07 May 2011

Special events in May

We'll be holding our usual Tuesday evening meditation this coming week, May 10th, and any newcomers are welcome to join us at 6:30pm for an orientation to our practice.

More importantly, our evening meditation the following week on May 17th corresponds to the most important day of the year in the Southern or Theravada Buddhist tradition. On the full moon of April/May, which this year falls on Tuesday May 17th, Theravada Buddhists celebrate Wesak or Vesaka Puja, which commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha over 2,500 years ago.

This conjunction makes that Tuesday evening a very auspicious time for us to meditate as a local sangha, in coordination with the mahasangha around the world.

It also is a very auspicious week for our monthly all-day sitting or zazenkai, which will be on Saturday the 21st. Anyone who is new to meditation should plan to attend a Tuesday evening first before joining the sesshin.