangha is a Zen practice group in Alfred, New
York. Our sittings are open, free of charge, to the general
public. If you are interested in sitting with us, please contact Shiju Ben Howard at fhowardb@alfred.edu.
Our
sessions begin promptly at 7:15 pm. If you are sitting with us for the
first time, please plan to arrive by 7:00 for orientation. Although we
provide basic instruction, we strongly recommend that new participants
prepare themselves by viewing the instructional video Orientation to Zen 01. For general information about Zen practice, go to One Time, One Meeting, and click on "An Introduction to Zen." To learn more about formal practice, watch "What is Zen Buddhism?"
On most evenings, our sessions consist of tea meditation, chanting, walking meditation, a
recitation from Zen teachings, and two twenty-minute sittings. The
sessions last for about an hour. If you have a meditation cushion,
please bring it with you. Chairs are available for those who prefer
them.
Shiju Ben Howard
All sessions are conducted by Dr. Ben Howard,
Emeritus Professor of English at Alfred University, who has practiced
Zen and Vipassana meditation for thirty years. His root teacher was
the Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh. His subsequent teachers include Jiro Osho Andy Afable and Shinge Sherry Chayat Roshi. In 2002 he received the jukai precepts in the Hakuin/Torei lineage of Rinzai Zen at Dai Bosatsu Zendo.
