9:00-10:30 Zazen (Three twenty-five minutes sitting sessions with 5 minutes of kinhin after each sit)

Traditional Soto Zen Service 10:30 AM

Dharma Talk: 10:30 AM

Speaker:   Katsuryu Bill Cooper Practice Leader, Bellevue Dharma

In Honor of Matsuoka Roshi 85th Anniversary:

A Beginner's Talk in Zen

Katsuryu Bill Cooper, Practice Leader, Bellevue Dharma

In previous talks when Katsuryu used a Japanese or Pali word—a word fundamental to our practice—newcomers were often unfamiliar with them. Words such as "practice," "zazen," "shikantaza." "Koan." In today's talk, I'll present my understanding of these practices for discussion and clarification, in hopes of encouraging a wholesome, Zen life.

Also, because I was a disciple of Matsuoka Roshi's for several years in the 1980s while he was roshi at the Long Beach Zen Temple, I'll present  a couple of impressions and memories about him to encourage our practice.

Katsuryu Bill Cooper began training with Elliston Roshi and the Silent Thunder Order in May 2020. He received zaike in July 2022 from Sensei Zenku. Since then, he’s been active in several STO activities and is currently the chair of the Silent Thunder Board of Directors. Katsuryu sits and studies regularly with Sensei Zenku and the Mission Mountain Zen Center.

Katsuryu is the Practice Leader of Bellevue Dharma, a group of local Zen students near Seattle, Washington. Bellevue Dharma, meets online for Zen meditation and discussion of the Dharma on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday each month. Newcomers are welcome!

BellevueDharma@gmail.com