White Lotus Haven Zen

Introduction to Buddhist Meditation
2021-09-08 19:00 - 20:30, 2021-09-15 19:00 - 20:30, 2021-09-22 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York)
Introduction to Buddhist Meditation
SEPTEMBER 2021 Session: 4 Consecutive Wednesday Evenings
9/1, 9/8, 9/15, 9/22 — 7:00pm – 8:30pm
PLEASE REGISTER BY AUGUST 23RD AT:
https://wlhz.org/contact/
Please indicate “Spring Med-Intro Session” in the subject line
Mats, cushions, and chairs are available for sitting practice
SUGGESTED DONATION:
Sliding Scale — $50-$75 for all 4 weeks
DONATE HERE: https://wlhz.org/donate/
Donations are non-refundable — A portion to be donated to a worthy cause

Seon Practice Service
2021-09-12 09:00 - 11:00, 2021-10-03 09:00 - 11:00, 2021-11-28 09:00 - 11:00, 2021-12-05 09:00 - 11:00, 2021-12-26 09:00 - 11:00
Seon (Zen) Practice Services are held each Sunday from 9:00am-11:00am at the, Historic Axe Factory building in Collinsville, Connecticut. For those new to Seon practice, please arrive at 8:30am for a brief introduction to the forms, which include chanting, bowing, sitting and walking meditation.

Seon Practice Service - Uposatha Observance
2021-09-19 09:00 - 11:00, 2021-10-24 09:00 - 10:30, 2021-11-21 09:00 - 11:00
Seon (Zen) Practice Services are held each Sunday from 9:00am-11:00am at the Historic Axe Factory building in Collinsville, Connecticut. For those new to Seon practice, please arrive at 8:30am for a brief introduction to the forms, which include chanting, bowing, sitting and walking meditation.
The Uposatha Observation is an ancient practice in which both lay and monastic practitioners placed special effort, attention to renewing and rededicating themselves to the study and practice of the Dharma. These observations fell on Full Moon periods of the lunar calendar. And so WLHZ continues in this practice tradition by reciting together the Five Precepts of ethical conduct.

Ceremony of Haengja Profession 행자
2021-09-26 09:30 - 11:30
Presided by The Most Venerable Deok Shim and Venerable Shim Bo
Dear Sangha, we are pleased to invite you to witness the profession of Tracy Yeon An Augustine and Pat Yeon Byeon Connell as Haengja practitioners within our community. Each has expressed a desire to enter more deeply into both individual practice and sangha service through the increased presence and serving of the monks and in their ministering to the laity. They will profess the Eight Precepts and will formally be referred to as “Sister” and “Brother” respectively. We are overjoyed to support them and celebrate together their profession of vows as we renew our own

Buddhist Global Relief - CT Walk to Feed The Hungry
2021-10-02 09:00 - 11:00
Join the 2021 Connecticut Walk to Feed the Hungry!
Saturday, October 2, 2021, 9:00am-11:30pm (rain or shine)
Starts at Historic Axe Factory Building, Downtown Collinsville, CT
Parking Available in gravel lot OFF OF MAIN ST.
Schedule:
9:00am Onsite Registration/Donations
10:00am WALK TO FEED THE HUNGRY
11:00am Closing Presentation
Thank you message from Venerable Bhikkhu Bodhi

REGISTRATION AND DONATION HERE

_________________________________________________________________________________________
PRESS RELEASE
Walk to Feed the Hungry, October 2, in Collinsville, Conn. COLLINSVILLE, Conn., August 31, 2021 —
On Saturday, October 2, concerned citizens of all faiths, nationalities and ages will gather in Collinsville, Connecticut, for the Buddhist Global Relief (BGR) Walk to Feed the Hungry, a socially distanced communal walk to raise funds and awareness for the good work being done by BGR, a nonprofit organization committed to eliminating hunger and malnutrition across the world. Onsite day-of-event registration and financial donation collections will begin at 9:00 a.m. at 50 Depot Street in the Collinsville section of Canton, followed at 10:00 a.m. by a period of walking meditation through town and along a wonderfully scenic section of the Farmington River. The walk will be led by Reverend Shim Bo, abbot, White Lotus Haven Zen of Connecticut.
After the walk, Reverend Shim Bo will conduct a brief talk about Buddhist Global Relief. The entire event is free, but donations to support BGR’s mission and to feed the hungry across the world will be gladly accepted. The walk will follow the social-distancing protocol of six feet between participants. The event will take place rain or shine. To preregister and make your online donation to Walk to Feed the Hungry, visit: https://www.buddhistglobalrelief.org/campaigns/2021-connecticut-walk/donate/
Here, participants may also create their own fundraising page to share with their networks.
“Our goal is to raise at least $2,500 for the critical services Buddhist Global Relief is providing here in the United States and globally,” says Reverend Shim Bo. “Though an international Buddhist organization, BGR is interdenominational, supporting people of all faiths, with a focus on hunger and nutrition, ecological farming practices, sustainability, and education, especially for girls and young women. Organizational overhead is very low,” the Reverend adds, “so most of the donations we collect go directly to programs that make a huge difference in the lives of so many. We welcome individuals and families to join us in a socially distanced, peaceful walking meditation, supporting this life-changing cause.”
For more information about the Walk, write via email to ct_walk@buddhistglobalrelief.org, or call Heidi Bartlett at 860/352-1179. Media inquiries should be directed to Ira Morrison, at 860/966-8871, or ilmcomm@yahoo.com.

