October 2017 Dharma Talk & Weekend Meditation Retreat

                           Guest Teacher Barry Briggs JDPSN will be here October 27-30, 2017

Public Dharma Talk October 27, 2017 at 7:00 pm at Historic Manhattan Train Depot

Weekend Meditation Retreat Friday October 28 - Sunday October 30, 2017 

Deep Creek Community Center:  3223 Deep Creek Road, Manhattan, Kansas

Barry Briggs JDPSN began training in the Kwan Um School of Zen in 1990 and took Bodhisattva Teacher precepts in 2001. He received inka from Zen Master Soeng Hyang in 2013. He serves as Co-Guiding Teacher for Cambridge Zen Center, and Guiding Teacher for the Cape Cod Zen Center and Plymouth Zen Group. He also travels widely to lead retreats around the world.

Tallgrass Zen Center One Day Retreat

Join us for a one day retreat in the beautiful Flint Hills

at Deep Creek Community Center, just 10 minutes outside Manhattan, KS. 

Gather at 7:30 am for breakfast, set up the space & begin practice at 9:00 am. Please bring a sack lunch, or if you prefer a vegetarian dish to share. 

Consulting Interviews will be provided by a Senior Dharma Teacher. 

Wear loose comfortable clothing, which completely covers shoulders & 

knees while seated (no shorts). 

Please RSVP on our Facebook page, our Meet Up site 

or e mail tallgrasszen @ gmail.com 

We provide mats and cushions. 

One can also sit in a chair. 

Suggested donation $20.

October 22, 2016 Silent Meditation Retreat

1.  One Day Silent Meditation Retreat
2.  Saturday October 22, 2016
3. Deep Creek Community Center
4. 3223 Deep Creek Road
5. 10 minutes outside Manhattan KS

Join us for a one day retreat in the beautiful Flint Hills. 

We will gather at 7:30 am for breakfast, set up the space and begin practice at 9:00 am. Please bring a sack lunch, or if you prefer a vegetarian dish to share. Consuting Interviews will be provided by a Senior Dharma Teacher. Wear loose comfortable clothing, which covers your knees and shoulders (no shorts). Please RSVP on our Facebook page, our Meet Up site or e mail tallgrasszen @ yahoo.com so that we will have enough mats and cushions. One can also sit in a chair. 

Suggested donation $20.

Meditation Retreat with Zen Master Ji Haeng

Weekend Meditation Retreat 
with Zen Master Ji Haeng

June 10-12, 2016

Deep Creek Community Center 
3223 Deep Creek Road
Manhttan, Kansas 

Join us for a weekend of meditation in the Flint Hills with a community of practitioners dedicated to the path of finding our true selves and helping this world. Beginners welcome. Vegetarian meals provided. Private interview with Zen Master Ji Haeng.  

Informal light supper and social time 5:30 pm
Dharma Talk Friday evening 7 pm. 

Retreat runs from Saturday 5:45 am through Sunday 12:00 pm.
Entry times Saturday 5;45 am, 9:00 am, 1:00 pm.

Entire retreat $100; Saturday $50. Scholarships and work exchange available. Camping is permitted on site at Deep Creek Communtiy Center. To register contact us through our Tallgrass Zen Meet Up site or e mail tallgrasszen @ yahoo.com. 

One Day Silent Meditation Retreat

Saturday, March 26, 2016     7:30 am - 5:00 pm Deep Creek Community Center  3223 Deep Creek Road Manhattan, KS 66502 Deep Creek Community Center is in the Flint Hills just 10 minutes outside Manhattan, KS. Join us at 7:30 am for breakfast, help set up the space and begin practice at 9:00 am. Please bring a sack lunch, or if you prefer a vegetarian dish to share. Consuting Interviews will be provided by Senior Dharma Teacher, Margaret Wheeler. Wear loose comfortable clothing, which covers your knees and shoulders (no shorts). Meditation mats, cushions and chairs provided. Please RSVP on our Facebook page, our Meet Up site or e mail tallgrasszen @ yahoo.com. Suggested donation $20.

