“This moment may be the only moment in the circle. But any point will do. Any point is the Alpha and Omega—a special time or place is not needed. In other words, you’re all exactly where you need to be whether you like it or not.”

In the midst of the New York Zen Center’s recent summer silent retreat, Dai En Friedman Sensei offers a brief and song-filled dharma talk on our conception of sin and her history of connecting to Buddhism. She reminds us that despite who we may meet and what books we may read, we must be our own teachers. Her reflections are interspersed with teachings from conventional and unconventional dharma teachers, including Martin Luther King Jr., Leonard Cohen, and The Beatles. 

ZENTALK NOTES

Dai En Friedman’s teachers include Roshi Peter Muryo Matthiessen, Joseph Goldstein, Matt Flickstein, and Maureen Stuart Roshi. Dai-en received Dharma Transmission from Roshi Peter Muryo Mattheissen as a Soto Zen Teacher. She is now a Sensei at Ocean Zendo, located on Eastern Long Island.

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UPCOMING PROGRAMS (as of September 1st, 2022)

—The Five Ranks of Tozan: An Online Zen Study Offering with Gerry Shishin Wick Rōshi—Chinese Zen Master Tozan (Tungshan) created two sets of five ranks that are honored and studied in both Soto and Rinzai schools of Zen. Tozan composed a verse for each of the ranks. In this course, we will examine and appreciate each of Tozan’s ranks, including the title and the verses. | Learn More >

—Catch Your Mind: Teachings for Awakening, Fearlessness, and Intimacy—How can you deepen your Zen practice path? Join us for ten months of study of the Way through zazen and learn together the teachings of Dōgen, the Founder of Soto Zen in Japan. | Learn More >

—Zen Precepts: Living an Ethical Life—Living the Zen Precepts is wisdom in action – the natural expression of a compassionate and awakened heart. The Precepts are studied, practiced and received to support the fullest expression of our lives. | Learn More >

—Beginner’s Mind Sesshin: A Winter Silent Retreat of Wholehearted Practice—A cornerstone of Zen practice, the Japanese word for “sesshin” means “touching the heart-mind.” This is a rare opportunity for deepening our practice with a community of supportive practitioners. January 11th – January 15th, 2023 at the Garrison Institute. | Learn More >

MUSIC

Heart Sutra by Kanho Yakushiji –  Buddhist priest and musician of the Rinzai sect and Imaji temple in Imabari, Japan. In 2003, he formed “KISSAQUO”, a songwriting duo based in Kyoto.

NYZC PUBLICATIONS

Preorder your copy of Untangled (Publishing Date: November 8th, 2022) here: https://bit.ly/untangled-book

Get your copy of Wholehearted: Slow Down, Help Out, Wake Up here: https://amzn.to/2JTKF1t

Get your copy of Awake At The Bedside here: https://amzn.to/3aijXdL

The post You Must Be Your Own Teacher | Dai En Friedman appeared first on New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care.