100-Day Practice Begins March 5, Ends June 11

Sit on your cushion and think non-thinking;

play vividly and energetically and don’t be fooled by any demonic spirits.

– Dogen Zenji

Although we are two months from the beginning of the next training session, I’m posting this now so that participants can prepare. The application deadline is February 5th.

This should give people time to have conversations with near-and-dear ones about participating, make arrangements to allow for an increase in the practice-focus of their lives, and communicate with me. See below for more details.

Here’s some background: a 100-day home practice will help stabilize and deepen your practice – if you turn the dharma wheel, the wheel will turn back. It is inspired by the 90 or 100-day practice periods during the rainy season that monks and nuns have done since the Buddha’s days. Katagiri Roshi might have been the first to start non-residential practice periods. The idea is the same:

make a commitment
work your edge
and follow through.

There are two ways to participate. One way is to attend the Thursday night sessions and sesshin as much as possible. The second way is to participate via the web for virtual training. The practice focus for both modes is on daily zazen, giving life to the twenty-four hours, and Dogen’s Genjokoan.

Those who are in the non-virtual practice period will have a study session on Thursday nights from 6:30-8:30 (except the Thursday night before the monthly sesshin). Following each session, I’ll write a blog post about our conversation as we work through Genjokoan bit by bit.
Then those participating in both virtual and non-virtual modes will comment on the post by responding to issues raised, raising other issues, and interacting with other’s too, of course. Students will be encouraged to speak from the first person (“I”) and to talk directly from their actual experience, rather than preaching, positioning, theorizing, etc.

I first offered a virtual form of training in the fall. From that experience, I’ve clarified and focused what I’m offering. I’m interested in working with about six students who are committed to practice in this way. That’s all I expect to have time for during this period. Preference will be given to those who plan to participate in the June Sesshin (especially for those who live in the US).

I’d like those applying to participate from afar to set up a pre-practice period virtual practice meeting to discuss their participation sometime between February 5 and March 4.

Here are the specific practice requirements:

Sit zazen and chant the Heart Sutra at least five of seven days each week (if you’ve been practicing for less than one year, I recommend a sitting commitment of at least 30 minutes; if you’ve been practicing for more than one year, I recommend a commitment of at least 60 minutes)
Study selections from Genjokoan and commentary that I’ll provide to participants
Comment on the Genjokoan blog posts
Meet with me via Skype or Google Video for virtual practice meetings once each month
Email me a short summary of what’s been up in your practice each week (take no more than 15 minutes for writing)
If possible, participate in the sesshin at Yugeji Friday, June 12 – Wednesday, June 17

Although there is no fee, donations to help support Wild Fox Zen are welcome.

If you are interested participating in either form, please contact me at wildfoxzen@gmail.com before February 5th.