Zen Essentials — Practicing Your Life at Work
August 29, 2019

One of the most challenging, dynamic, and potentially satisfying realms of modern lay practice is the workplace. Today’s practitioners are in virtually every work place of contemporary life. Some of these environments can be very supportive and conducive to the study of the self, while others can seem downright hostile to a path of wisdom and compassion. Made potent with societal notions of self-identity and self-worth, as well as the hard realities of making a living in a competitive and ambitious culture, the workplace raises important questions and issues about how to understand and practice work from the perspective of Buddhist teachings and the Precepts. We’ll examine such subjects as money, success and failure, stress, competition and ambition, working with people and Buddhist ethics. This seminar will offer participants practical guidance on how to begin exploring one’s work as an aspect of Zen practice. As with all the Essentials seminars, there will be ample time for questions, allowing participants to look, in specific ways, a their own situations and gain better understanding about the opportunities that are available to them as they continue to bring Buddhist practice more fully into their everyday lives. Refreshments will be served. The Essentials of Zen seminars offer an opportunity to work more informally with some of…

To See a Flower: An Exploration of Urban Eco-printing
August 31, 2019

Nobody sees a flower really; it is so small. We haven’t time, and to see takes time – like to have a friend takes time. — Georgia O’Keeffe In urban life, so often we miss the beauty of nature in our hustle from one place to another.  When we do stop to look, what do we actually see? In this retreat , we will use the magical forms of flower petals and plant leaves growing in our neighborhood to create color and designs on cloth and paper.  Their subtle hues and vibrant colors will be the starting point for our inspiration and creativity. Eco-printing, also known as botanical contact printing is a method of natural dyeing in which organic material is arranged on a cloth or piece of paper, bound or bundled, and then steamed so that it leaves its pigment and impression behind.  We’ll take up this process in the spirit of mindful practice and creative expression, allowing the plants we gather to lead the way as we experiment with color, pattern and design . Everyone will make something to take home as we share in this late-summer opportunity to connect with nature right in the heart of Brooklyn.…