The Force that Through Green Fuse Drives
Editorial
By Michael-Kogan Muju
This is the Spring issue of Mountain Silence with a new editor and the equinox bringing light and energy back to our northern hemisphere so we had looked forward to an issue bursting with your contributions. It seems however that the sangha has been locked into the winter darkness or else the ceaseless rain and wind has dampened the imagination so there are a dearth of articles in this issue. This has led to some discussion on the board about the future of the newsletter, whether it should be a wide ranging ' magazine' type publication as our past issues with your articles, opinions, stories, poems, photos and letters. If this is not possible perhaps we should instead consider publishing a 'thinned down,' publication with news of events such as sesshin and other sittings and summarising important developments within the sangha. Another idea I have had is that rather than just an editor there should be an editorial team of three or four people that would ensure that for one/two years Mountain Silence would remain a lively,colouful and thought provoking read. Maybe a different sangha would be prepared to take on the responsibility for this after every few issues? I would welcome your views, proposals and ideas. For me Mountain Silence is an important part of Dancing Mountains but I have never considered it has fulfilled its potential. Unusually as editor I have no idea how much it is read or appreciated by sangha members, the wider sangha or our online readers. Again some feedback from you would be good.
I do not wish to give the impression that with the lack of 'news,' nothing has been happening within the sangha. Far from it. Through last autumn and winter the dharma has been bubbling up and refreshing all with life and vigour. Tenshin Reb Anderson's second retreat in Sweden was, I have heard from many participants, a deep and inspiring experience energising all sitting in Suzuki Roshi's lineage across Europe. Zenvagen is superb setting quite isolated in the midst of the deep Swedish forest. If you haven't already attended one of these retreats I would urge you to go if at all possible. Invitations have recently been sent out. If you haven't received one and are a part of the sangha go to rebineurope@gmail.com Quite apart from major events such as this there have been a number of sittings across UK and Ireland many supported and led by Ingen Breen. It feels to me that there is after many years of slow green growth a real blossoming of the dharma in our midst in which so many have participated. Devin has written an article that describes the new and significant possibility of priest training that will take place here in UK over the next few years and I feel certain that this is a major step in ensuring the future of Dancing Mountains Sangha and the lineage of Shogaku Shunryu Suzuki in the UK and Ireland for many years to come.
Article
Priest Training With Tenshin Reb Anderson
By Angyu Devin Ashwood
Last summer, Rebecca, Bev and I all spoke to Tenshin Roshi (Reb Anderson Roshi) about our wish to ordain as priests in the lineage of Suzuki Roshi. As far ...
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Article
Zen's Chinese heritage
By Michael
Since Tenshin Reb Anderson’s inspiring talks in his 2014 retreat in Fyllingbo, Sweden concerning our fourth Chinese ancestor Dayi Daoxin I have read more w...
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Article
DM Members’ Spending Survey 2016
By Chris Brown DM Treasurer
• We conducted a brief survey of Dancing Mountains members to help in making decisions about how to direct our financial resources in 2016. Respondents (13 in tot...
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Article
A Virtual Practice Period
By Michael Kogan Muju
During the weeks in January 2016 when the January practice period was held in Green Gulch Zen Farm in California Wendy Klein based in Cambridge UK once again initiated...
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Article
Calligraphy
By Josh Zatz Joyous Devotion Silent Light
Josh Zatz has been studying the ancient Eastern practice of calligraphy and offers these images at the head of several articles as the result of his early work.
...
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Article
Dancing Mountains and Branching Streams
By Editor
Recently we were invited to join Branching Streams an organisation within San Francisco Zen Centre that supports their outlying sangha both in the USA and internationa...
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Article
Stop press news
By Editor
To all readers please note that the Facilitators Support and Training Retreat is now planned for the weekend of 22/23 October 2016 this had previously been planned to ...
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Previous issues are available here
In this issue...
