Tai Chi Workshops

Tai Chi Chuan offers benefits to anyone with an interest in exercise for health. Principles taught in a standardized dance-like exercise promote healing and vitality. It is a spiritual teaching, a form of moving meditation, and a system of self-defense where conflict is overcome by yielding to and redirecting negative energies. The 3-day beginners' class is open to all, no matter your expertise. The 4-day advanced workshop is for those already adept in the Cheng Man-ch'ing form. There will be group practice of the solo form plus instruction in push hands and sword form. Last year's workshop participants were delighted with Katy's untiring effort and personal attention. Commuting possible.

Beginners': $120; Advanced $200.

Katy Cheng is the daughter of Master Cheng Man-ch'ing whose 37 posture form is the most widely practiced in the US. Following in the steps of her father, Katy exhibits the same generosity of spirit. Learning from him from age 3, she later became his assistant at the New York School. After many years teaching, Katy founded her own school in Houston. In the words of the Cheng family Tai Chi is a 24 hour a day practice. Her brother Patrick lives in Asheville NC where he owns and manages the China Palace restaurants in Asheville and Arden NC.

Ikebana and Tea Ceremony Workshop

Zen has inspired many of the Japanese traditional cultural arts. This workshop is devoted to two of those arts: flower arranging and tea ceremony. This will be a hands-on workshop. The authentic Japanese meals will include a 'kaiseki' meal, the special vegetarian meals unique to the tea ceremony. Commuting possible.

FYI: There may be a slight fee for materials. As the workshop nears, the leader will determine whether she is supplying the flowers or we ask each of you to supply the flowers and other materials.

Cost: $120 + materials

Emiko Nishiwaki, the Japanese Outreach Coordinator at Western Carolina University, has taught ikebana in her hometown near Nagyoa Japan for 13 years. She is certified in Japan to teach Ikebana in the Ikenobo tradition and tea in the Omotesenke tradition. She has been in the US since August 2007 and will continue to introduce Japanese culture here until July 2009.

Kazuko Yamasaki, the Japanese Outreach Coordinator in Halifax Virginia will assist Ms. Nishiwaki. Some of you may remember the delicious meals she prepared during the Japanese Garden Workshop in 2007. She will explain kimono and assist Ms. Nishiwaki with the tea ceremony and ikebana. She has taught many Americans these arts in and around Kyoto.

Uncovering the Four Unmeasurables

The Four Immeasurables, expressions of original mind, are qualities of the awakened, kind heart. Yet, they are not created in meditation practice or by recitations. These Four - Happiness, Compassion, Joy, and Equanimity - are uncovered and revealed to have
been there all along when we face and move through reactive emotional patterns that stand in their way. Ill-will stands in the way of Happiness; cruelty is in the way of Compassion; jealousy stands in the way of sympathetic Joy; and clinging and aversion are in the way of Equanimity. So we will employ a systematic method of inquiring into these disruptive patterns with the intention of dissolving them, thereby revealing what has been there all along.

In this mostly-silent retreat, we will begin to dismantle the disruptive emotional patterns that prevent the experience of these four qualities of original mind. Within the Soto Zen daily schedule of meditations, Services, Sutras, and meals, there will be Dharma classes on how to work with uncovering each Immeasurable. These classes will include lectures, guided imageries, writing/journaling, and methods
practices.

Cost: $120

A Women's Practice Retreat

A meditation retreat infused with practice and ritual inviting the Divine Feminine, invoking the heart of compassion, allowing the spirit of woman to express itself. Sitting, moving, and guided meditation, Dharma teachings, and discussions. Silence. Registration limited to women. Maximum: 12 participants.

Cost: $120