A Koan: “Walk straight on a narrow mountain path with 99 turns.”

SMS Spring Practice Period
March 4 to April 23

With Three Retreats

two at the Franciscan Retreat Center (FRC)
Mount St. Francis, Colorado Springs:

March 4th
(deadline for Registration February 17th*)

and,

April 19-23 / Residential Retreat
(deadline for registration April 5th*)

(Please note that the deadlines are firm regarding meal count., Late registration is possible with a sack lunch for the March retreat only.)

Dear Friends,
As the days begin to lengthen and the earth warms towards Spring, you might notice a gestational quality of the time. Underground, or inside of this time, something is changing, growing. It’s a good time to protect and nourish what is wanting to come forth.
In our Zen sangha, we can support each other in intensifying practice during this time. We designate a period of time as a practice period, and offer several kinds of support for anyone who is wishing to deepen their commitment to or their exploration of the Way. We all have old habits, and sometimes it takes some structural support to shake those loose and try something new.
You may want to make a formal commitment to the practice period, or you may prefer to structure your own, on your own. Here’s a word about what the sangha will be offering.

Even before the practice period!

An introduction to Zen
with Sarah Bender, Sensei

Thursdays 7-8:30 PM Jan. 26, Feb. 2, 9 and 23; Shove Chapel. For people new to Zen, and people who would like to take a new look at it.

to register, contact Sarah: sembender@gmail.com

Retreats

Right Under Our Feet
March 4th

(a one-day retreat to kick off our practice period)

with dharma talk by Sarah Bender, Sensei

FRC
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
vegetarian lunch

Steve Milligan, Registrar steve_milligan@comcast.net
deadline: February 17th
registration form: https://www.smszen.org/underourfeetmar17reg/

We take a day—one day in a life—to sit and walk together in silence, right in the midst of this.
Our Ancestor, Zen Master Linji, said this:
“Right now, all this dashing and searching you’re doing—do you know what it is you’re looking for? It is vibrantly alive, yet has no root or stem. You can’t gather it up, you can’t scatter it to the winds. The more you search for it the farther away it gets. But don’t search for it and it’s right before your eyes, its miraculous sound always in your ears.”
Want to take a listen? Come on down and join us.

Residential Meditation Retreat April 19-23

with Senseis Sarah Bender and Andrew Palmer

Franciscan Retreat Center

This will be an intensive, silent meditation retreat.

Registrar: Steve Milligan
steve_milligan08@comcast.net
registration deadline April 5th

and, nearby:

Nothing Hidden Koan Retreat

March 10-11, 2017
with Andrew Palmer, Sensei

at The Center for Inner Peace, Pueblo

For more information contact Andrew (alpsensei@gmail.com) or visit www.wetmountainsangha.org

And Through the Period

(more detailed information to follow)

A Sunday afternoon koan series, during which we’ll take up the sayings and koans of Master Linji, founder of the koan school of Zen in which we practice.

(details of this series to follow)

Opportunities for individual meetings with Sarah Bender and Andrew Palmer (on Mar. 18 and April 15, or by appointment)

5:00 discussions on Mondays at Shove Chapel will focus on supporting an ongoing practice in all of its aspects.

SMS Spring Practice Period March 4 to April 23