Tallgrass Zen Center One Day Retreat Saturday, October 24, 2015. 7:30 am - 5:00 pm Deep Creek Community Center 3223 Deep Creek Road Manhattan, KS 66502 Join us for a one day retreat in the beautiful Flint Hills. Retreat is at Deep Creek Community Center, just 10 minutes outside Manhattan, KS. We will gather at 7:30 am for breakfast, set up the space and begin practice at 9:00 am. Please bring a sack lunch, or if you prefer a vegetarian dish to share. Consuting Interviews will be provided by a Senior Dharma Teacher. Wear loose comfortable clothing, which covers your knees and shoulders (no shorts). Please RSVP on our Facebook page, our Meet Up site or e mail tallgrasszen @ yahoo.com so that we will have enough mats and cushions. One can also sit in a chair. Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPad

Your lucky day!

Have you been thinking, "you know, I really should learn to  meditate"? Have you every thought, "maybe I should check out Tallgrass Zen Center." Well, today's your lucky day: we will be practicing from 3-4:30 in the Solar Addition of the UFM in Manhattan, KS. There's plenty of free parking in the back, and Margaret and I will help you to understand what's going on and why we're doing it. Christina

What I learned from my brother

His liver collapsed in May or June of last year, out of the blue. He was acutely ill for about two months. He stabilized but never recovered. He was not in pain but as the toxins built up in his body, he grew weaker and weaker. The bilirubin caused his skin to itch. Nothing relieved the itching which only grew worse as the days and weeks passed. He died three months ago, on February 22.

My brother meditated for thirty years, every day or almost every day, an hour in the morning, an hour at night. One time, when I was visiting him, about two months before he died, I tried to get him to meditate because I thought it would help stabilize his mind, help him to accept what was happening to his body. My gentle pressure--just five minutes, Rick--caused him so much distress--I can't, he said, I can't--he was almost whimpering--that I never asked again.

Later he he said, "an advanced student would be able to meditate through this. I guess I'm not an advanced student."

But those years on the cushion were not wasted. Rick was frequently sweet. He smiled a lot. He was grateful for every small kindness. And when his grief, anger and disappointed overwhelmed him and came flooding out, he self-corrected quickly, found his balance.

Death comes to us all. It does not care about your plans or aspirations. It is a violent, often painful disruption of bodily integrity, of familial, and social bonds. It can be resisted, never defeated. And nothing can help you except a steadfast spiritual practice. Not your good diet, exercise, hard work, success, family or friends. Only practice. So pick a practice and never stop. And if you find that you have lapsed, start again, and vow to never stop.

Christina Hauck
Abbot, Tallgrass Zen Center








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Retreat Poem

Retreat Poem

Listening all morning
Bird song and wind
Trees waving their arms

Thoughts roll through like thunder
Like horses galloping along the crest of a hill
Like bulldozers, like artillery shells, like . . .

Is that a cow or a bullfrog?

KATZ!

Wind shakes last night's rain from the trees.

--Christina Hauck, with gratitude


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Location:Christ's Peace Retreat Center, KS

Weekend Meditation Retreat: June 12 -14, 2015

Deep Creek Community Center

3223 Deep Creek Road

Manhattan, Kansas

Set in the Flint Hills ten minutes from downtown Manhattan, Kansas. This retreat welcomes newcomers and experienced practitioners. Instruction given in bowing, chanting, seated meditation, walking meditation, gentle yoga, four bowl style vegetarian meals. Retreat includes private kong-an interviews with our Guiding Teacher Linc Rhodes JDPSN.

Retreat begins Friday June 12th  at 6:15 pm and runs through noon on Sunday June 14th. Late entry times: 5:45 am; 8:30 am; 1:00 pm and 6:15 pm.

Camping is available on site, there are no shower facilities.

Full retreat $120 public; $100 Kwan Um members; $ 85 Dharma Teachers/ DTIT. Per day $50/$45.
Registration: www.facebook.com/TallgrassZenCenter, tallgrasszen@yahoo.com; find us on Meet Up.

Two Upcoming Events

On Friday April 17, 7:30 pm, Dave Peters, author of "Who Is Singing In Chinese? Notes From A 100-Year Zen Retreat," will read from his book and answer questions.

Our co-sponsor, Orange Sky Yoga, is hosting this reading, which is free and open to the public. OSY is located at Blue Earth Place (corner of So 3rd St and Fort Riley Blvd, Manhattan, KS). Please use the staircase on the SE side of the building near the Radina's drive-thru.

