1st & 3rd Tuesday of each month, 6:30–8:00 p.m.
Reading the Avatamsaka Sutra – A Sangha Practice Group
We will read, recite, and listen to The Flower Ornament Scripture, Book 39, Entry into The Realm of Reality from The Avatamsaka Sutra. In this sutra, we follow the journey-story of the boy Sudhana and his meetings with remarkable teachers, a wide array of “good friends” including 21 female teachers and 32 male teachers: child, adult, human, divine, and 9 Night Goddesses! We will screenshare the text from Thomas Cleary’s translation. Link to the text here. Register here for a Zoom link or contact baconwarren915@gmail.com
ON HIATUS FOR THE SUMMER: Resuming 9/14, Thursday, every second week, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
MRO Women for Conversation & Connection
Join Senior students Chikei Levister and Shinji Hoffman for a meeting of practitioners who identify as women every second Thursday of the month. We’re hoping this time might fit into your lunch hour. Bring your snack, sandwich, tea or coffee, crunchy apple or just yourself! Let’s get together and share around practice, our spiritual lives, and being women in the MRO. ON HIATUS FOR THE SUMMER, Register here to receive a zoom link for 9/14.
First Sunday of the month, 3:00 p.m.
People of African Descent (PAD) Sangha Gathering & Book Study:
Currently we are reading “Grieving While Black: an Anti-Racist Take on Oppression and Sorrow” by Breeshia Wade. Discussions are led by one of us on a rotating basis. Please contact wells.robin@gmail.com if you would for more information or to sign up.
Third Sunday of the month, 1:00–2:30 p.m.
“What is Whiteness?” Sangha Affinity Group
This group is for those who identify as white and is part of an ongoing monthly inquiry—based in Dharma practice—into Whiteness and its many biases and blind spots. You are welcome to join the open ZCNYC What is Whiteness group, meeting the 3rd Sunday of every month, 1-2:30pm. Newcomers are welcome. Please contact Yunen to get connected.
Shugen Roshi, Hojin Sensei, and Hogen Sensei are each meeting with formal MRO Students over Zoom for face-to-face teaching. Students should already have signup instructions but if you would like assistance with this, please contact the registrar at registrar@dharma.net; 845-688-2228.
Shugen Roshi: Wednesdays 7:45–8:45 p.m. (except during sesshin)
Hojin Sensei: Wednesdays 6:45–7:45 p.m. and Sundays 9:45–10:35 a.m. (except during sesshin)
Hogen Sensei: Sundays & Mondays 10 a.m.–12 p.m.
One-to-one Meetings with Seniors
During these unusual and stressful times you may find it helpful to speak with a lay practitioner about tending to your practice or taking care of the challenges that life is presenting these days. Please email seniorstudents@dharma.net if interested and someone will get back to you. This opportunity is open to anyone who identifies as a sangha member, regardless of any formal affiliation. The following senior lay students are available for one-on-one phone or video calls. Feel free to mention by name the person you’d like to speak with, if you have a preference.
Chris Yudo Abraham, Michelle Seigei Spark, Katie Yosha Scott-Childress, Maureen Jisho Ford, Patrick Yunen Kelly, Prabu Gikon Vasan, Michael Chizen Brown