Still here! (I really need to post more regularly...!)

 Just a quick note to keep this blog 'current' - we continue to meet every week, and are growing into the new space comfortably. The most important thing for a Zen group is regularity, and I think we have now sat every week since moving into the new venue (bar one because of illness). Not all of us every week of course, but all of us that can make it! 

One advantage of the new space is the ability to have regular interviews in a private room, and we've taken to scheduling interviews on the first and third weeks of the month, either to support those doing koan practice, or just to have a chance to reflect on your ongoing meditation and your life as a practitioner in general.

In fact, as we've been finding out way in the new venue, we've tried various arrangements. Currently, we're having a 'formal' week on the first and third weeks, with interviews as mentioned but also a chanting service after zazen before we have our usual tea & chat. On other weeks, we're keeping it more plain - the usual two periods of sitting, no service, just tea & talk before heading home. Seems to be working for now, we'll see how it goes.

So, if you're reading this and have thought about joining us to sit, I'd encourage you to give it a try. No time like the present!

May Bank Hols reminder - we sit!

Just a quick note to confirm that we will be sitting on the Monday of the May Bank Holiday. Please do join us, even if it's your first time or you've not sat for a while - arrive at 7.15ish to be seated for a 7.30 start.

Our usual 2 x 30mins zazen will be followed by a chanting service, tea and discussion. 

The rhythm of life...

 

A quote from Tim Burkett's Zen in the Age of Anxiety: 

As we follow the natural rhythm of our breath, we begin to discover in an experiential way that our thoughts, sensations, and emotions come and go as naturally as the breath if we do not cling to them or try to avoid them. Of course emotions are more viscous and slow-moving than breath, but they come and go nevertheless, because this is the natural rhythm of life.

This came from a promotional email, haven't read the book itself so no idea if I can recommend it or not - but I was really struck in just this quote by the image of the way that our emotions cycle up and down over the course of our days and weeks and years... and how this is in one sense no different from the rise and fall of our breathing.

We become so familiar with our breathing on the cushion! And we never question the next breath, or whether it 'ok' or 'acceptable'... and once a breath has been released, we don't spend ages regretting that breath, or trying to recapture it! The breath has passed, and we move to the next one. If only we could do the same for our emotions - just have them manifest in our lives as a natural and appropriate response to the circumstances that life throws at us... and then move on from them.

And of course, our practice does help us do this - even if it's not immediately obvious. But over time, we invest less and less of our identity, effort and thought into hanging onto or judging our passing emotions, and move into a more spacious way of engaging with the world.

Moving in at the Fish Street dojo...

 So this Monday we finally made the move, after a few weeks of 'test sittings. The cupboards are now full of zafus and zabutons, the keys have been handed over into my grubby paws, and the website updated with the new details.

I will not miss having to lug heavy bags and boxes up the stairs each week - let alone between different venues!

There are still a few things to sort out, some bits & bobs to buy to make sure we're properly kitted out (some chairs are a must, but mugs for tea and coffee are the absolute priority, naturally).

But we're in! Really pleased that we've moved, and looking forward to more activity in the group and hopefully meeting more folk keen to 'settle the great matter of life and death'... or at least join us for some zazen.

Last meeting at the Quaker House

This morning I sent an email to the Northampton Quakers to tell them that we'll be moving in April to a new venue, and to send my thanks and the thanks of the group for all they have done to support us and so many other small community groups in Northampton town.

We met for the first time at the Quaker House on Monday 4 July 2011 - the day after the first post on this blog! - almost 11 years and 9 months ago. It seems like a lifetime ago! I remember how nervous I was that first evening that no-one would come, but also determined that even if no-one came I'd continue to sit there and maintain the space all on my own for as long as I could afford it.

It turns out, I needn't have worried! I don't remember exactly, but there were at least three or four other people that evening, and while we've never exactly drawn the crowds, we've maintained a steady group over the whole period. We've practised together nearly every single week ever since that first meeting, with only occasional breaks for retreats, the odd summer or winter break (not often!) and of course the pandemic.

So many people have been through the doors - many finding out straight away that Zen wasn't for them! - and to each and every one of you, no matter how many times you came, I want to pass on my gratitude for the energy, curiosity and friendship that has been put into this enterprise. 

The work of sitting together to express our true natures continues! We are sitting from now on in a different venue, and one that in many ways fits our physical needs better than the Emmeline Davis room at the Quaker House, but our time with the Quakers will always be part of the history of this group and of the wider StoneWater Zen sangha.

We end our time with one final sit and service this Wednesday at the usual time in the usual place, and you're all invited to join us. We'll express our gratitude to those who have made this possible, the Quakers and their community, by "dedicating the merits" of this service to them.

From April, we meet on Mondays at 7.30 at the Warrior Quest Dojo at 6 Fish Street, and a new chapter begins.

With a deep bow!

Alasdair

The Emmeline Davis room set 
up for Zazen in January 2012

Not many Zen neighbours...!

http://bit.ly/ZenMapUK

I posted something to a Zen group on Facebook the other day using this image of a Google map of UK & Irish Zen groups that I helped develop a while ago.

I took a closer look at the map today, and realised that SWZ Northampton isn't really at the centre of a hotbed of Zen activity in the UK!

As far as I can tell, the closest Zen group to us is in Oxford, 35 miles (57km) away as the crow flies. It's a shame, would be nice to have some Zenny neighbours!

For now, though, we're it as far as I can tell - so join us to learn about and practice Zen meditation in an authentic lineage right here in good ole Shoetown.

New Venue - our trial at Warrior Quest dojo

Starting this week, and for the next three weeks (i.e. 14, 21 & 28 March), we are sitting on Monday evenings on an experimental basis at Warrior Quest dojo on Fish Street in the town centre. Very happy for anyone to come and join us whether you've sat with us before, or are completely new to Zen.

We meet at 7.15 outside the dojo (see photo below for exact location), and the sessions run from 7.30 to 9.30 including tea and a chat/reading on a Zen topic.

Note that our usual Wednesdays continue as usual.

This week, Valentina shared some images and even one short video to give you a flavour of the place... scroll on...