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Local Contacts
Visit the Local Groups webpage for details of Dancing Mountains groups in your area, and the Diary for their regular meeting dates and times.
Next Issue
The Summer edition will have a theme around "Moving from Light to Darkness". We welcome your articles, poetry, pictures, letters, retreat reflections and book reviews! Publication date: 31st September, deadline for submission of material 1st September.
Submissions to the Newsletter/Website:
Michael Elsmere, 07817 604156
Address: Westerly, Washbourne, Totnes, TQ9 7UF
melsmere@hotmail.com
Membership
You already belong, so why not become a member? - Download a printable membership form and support Dancing Mountains.
Events
at Devon
with Ingen Breen
16th April 2016 to 17th April 2016
A two day sesshin with Ingen Breen in Devon
Cost: £TBA
melsmere@hotmail.com
at Ingen-ji, Dublin
with Ingen Breen
23rd April 2016
One day sesshin
Cost: Please enquire
ingenstheme@gmail.com
at Belfast
with Ingen Breen
24th April 2016
One day sesshin
Cost: Please enquire
j.uhlemann@btinternet.com
at Hebden Bridge
with Ingen Breen
7th May 2016
Non-residential Two Day Sesshin
Cost: Please enquire
rebeccahabs@googlemail.com
at Hebden Bridge
with Ingen Breen
8th May 2016
The Dancing Mountains Annual General Meeting
Cost: N/A
07875155464 devin@dancingmountains.org.uk
at Brighton
with Diana Gerrard
11th June 2016
A day sitting together in Brighton
Cost: Donation
07973913985 chrisjhannah25@gmail.com
at Belfast
with Ingen Breen
18th June 2016
All day Zen retreat
Cost: Suggested donation Full Day £12 - Half day £6
07743 841415 info@maitristudio.net
at Totness
with Ingen Breen
25th June 2016 to 26th June 2016
A non-residential weekend retreat
Cost: £Enquire
mbcheckley@hotmail.com
at Hebden Bridge
2nd July 2016
Sit with the Hebden Bridge community
Cost: £5 donation suggested
07970 425932 hebdenbridgezen@gmail.com
at At The Boghill Centre, Ireland
with Ingen Breen and Shokuchi Deirdre Carrigan
12th July 2016 to 17th July 2016
A Zen and Yoga Adventure in Ireland
Cost: €630
ingenji.info@gmail.com
at Hebden Bridge
with John Shindo Hart
3rd August 2016
Dharma talk, service & sit
Cost: Suggested donation £5
07761 732810 shikido@hotmail.co.uk
at Hebden Bridge
with John Shindo Hart
4th August 2016
Half Day Sit with John Shindo Hart
Cost: Suggested donation £10
07761732810 shikido@hotmail.co.uk
at Belfast
with Ingen Breen
6th August 2016
All day Zen retreat
Cost: Suggested donation Full Day £12 - Half day £6
07743 841415 info@maitristudio.net
at Zengården, Fyllingbo Sweden
with Tenshin Reb Anderson
13th August 2016 to 21st August 2016
This retreat is Tenshin Reb Anderson's sole visit to Europe this year. The venue in Southern Sweden is in a beautiful forest setting. The days will be spent in sitting together, walking meditation, dharma talks and discussion and interviews (if requested) with Reb all accompanied by the usual Soto Zen Forms and Rituals.
Places are restricted to 50.
