Kyol Che means "tight dharma" or "coming together." In Korea, it is the three month winter and summer periods when monks and nuns do intensive sitting practice in the mountains and temples. The Providence Zen Center holds two Kyol Che retreats each year. Winter Kyol Che starts January 3 and runs through April 1, 2011. Students sit a minimum of one week up to the entire three month period.
Heart Kyol Che will run concurrently with the traditional Kyol Che: it is an opportunity for students who cannot sit the traditional Kyol Che or who can only sit part of it, to participate by doing extra practice at home and practicing together with others as they are able.
There are many ways to participate in Heart Kyol Che. Some people make an extra effort to attend weekly meditation practice with the local sangha. Some people do extra prostrations daily or weekly. Some people do Midnight practice. It was as a Heart Kyol Che practice that a dear dharma friend began his practice of chanting the Great Dharani 108 times a day. One year when feeling overwhelmed, my Heart Kyol Che practice was very simple: in addition to daily mediation practice, I chanted the Heart Sutra in the morning, at noon and in the evening.
By doing Heart Kyol Che together, we strengthen our practices, and provide support to those who are sitting traditional Kyol Che. And we are inspired and energized by their commitment.
Our next Tallgrass Zen retreat February 18, 19, 20 coincides with the Intensive Week of Practice during Winter Kyol Che at Diamond Hill Zen Monastery in Providence. This is an opportunity to practice Heart Kyol Che together. We will be sending out a flyer and registration form for the retreat soon. If you would like to discuss your ideas for Heart Kyol Che, please contact Christina or Margaret: tallgrasszen@yahoo.com or 785-537-8713.
We will be having New Year’s Day extended practice with Consulting Interviews from 7:30 am – 9:30 am at the Mercy Hospital Chapel on Saturday January 1, 2011. Afterwards we will have breakfast at a local restaurant. Please join us as we greet the New Year.
May Our Practice Benefit All Beings,
Margaret Wheeler, Secretary
Tallgrass Zen Center
Manhattan, Kansas
