Saturday, January 2, 2010

Sokuji Meeting Schedule

Sokuji Sangha meets every Friday 6:30-8:00 p.m.  Meetings are held at the  Upper Room of United Methodist Church Located at 9th Street  and Beltrami,  Bemidji, MN.  just across the street from Central Elementary school. 
1st  Friday:  Zen meditation and sutra reading
2nd Friday:  Traditional Soto Zen Service
3rd  Friday:  Zen meditation and sutra reading
4th  Friday:  Zen meditation (“just sitting”)

Each meeting ends with an informal Dharma talk, tea and cookies.  Dana (free will offerings) accepted with gratitude.
Visitors are always welcome!



Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Sutras


The Maha Prajna Paramita Hridaya Sutra
Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva,
When practicing deeply the Prajna Paramita
Perceived that all five skandhas are empty
And was saved from all suff'ring and distress.


O Shariputra, form does not differ from emptiness; 
Emptiness does not differ from form.
That which is form is emptiness; 
That which is emptiness, form.
The same is true of feelings, perceptions, impulses, consciousness.


O Shariputra, all Dharmas are marked with emptiness; 
They do not appear nor disappear,
Are not tainted nor pure,
Do not increase nor decrease.


Therefore in Emptiness, no form, no feelings, no perceptions, no impulses, no consciousness;
No eyes, no ears, no nose, no tongue, no body, no mind;
No color, no sound, no smell, no taste, no touch, no object of mind;
No realm of eyes and so forth until no realm of mind-consciousness;
No ignorance and also no extinction of it, and so forth until no old-age and death and also no extinction of them;
No suff'ring, no origination, no stopping, no path;
No cognition, also no attainment.
With nothing to attain The Bodhisattva depends on Prajna Paramita
And the mind is no hindrance. 
Without any hindrance no fears exist;
Far apart from every perverted view the Bodhisattva dwells in Nirvana.


In the three worlds all Buddhas depend on Prajna Paramita
And attain unsurpassed, complete perfect enlightenment.


Therefore know the Prajna Paramita
Is the great transcendent mantra,
Is the great bright mantra,
Is the utmost mantra,
Is the supreme mantra,
Which is able to relieve all suff'ring
And is true, not false.
So proclaim the Prajna Paramita mantra,
Proclaim the mantra that says:
Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate! Bodhi! Svaha!

Contact Sokuji




Bob Kelly    
218-694-3041
 


Denise Summerford    
218-751-9330 


Geri Wilimek    
218-751-1537

 

Feel free to call us to answer your questions about Zen up north!

Sokuji Cookies

Informal dharma talks are always accompanied by tea and home baked cookiesJoy Kelly supplies cookies for sangha meetings every week. Here are a few favorites from her kitchen:

Joy's Sesame Cookies

1/2 c. honey ( or 3/4 c. brown sugar)
1/2 c. oil
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 tsp salt
1 c. sesame seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds, crushed
rind of 1 orange, finely grated
11/2 c. whole wheat flour
Bake 8 minutes @ 350-375º


Joy's Oatmeal Cookies

1 c. oil
4 eggs
3/4 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. sour milk or buttermilk
1T baking powder
1 T salt
3 c. oats
1 c. raisins or chocolate chips mixed with coconut
1/2 c. nuts
Bake 350º for 10 minutes


Joy's Molasses Cookies  (pending)

About Sokuji

In Japanese, Sokuji (so KOO jee) means "as it is" or "suchness". This name was chosen because it refers to the heart of Zen practice, which is to see things as they are, not only in formal meditation, but in all aspects of everyday life. This is also known as "mindfulness".

Sokuji Sangha 
has been meeting in Bemidji Minnesota since 2002, guided by Shoshin (Bob) Kelly who is ordained in the Soto Zen School. The sangha meets weekly on Friday evenings from 6:30-8:00 p.m. in the Upper Room of Bemidji's United Methodist Church. A typical sangha meeting includes sitting meditation, sutra reading, and an informal Dharma talk with hot tea and home-made cookies.

Visitors are always welcome.