On Saturday April 18, Dave will lead a retreat and give consulting interviews. 

The retreat will begin at 5:45 am and end at 4:15 pm. We will bow, chant and sit together in a one room limestone school house in the Flint Hills, ten minutes from downtown Manhattan, KS.

The retreat is open to the public. Cost is $45 for the general public, $30 for members of the Kwan Um School of Zen, and free for Dharma Teachers and Dharma Teachers-in-training.

Retreat fees include breakfast, but not lunch. Please bring a sack lunch. 

You may sign up for the retreat one of three ways:

RSVP via our meetup at http://www.meetup.com/Tallgrass-Zen-Center/

RSVP via our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TallgrassZenCenter

Or shoot us an email at tallgrasszen@yahoo.com

Dave Peters is abbot and senior dharma teacher of the Isthmus Zen Community in Madison, Wisconsin. He began Zen practice in 1973 at Shasta Abbey, Mt. Shasta, California, under the direction of Roshi Jiyu-Kennett. For many years he wandered in and out of zendos and dharma halls in California, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, and Wisconsin, carefully avoiding commitment to any tradition. In 1997 David began practice in the Kwan Um School of Zen with Zen Master Dae Kwang and William Brown, JDPSN, and in 2007 received bodhisattva teacher precepts from guiding teacher Thomas Pastor, Zen Master Ji Haeng.

Tallgrass Zen Retreat

February 6-8, 2015

Weekend Meditation Retreat 

Deep Creek Community Center 

In the beautiful Flint Hills

3223 Deep Creek Road

Manhattan, Kansas

This retreat welcomes newcomers and experienced practitioners. Instruction given in bowing, chanting, seated meditation, walking meditation, gentle yoga, four bowl style vegetarian meals. Retreat includes private kong-an interviews with our Guiding Teacher Linc Rhodes JDPSN. 

Retreat begins Friday at 6:30pm and runs through noon on Sunday. Late entry times: 5:45 am; 8:30 am; 1:00 pm and 6:15 pm. 

Full retreat $150 general public; $130 Kwan Um members; $110 Dharma Teachers/ DTIT. Per day $50/$45. To register  e-mail tallgrasszen @ yahoo.com, contact us at www.facebook.com/TallgrassZenCenter or call 785-537-8713.

Winter Solstice Retreat and Candlelight Kido

Annual Winter Solstice Retreat and Candlelight Kido. Saturday December 20, 2014 8:00 am - 8:00 pm. Deep Creek Community Center 3223 Deep Creek Road. Entry times: 7:45 am, 11:45 am-12:15 pm; 5:30 pm. Suggested donation $10 - $20. Light breakfast available 7:30 am; Potluck lunch; Dinner will be provided. Retreat includes instruction in chanting, sitting and walking meditation; yoga. Consulting interviews with Senior Dharma Teacher Margaret Wheeler. Tallgrass Zen is affiliated with Kwan Um School of Zen To register contact us at tallgrasszen @ yahoo.com

KIDO

Kido means "energy way." Chant together, give and receive energy to each other and the world, holding the first great vow in our hearts to save all beings from suffering. 

Tallgrass Zen Center Fifteenth Anniversary Kido Retreat

Saturday October 18, 2014  ~ 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Deep Creek Community Center

In Flint Hills 10 minutes from Manhattan, Kansas

Late entry: anytime you like. Bring a percussion instrument.

Breakfast provided. Bring something for vegetarian potluck lunch.

Update on the Retreat

Our teacher, Lincoln Rhodes, jdpsn, has been a little ill and, sadly, will not be coming to Kansas next week. He sends everyone his love.

We are scaling back the retreat to a single day, Saturday June 21, 6 am to 5 pm. We will serve breakfast and tea; you should bring a snack lunch. Senior Dharma Teacher Margaret Wheeler will give consulting interviews. We hope everyone can join us.

Email us at tallgrasszen@yahoo.com or call 785 537 8713.

