One Dharma: Anxiety and Equanimity
Half Day of Zen Practice
Sunday February 11, 9am-1pm
Nyima Tashi Centre, 30 Pollen Rd, Ponsonby

When the mind becomes quiet and clear, we can better understand the subtleties of the Buddha’s teaching and more clearly experience its relationship to our lives. Through silent sitting and inquiry guided by the teacher, this intensive presents an opportunity to explore one specific aspect of Zen practice and teachings in greater depth.

Hogen Sensei will begin the day with a short talk on anxiety and the challenge it presents in spiritual practice. What undermines our faith in the Dharma? What undermines our faith in our self? The mechanism by which we cling to distractions in order to help us avoid anxiety can be very subtle and hard to see. But the practice of zazen can help us begin to notice that our desires and attachments are, in essence, driven by anxiety. We’ll spend the early morning in silent meditation, and then Hogen will lead a mondo—an informal discussion—to explore our experience of sitting in contemplation of our anxiety.
After morning tea, Hogen will again offer a teaching—this time on Equanimity. How can we cultivate Equanimity when we feel caught by anxiety? What is anxiety’s basis? We’ll spend the late morning in zazen and conclude the day with another informal discussion.

To register for this half day, email auckland@zen.org.nz
(If you do not have prior experience with zazen meditation, please let us know.)
Cost $15