Workshops & Events
Eight Verses of Training the Mind Workshop (Online Only)
Four week series begins Thur., October 12, 2023 @ 7:00 PM (CST)
This course will focus on one of the most concise teachings of Lojong, or Mind Training. Lojong means to observe and train one’s own mind to develop true compassion and wisdom. Even though this short text is comprised of only eight-four line verses it reveals the essence of the Mahayana path to enlightenment. The instructions offer essential practices for developing the precious heart of bodhichitta by cultivating compassion, wisdom, and love.
The text, originally written by Bodhisattva Geshe Langri Tangpa, an eleventh-century Tibetan Buddhist Master embodies the very heart of dharma by teaching the essence of the Mahayana path to liberation. The fundamental theme of mind training practice is a profound re-orientation of our basic attitudes, habits, and thoughts about ourself and others.
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Source of the teachings
Cherishing of the teachings
Being humble
Guided Meditation -
Transforming adversity through cherishing love
Guided Meditation -
Everyone can teach us patience
Guided Meditation -
Learning about the 8 worldly concerns and how to overcome them
Guided Meditation
Instructor: Rev. Diane Myogetsu Bejcek is a novitiate Zen Priest and Shuso (Senior Student) at the Zen Life & Meditation Center, Chicago. She completed a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and is now a Licensed Clinical Psychologist working as a Consulting Psychologist with DCFS and social services agencies providing psychological assessments, clinical supervision and consultation for children. She began formal Buddhist study and practice with a Tibetan Buddhist lineage and practiced that for about 12 years, even ordaining there as a Buddhist nun. She later took up Zen training at ZLMC and eventually ordained here as a Zen priest
Pricing for the Eight Verses of Training the Mind
We rely primarily on the donations and class fees that our sangha offers. We encourage those with more capacity for giving to consider registering at the patron or supporter level. One pass is good for all four classes.
$199 Patron
$179 Supporter
$139 Participant
Mindfulness for Parents (online only)
Monday, October 16 from 7-8:30 pm
We are offering this Mindfulness for Parents program once a month. This is for parents and caregivers of children of all ages. It is facilitated by Kelly June Good, Kathy Dull and Karleen Manchanda.
Calm
Changing the way we relate to parenting stress
Learning how to attune to and regulate emotions
Shifting from automatic reactions to thoughtful responses
Compassion
Developing a kind, non-judgmental acceptance of ourselves and our children
Taking care of ourselves so we can care for our families
Building our capacity to hold space for the joys and difficulties of life
Connection
Nurturing attentive and open-hearted relationships
Integrating mindfulness practices into daily family life
Finding support through sharing in a mindful community
This event is FREE and online only. Here is the zoom link.
Please register below. Donations are appreciated should you wish to support our mission.
Calling Our Sangha Together (hybrid)
October 22 – Nov. 5, 2023 (Three consecutive Sundays)
Roshi Robert will facilitate three sessions with our Sangha community, beginning on Sunday, October 22, 2023 from 10:00 to 11:00 am. Each session will build on the previous one using an ancient Tibetan process called the Four Karmas (This will be done differently than our normal council process). Roshi invites all Sangha members to join and requests that, it they can, all members commit to the three sessions so that they get the full experience of this process. We have decided, due to the participatory nature of these sessions, to not record them.
The following guidelines will help us get the most out of this process:
DEEP INQUIRY: We rely on differences of experience and perception in order to discern action that might bring sanity and clarity to our situation.
HUMILITY: We honor the fact that no one person or group has the answer.
APPRECIATION: The experience of all stakeholders are essential to understand the complexity of our situation.
PATIENCE: We take time to listen to each other so that we may better understand the complexity of our situation.
INSIGHT: We open to the collective wisdom that arises when we work well together.
We make the following assumptions:
Certainty is the source of positional conflict; curiosity creates and opens possibilities and enriched relationships
All perspectives are essential but not sufficient. No one person or group understand the whole complexity of our situation.
Every perspective, prejudice, and opinion offers information that is valuable to the whole.
People support what they create; engagement is a necessity for a healthy community.
Diversity is an emergent quality; it is a life-saving enriching blessing, not a problem.
The Five Stages of this process involve:
Pacifying (Buddha Family Energy)
Enriching (Ratna Family Energy)
Magnetizing (Padma Family Energy)
Cutting (Vajra Family Energy)
Action (Karma Family Energy)
These sessions are all FREE. A FREE resource course has been created on our new Zen Life Online Community platform. Starting on October 1, 2023, this new online platform will be available to all ZLMC Members.
Should you have any questions about this, please feel free to contact Roshi Robert by email at robert.althouse@zlmc.org or at 708.703.2510.
We ask that everyone RSVP so we know if you are planning to attend all the sessions.
Autumn Sit and Social
Friday, October 27, 2023, 6:30–9:00 PM (in-person only)
We had such a good time at our first Autumn Sit and Social, we’ve scheduled another one. Let’s welcome the Fall Season together. ZLMC’s Kinship Circle invites you for an evening meditation on the Center’s back patio (6:30-7:00 pm), followed by refreshments and social time with your Sangha friends. Come see our new very cool solo fire pit. Bring a beverage of your choice and we will provide some snacks. We hope that you will join us for this FREE event. Please RSVP below.