Seon Practice Service - Bodhidharma (Zen Patriarch) Celebration
2021-10-10 09:00 - 11:00
Seon (Zen) Practice Services are held each Sunday from 9:00am-11:00am at the, Historic Axe Factory building in Collinsville, Connecticut. For those new to Seon practice, please arrive at 8:30am for a brief introduction to the forms, which include chanting, bowing, sitting and walking meditation.

Honoring Bodhidharma, the First Patriarch of Zen Buddhism

WLHZ ANNUAL WEEKEND RETREAT
2021-10-15 19:00 - 2021-10-17 12:00
Details to come…

Cheondo Jae (Ullambana 우란분재) Memorial Service
2021-10-31 10:00 - 14:00
Held at Trinita Retreat Center, 595 Town Hill Rd., New Hartford, CT
Uranbunjae (Kor. 우란분재, Chin. 盂蘭盆齋, lit. Ullambana purification) is a Buddhist ceremony in which food offerings are made in an effort to console and liberate the deceased from any suffering, especially those of one’s ancestors. The ceremony originates from the story of the disciple Mahāmaudgalyāyana who strives unsuccessfully to liberate his deceased mother from a lower realm of existence. The Buddha teaches liberation is only be possible through the collective intention of the sangha at large. In this yearly ceremony, we commemorate the Ullambana Sutra by making offerings and generating goodwill and liberating intentions for all.
In Korea the ceremony is held on the Buddhist All Soul’s Day, or Baekjung (Kor. 백중, Chin. 百中, the fifteenth of the seventh lunar month), and constitutes one of the important events of the day in order to console the souls of the dead. At White Lotus Haven Zen of Connecticut we hold this ceremony in the month of October.
If you would like the name of your dearly departed acknowledged in the service please contact us at contact@wlhz.org and include the names of your departed with your RSVP in the “message” section of the contact form. A symbolic nameplate burning rite, to eliminate unwholesome karmic conditions, will also be conducted.
A reception will be held after the service.

Seon Practice Service
2021-11-07 09:00 - 11:00
Seon (Zen) Practice Services are held each Sunday from 9:00am-11:00am at the, Historic Axe Factory building in Collinsville, Connecticut. For those new to Seon practice, please arrive at 8:30am for a brief introduction to the forms, which include chanting, bowing, sitting and walking meditation.
Daylight Saving Begins – Set clocks back 1-hour

Thanksgiving Service – Honoring Lineage Masters & WLHZ Anniversary
2021-11-14 09:00 - 11:00
On this day the WLHZ community celebrates the anniversary of its founding by giving thanks to the noble ancestors and teachers who gave their lives to practicing and sharing Buddha wisdom with us. In particular, we recognise our two lineage masters, His Holiness Il Bung Kyung Bo Seo, PhD (the first Korean Patriarch to the West / Il Bung Zen Order 일붕선정), His Holiness Thích Thiên Ân (the first Vietnamese Patriarch to the West / Lâm Tế Thiền Order). We also honor the tradition and teachings of Seung Sahn Dae Soen Sa Nim (Linji Seon, Rinzai Zen) and Taizan Maezumi Roshi (Soto and Rinzai Zen).

Seon Practice Service - Uposatha Observance - Flower Garland (Avatamsaka Sutra) Celebration
2021-12-12 09:00 - 11:00
Seon (Zen) Practice Services are held each Sunday from 9:00am-11:00am at the Historic Axe Factory building in Collinsville, Connecticut. For those new to Seon practice, please arrive at 8:30am for a brief introduction to the forms, which include chanting, bowing, sitting and walking meditation.
The Uposatha Observation is an ancient practice in which both lay and monastic practitioners placed special effort, attention to renewing and rededicating themselves to the study and practice of the Dharma. These observations fell on Full Moon periods of the lunar calendar. And so WLHZ continues in this practice tradition by reciting together the Five Precepts of ethical conduct.
The Avataṃsaka Sūtra, rendered in English as Flower Garland Sutra, describes a cosmos of infinite realms upon realms, mutually containing one another. Today we celebrate its teachings of the Bodhisattva path, the interpenetration of phenomena (dharmas), the visionary powers of meditation and the equality of things in emptiness.