For application forms e-mail rebineurope@gmail.com
Cost: From 4100 to 3100 Swedish Krona
rebineurope@gmail.com
at Hebden Bridge
with Brad Warner
22nd September 2016 to 25th September 2016
4 day retreat with Brad Warner
Cost: £140 - £210
07970 425932 hebdenbridgezen@gmail.com
at Warminster
with Ingen Breen
22nd October 2016 to 23rd October 2016
Developing practice for event & group facilitators
Cost: £100 - £115
07875155464 devin@dancingmountains.org.uk
at 21 Borough Park Road Totnes TQ9 5XW
with Zen Priest Ingen Breen
23rd February 2017 to 26th February 2017
An extended weekend of sitting together led by Zen
Cost: £25 per day for Sat & Sun for Thurs & Fri sitting
01803 866735 mbcheckley@hotmail.com
at IngenJi Temple County Clare Ireland
with Ingen Breen
8th March 2017 to 13th March 2017
A period of intensive practice
Cost: Please contact Ingen Breen at e mail
ingenji.info@gmail.com
at 21 Hill Head Close, Glastonbury, BA6 8AL
with Ingen Breen
15th April 2017 to 16th April 2017
Glastonbury Spring Sesshin
Cost: £75 or £40 for one day Bursary Place Available o
beveatwell@gmail.com
at IngenJi Temple County Clare Ireland
with Ingen Breen
28th April 2017 to 1st May 2017
Doan Ryo Training
Cost: Please contact Ingen Breen
ingenji.info@gmail.com
at Blessingway Birchcliffe Centre, Birchcliffe Road,
with Ingen Breen
10th May 2017 to 14th May 2017
An extended weekend of practice with Zen Priest In
Cost: Contact hebdenbridgezen@gmail.com or Ross on 07596
See above hebdenbridgezen@gmail.com
at IngenJi Temple County Clare Ireland
with Zen Priest Ingen Breen
2nd June 2017 to 5th June 2017
A long weekend of practice together in silence
Cost: Please contact Ingen Breen at e mail
ingenji.info@gmail.com
at 21 Borough Park Road Totnes TQ9 5XW
with Ingen Breen
7th June 2017 to 11th June 2017
An extended weekend of practice led by Zen Teacher
Cost: £25 per day for Sat & Sun for Thurs & Fri sitting
01803 866735 mbcheckley@hotmail.com
at IngenJi Temple County Clare Ireland
with Ingen Breen
20th June 2017 to 25th June 2017
Practice Period over the Summer Solstice
Cost: Contact Ingen Breen
ingenji.info@gmail.com
at Zen Vagen Fyllingebo Southern Sweden
with Tenshin Reb Anderson
12th August 2017 to 20th August 2017
Sitting Together led by Tenshin Reb Anderson
Cost: To be Announced later
frances@compassionfield.com or kathbennett1955@yah
at IngenJi Temple County Clare Ireland
with Ingen Breen
25th August 2017 to 27th August 2017
Doan Ryo intensive with Zen Priest Ingen Breen
Cost: Please contact Ingen Breen at e mail
ingenji.info@gmail.com
at IngenJi Temple County Clare Ireland
with Ingen Breen
28th October 2017 to 1st November 2017
Hallowe'en/Samhain Sesshin
Cost: Contact Ingen Breen
ingenji.info@gmail.com
at Blessingway Birchcliffe Centre, Birchcliffe Road,
with Zen Priest Ingen Breen
10th November 2017 to 12th November 2017
A weekend of practice with Zen Priest Ingen Breen
Cost: e-mail below or phone Ross on 07596746199
See above hebdenbridgezen@gmail.com
at 21 Borough Park Road Totnes TQ9 5XW
with Ingen Breen
15th November 2017 to 19th November 2017
An extended weekend of practice with Zen Priest In
Cost: £25 per day for Sat & Sun for Thurs & Fri sitting
01803 866735 mbcheckley@hotmail.com
at IngenJi Temple County Clare Ireland
with Ingen Breen
1st December 2017 to 8th December 2017
Rohatsu Sesshin
Cost: Please contact Ingen Breen at e mail
ingenji.info@gmail.com
at IngenJi Temple County Clare Ireland
with Ingen Breen
29th December 2017 to 1st January 2018
Weekend Zen at IngenJi Temple County Clare Ireland
Cost: Please contact Ingen Breen at e mail
ingenji.info@gmail.com