At The Buddhist
Society 58 Eccleston Square London SW1V 1PH |
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| We try to record all talks and make them available for purchase on CD at a cost of £7.00 from the Library Book Shop or by post at a cost of £7.80 including post and packing. We do not always hold stock of CD’s so please allow two weeks between order and delivery. Our Audio Catalogue is available at a cost of £1.00. |
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Using
the Everyday Wisdom of Folklore
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Zen
Brushwork
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‘Mountain, rock, bamboo, tree, ripples in water, mist and cloud – none of these has a fixed form. But nonetheless, they all have a constant inner line. That is what must guide the mind of the painter’. Su T’ung-po (Su Shih, 1036 – 1101). This inner line is the essence of the calligraphic tradition
that the nineteenth century statesman and Zen calligrapher
Yamaoka Tesshu aspired to. Senior students of the late
Zen master Tanchu Terayama, visiting from Japan, will
share their skills of Zen brushwork using a large brush,
as well as yokiho (breathing and ki-raising exercises).
This session at the Buddhist Society accompanies the exhibition
‘Zen
Calligraphy and Painting of Yamaoka Tesshu’,
at the V&A from 3rd September – 14th December,
which is on loan from Terayama sensei’s private
collection. |
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| Tesshu - 'Waterfall', sumi-ink on paper, 1888 printed
by kind permission of Mrs Yoh Terayama |
Life
in a Japanese Zen Monastery
by Julian Daizan Skinner Roshi
Wednesday 10 September 2008 at 6.30pm
Zen Temple Kyoto - Photo by Tiare Scott*
This talk focuses on the realities of Zen practice, for both monks and lay practitioners in Japan, and how the ancient traditions of Zen are used to deal with the pressures and problems of the contemporary world.
Julian Daizan Skinner Roshi has extensively studied both Rinzai and Soto Zen and received Dharma Transmission in both traditions. After completing his koan study, he returned from Japan last summer to undertake a takuhatsu pilgrimage - walking the length of the island of Britain relying solely on alms food. Roshi teaches and practices in London.
A
ZEN LIFE - D.T. Suzuki
24th September 2008 at 6.30pm
"A
ZEN LIFE - D.T. Suzuki" is a 77-minute prize winning documentary
about Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki (1870-1966), credited with introducing
Zen Buddhism to the West. He also embraced Jodo Shin Buddhism.
In addition to rare footage of D.T. Suzuki, there are exclusive interviews of many people who knew him in person, including Mihoko Okamura, Gary Snyder, Kemmyo T. Sato, Robert Aitken, Huston Smith, Donald Richie, and recordings of John Cage, Erich Fromm, and Thomas Merton.
The producer, Michael Goldberg, has lived in Japan 27 years. His last feature, "Haruka Naru Nami no Oto" (about prewar, foreign wives of Japanese) was aired on NHK.
The film will be introduced by Professor The Reverend Kemmyo T Sato of Three Wheels.
Buddhism
at Work
The impact of the Lojong (Transforming the Mind) teachings in
the workplace
by John Reacroft
Wednesday 15th October 2008 at 6.30 pm.
For over 40 years, Tibetan Lamas have been teaching westerners about Buddhism. A large number of people have studied with these teachers. Many westerners have now been exposed to the Lojong (Transforming the Mind) teachings. What effect has this had?
John Reacroft carried out post graduate research into how volunteers and staff in Tibetan Buddhist voluntary organisations have applied the Lojong teachings to problem situations in their work. The research was conducted scientifically and rigorously tested whether or not Lojong really helped. Interviewees for the research had worked in challenging situations. Their stories and some surprising outcomes will be recounted.
The talk will discuss: what Lojong is and is not; how it works; what has to be in place if it is to be of any use; and how it can sometimes fail. There will also be some unexpected advice given by HH Dalai Lama following a presentation in Glasgow in 2004 based on this research.
John Reacroft has been a student of Sogyal Rinpoche, the founder
of Rigpa, since 1979. John is an Instructor in Rigpa. He recently
acted as meditation instructor on programmes for lawyers given
under Sogyal Rinpoche’s direction at Lincoln’s Inn.
John works for Barnardo's, the children's charity, and manages
their work with homeless families as well as developing policy
on homeless children and on asylum seeking children.
Sacred
Buildings in Buddhist Lands
by Dan Cruickshank
Wednesday 19 November 2008 at 6.30pm
Dan Cruickshank became famous in 2005 when BBC television first broadcast the series, Around the World in 80 Treasures, when he visited eighty man-made artefacts or buildings that he had selected. Now we shall hear his thoughts on Sacred Buildings in Buddhist Lands.
