As you can see from our November calendar there is a good deal taking place this month. First, we celebrate Founder’s Month in recognition of Zengaku Matsuoka-roshi, for whom his student Hojo Taiun Elliston-roshi selected the name of our Order.This is based on O’Roshi’s often using the term mokurai in his teachings. So much so that I’ve switched topics between November 2 and November 30. 2021.
This is done primarily to allow our guest speaker more time to develop her presentation on--Tanden and Yoga at the end of the month, but also to extend our conversation on the unfolding nature of the Falmouth Soto Zen Sangha.
So, on Tuesday night November 2, 2021, we’ll explore The Falmouth Soto Zen Sangha, past, present, and future. As a guide here are initial topics.
The Silent Thunder Order: Teacher’s Teacher
The Founding of of the Falmouth Soto Zen Sangha: Leaving Home
The Silent Thunder Order Network
The Falmouth Soto Zen Sangha as an independent “Center”
The Mission, Vows and Values of The Falmouth Soto Zen Sangha
Sangha Harmony and Decision Making
The FSZS Practice Path Guidelines
The Project On Women Ancestors
The FSZS Relationship with The Falmouth Interfaith Group
The FSZS Relationship with Programs of Recovery
The FSZS Relationship with Senior Citizens
Financial Maturity
I’ve been asked if one can be in the past or the future in the present, my response is yes but only in the moment. As we begin a new decade of sharing the Dharma there is much to have meaningful conversation about. This is the month to do so…
108 bows,
Sangaku
November 2021
On November 2, at Tuesday night service we have Open Discussion. In this format, individuals can raise any question she/he wishes in a round robin Dharma discussion.
On November 7, Sangaku-sensei will be speaking at the Atlanta Soto Zen Soto Center on the topic of Change (check ASZC for time).
On November 9, at Tuesday night service the topic is "Teachers and Their Teachers" using the teachings of Matsuoka Roshi and Hojo Michael Elliston; the texts The Kyosaku, Moku-Rai, and The Original Frontier.
On November 16, at 7:00 PM/ET we will demonstrate the use of the Women Ancestor Project teaching tool, by discussing two women ancestors. We invite everyone in the STO Network to join us.
On Saturday, November 20, we are excited to have a Jukai celebration for Amy Wilson. Zazen will begin at 6:30AM with the Jukai Ceremony at 12:00 Noon, followed by a delicious lunch provided by our Tenso Team, Ikusei Jacqueline Lee and Hokashi Chuck Cloutier. We hope you can join us on Zoom.
On November 23, topic at our Tuesday night service is Thanksgiving: Eleven Years of FSZS. All of our service is open to everyone on Zoom from 7:00-8:30 PM/ET.
On November 30, our topic at Tuesday night service is "Yoga and The Tanden" with a guest speaker.