Tallgrass Zen Summer Solstice 2014 -- our plans have changed

Public Dharma Talk  with Linc Rhodes JDPSN
Thursday June 19, 2014 7:30 pm
Orange Sky Yoga 227 Blue Earth Place
Manhattan, Kansas
THIS EVENT IS CANCELED


Konza Prairie Morning Bell Chant &Walking Meditation
Friday Morning June 20, 2014 7:30 am
THIS EVENT IS CANCELED

Meditation Retreat at Deep Creek Community Center
THIS EVENT IS RESCHEDULED:
Saturday June 21, 6 am  5 pm. Bring a sack lunch
Friday June 20 1:30 pm - Sunday June 22 12:00 pm.
Late entry: Friday 6:15 pm. Saturday 5:45 am; 9:00 am; 1:00 pm. Sunday 5:45 am; 9:00 am.

Overnight camping available on site at Deep Creek Community Center in the Flint Hills, 10 minutes from downtown Manhattan. Retreat includes instruction in chanting, sitting and walking meditation; vegetarian meals served in four bowl silent meditation; interviews with our Guiding Teacher Linc Rhodes JDPSN.

Full retreat $100; Kwan Um Members $90; DT/DTIT $80 Suggested donation: $10 - $20

Tallgrass Zen Center is affiliated with the Kwan Um School of Zen. 

To register for the retreat contact us at 785.537.8713 or tallgrasszen @ yahoo.com, 

Like us on Facebook.

Winter Solstice Retreat, Potluck & Candlelight Kido

Deep Creek Community Center 
Saturday December 21, 2013
Meditation Retreat 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Potluck 5:30 - 6:45 pm
Candlelight Kido Chanting 7:00 - 8:00 pm
Late entry times: 1:00 pm; 5:00 - 6:45 pm.
This retreat welcomes beginners and experienced meditators. 
Setting is in the Flint Hills, 10 minutes from downtown Manhattan.  
Retreat will include consulting interviews with a Senior Dharma Teacher. 
What to bring: your own lunch; a vegetarian dish to share for potluck dinner.
There is no charge for this event, we accept free will offerings.
Tallgrass Zen Center is affiliated with the Kwan Um School of Zen. 
Contact us at 785.537.8713 or tallgrasszen @ yahoo.com.

Join Us For Our Fall Retreat

1. One Day Meditation Retreat Saturday October 19, 2013   8am - 5 pm Deep Creek Community Center in the Flint Hills 10 minutes from downtown Manhattan, Kansas We welcome beginners and experienced meditators. Consulting interviews with a Senior Dharma Teacher. Bring a sack lunch. No charge for this event, we accept free will offerings. Register: 785.537.8713 or tallgrasszen @ yahoo.com.

Living in Sandcastles

Everyone has at one time or another built a sandcastle. Maybe just a small one, a mound of scraped into shape with the hands or a bucket of hard packed sand turned upside down with a moat dug around it. Or maybe an elaborate one with multiple buildings and turrets and flying buttresses. Regardless though of how small or large, all sandcastles must come down when the tide turns if not earlier, whether the wind kicks up or someone kicks its over. We accept this because we recognize the extreme impermanence of the sandcastle being made of nothing but tiny grains of sand held together by a little water and lot of pressure.

It’s harder to accept the impermanence of the self even as an idea let alone an absolute fact. But we too are comprised of heaps of stuff, not sand, but what the Buddha called skandhas (lit. heaps): form, feelings, perceptions, impulses, and consciousness.

We spend our whole lives making these heaps, shaping them according to our karma, moment by moment, grain by grain, millions of moments, millions of grains, producing the perfect sandcastle of the self. And because we identify as this sandcastle, we do everything in our power to protect it from elements that would destroy it. We build larger and larger structures. We dig large moats to keep out anyone who might try to kick our sandcastle over. In the process of perfecting the self, we forget that the tide must eventually turn, and when it does the force of the waves crashing down and flowing back will dissolve the beautiful structure leaving nothing but sand.

When the Buddha woke up he is reported to have said something like “Seeking but not finding the house builder I traveled through life after life. How painful is repeated birth! House-builder, you have now been seen. You will not build the house again.” In short, Buddha recognized the impermanence of the self and he not only welcomed the dissolving waves of that reality as they washed over him, he ceased all building.

Just as everyone builds a self and becomes so absorbed in it that we forget about death, so everyone can stop building the self and let it start to crumble.

Winter Retreat

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Location:Deep Creek Rd,Manhattan,United States