Edgar, The tea and cookies were served at the end of the Beginning Seminars.
The sesshins had meals much more like you described. I remember we were served in the meditation hall at our cushions and maintained silence during the meal. We had three nested bowls from which we ate, and I remember when we were finished someone came around and poured hot water in our bowls for us to wash them - and then we drank that water. ...Bill! --- In [email protected], Edgar Owen <edgarowen@...> wrote: > > Bill, > > Tea and COOKIES?! How decadently Western! > > > Our meals consisted of a small bowl of steaming hot rice gruel with an > umebashi on top and a small bowl of cooked vegetables. > > Edgar > > > > On Nov 21, 2012, at 3:34 AM, Bill! wrote: > > > Edgar and Joe, > > > > I don't know how it is now, but back in the 'good old days' (which in my > > case is the 1960's) zen centers operated on a pretty sparse budget. I was > > involved with two during that time, one intimately and over close to a > > 10-year period and the other casually and only over a 1+ year period. Both > > of these had pretty much the same programs and the same procedures. One > > center was in an urban area and one was in a secluded area in the mountains. > > > > The urban center hosted a half-day Beginning Seminar free. Anyone could > > attend and there was no reservations required. Tea was served in the > > morning and light refreshments (more tea and some cookies) were served > > afterwards. > > > > They both had weekend, one-week and month-long sesshins (meditation > > retreats). Meals were served and accommodations provided for those not > > living in the area - or that wanted to stay there. There were fees for the > > meals and accommodations but as I remember they were not exorbitant and > > could be reduced or waived for people who needed that. > > > > Occasionally there were 'special' one-week or month-long sesshins that > > featured other compatible practices like tai chi, qigong, poetry, etc... > > These could have a higher fee. > > > > I don't remember what these fees were but I was just a working stiff then > > and certainly not rich. I know the fees were comfortable for me, and if I > > remember correctly I considered them actually less than it would have cost > > me to live at home for the week or month. > > > > And like I said I did know that some participants could not pay and that > > did not present a problem for the centers. > > > > Just a little FYI...Bill! > > > > --- In [email protected], "Joe" <desert_woodworker@> wrote: > > > > > > O, Edgar, > > > > > > If you were never taught there about the practice of Dana, then you were > > > cheated. I'd demand your Voided-check back if I were you. > > > > > > You mean you only had to work in the Vegetable garden six hours a day on > > > their/your sesshin(s)? > > > > > > If not, you'll have a big debt to pay to the benefactors in the > > > hereafter, or the underworld. > > > > > > You could make this right if you make an offering now. Is anybody still > > > alive, there? > > > > > > --Joe > > > > > > > Edgar Owen <edgarowen@> wrote: > > > > > > > > In all my practice at Zen temples there was never any charge at all. > > > > Lessons, food and board were all gratis... > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