Zen Practice Service
2021-12-15 09:00 - 11:00, 2022-01-02 09:00 - 11:00, 2022-01-23 09:00 - 11:00, 2022-01-30 09:00 - 11:00, 2022-02-06 09:00 - 11:00 | White Lotus Haven Zen, 50 Depot Street, Collinsville, CT, 06022, United States
Group Zen Practice is held each Sunday from 9:00am-11:00am at the Historic Axe Factory building in Collinsville, Connecticut. For those new to Seon practice, please arrive at 8:30am for a brief introduction to the forms, which include chanting, bowing, sitting and walking meditation.

Seon Practice Service - 108 Prostrations of Repentance and Renewal for the New Year
2021-12-19 09:00 - 11:00
Seon (Zen) Practice Services are held each Sunday from 9:00am-11:00am at the, Historic Axe Factory building in Collinsville, Connecticut. For those new to Seon practice, please arrive at 8:30am for a brief introduction to the forms, which include chanting, bowing, sitting and walking meditation.
Today’s service includes the practice of recitation with corresponding 108 Bows of Repentance and Renewal
This ceremony is a wonderful way to orient our minds-hearts for the coming new year, and a powerful way to practice “together action,” as we support one another in renewing our commitment to the practice.
Below is a brief teaching from Zen Master Seung Sahn.
I look forward to practicing with you all.
_/|_
Venerable Shim Bo

ABOUT BOWING MEDITATION
— Zen Master Seung Sahn
Most Buddhist paths include some form of bowing, or prostrations, in daily practice. Bowing is more than a show of respect for the Triple Gems (Buddha, Dharma and Sangha); they are an effective means to clear and purify the mind. Eliminating our dependence on the ego is an important step toward helping us understand the wisdom of Śūnyatā (Emptiness); bowing practice helps us to understand the Zen aspiration of “how may I help you?”.
For the westerner, bowing can at first seem superstitious or even irrational. While the concept of “being rid of the ego” may be understood as a means to eliminate suffering, some consider bowing practice to be demeaning or subservient. In an ego-centered society, like the one we live in today, how can we relate to such an archaic practice? It can be difficult for a western practitioner to demonstrate such a humble and devoted act as bowing (especially in the presence of others).
After a regular bowing practice, however, most come to experience its effectiveness. Bowing, through its physical motions, connects the body and the mind and can be especially useful when struggling with a difficult situation—as the practice can burn off restless energy and quiet the mind more efficiently than sitting meditation. At first, practitioners may wonder why we repent. We are not offering repentance to the Buddha, but to ourselves, and to all living beings. In essence, our small “I” is bowing to our big “I”. After some time, the small “I” disappears and we rely upon the big “I”. When this happens, we call this true bowing.

BAUS Interfaith Prayer for World Peace - Virtual Event
2022-01-01 10:00 - 12:00 | ONLINE VIDEO
Please Join Chuang Yen Monastery and
The Buddhist Association of the United States (BAUS) for the
2022 Interfaith Prayer for World Peace
10am January 1, 2022 on YouTube Live
All are invited to join this special Interfaith Prayer to welcome the new year.
The service will be attended by many faiths and traditions.
For more information and program click here.
YouTube Live link here.
Wishing you peace and happiness in the new year!
With metta,
Chuang Yen Monastery/BAUS
The Buddhist Association of the United States. 美國佛教會
2020 Route 301
Carmel, NY 10512
contact@baus.org

Zen Practice Service - CANCELLED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER
2022-01-09 09:00 - 11:00 | White Lotus Haven Zen, 50 Depot Street, Collinsville, CT, 06022, United States

Zen Practice Service - Uposatha Observance
2022-01-16 09:00 - 11:00, 2022-02-20 09:00 - 11:00 | White Lotus Haven Zen, 50 Depot Street, Collinsville, CT, 06022, United States
Group Zen Practice is held each Sunday from 9:00am-11:00am at the Historic Axe Factory building in Collinsville, Connecticut. For those new to Seon practice, please arrive at 8:30am for a brief introduction to the forms, which include chanting, bowing, sitting and walking meditation.
The Uposatha Observation is an ancient practice in which both lay and monastic practitioners placed special effort, attention to renewing and rededicating themselves to the study and practice of the Dharma. These observations fell on Full Moon periods of the lunar calendar. And so WLHZ continues in this practice tradition by reciting together the Five Precepts of ethical conduct.

Zen Practice Service
2022-02-13 09:00 - 11:00 | White Lotus Haven Zen, 50 Depot Street, Collinsville, CT, 06022, United States
Group Zen Practice is held each Sunday from 9:00am-11:00am at the Historic Axe Factory building in Collinsville, Connecticut. For those new to Seon practice, please arrive at 8:30am for a brief introduction to the forms, which include chanting, bowing, sitting and walking meditation
