Kathie Fischer & Shinzan Palma & Matthew Kozan Palevsky: Fall Practice Period Opening

Summary: Practice Period (Ango or “peaceful dwelling”) is a traditional intensive training period common to many schools of Buddhism. Ango traces its history to the time of Shakyamuni Buddha and the early sangha. Each year, the community would gather together enabling everyone to deepen their practice and polish their understanding through the indispensable teachings of the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.<br> This year’s Fall Practice Period: Heart Sutra will be lead by Sensei Sokaku Kathie Fischer, Sensei Shinzan Palma and Hoshi Matthew Kozan Palevsky. Guest instructors include: Enkyo O’Hara, PhD; Roshi Norman Fischer; Sensei Shun’E Ulrike Greenway; Stephen Batchelor; John Dunne, PhD; Zenshin Florence Caplow; Monshin Nannette Overley; Kigaku Noah Rossetter; and Jane Steinberg.<br> The bodhisattva ideal is one of the great contributions of Mahayana Buddhism to world spirituality. Tirelessly and enthusiastically working for the benefit of others, bodhisattvas practice Prajna Paramita, the Perfection of Wisdom, the wisdom that sees the empty, interconnected, and boundless nature of reality. Referred to as “Mother of the Buddhas,’ Prajna Paramita is most succinctly described in the Heart Sutra, which we chant each day and is easily committed to memory. The sutra expounds the teaching of sunyata (boundlessness, emptiness, interconnection): all beings are non-separate and therefore connected; personal enlightenment is impossible. For bodhisattvas, love and compassion is the core of Buddhist practice.<br> In this Ango Opening Ceremony Sensei Sokaku Kathie Fischer, Sensei Shinzan Palma, and Hoshi Matthew Kozan Palevsky set forth the guiding principles of this Fall Practice Period at Upaya Zen Center.<br> To see video of the teachings, please <a href="https://www.upaya.org/program/fall-practice-period-heart-sutra/?id=2204" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sign up for our Fall Practice Period by clicking here</a>.<br> To access the entire series, please click on the link below:<br> <a title="Upaya Podcast Series: FALL PRACTICE PERIOD 2020: The Heart Sutra" href="https://www.upaya.org/2020/10/upaya-podcast-series-fpp-2020-heart-sutra/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Upaya Podcast Series: FALL PRACTICE PERIOD 2020: The Heart Sutra</a><br>