And Back To One
Greetings from Spring Green!
This week, about 15 of us are in Wisconsin attending summer sesshin, seven days of intensive Zen training. We spend many hours doing zazen.
At the start of the week my mind sounds something like this: Check your posture. Breathe into hara. Count the breaths, onnnnnnnnnneeeee…twoooooooo. Sit up straighter. I wonder how my mom is doing? Relax the shoulders. Ouch, my right leg is falling asleep, if I just move it a t-i-n-y little bit, will the jiki yell, “Don’t move!”?
We’ve all been there – meditating while a thundering herd of thoughts runs through our minds.
Of all the guidelines I use during zazen, the one I use most regularly is counting my exhalations and, when I lose count, coming back to one.
It’s reassuring: I lose count, I catch myself, and I can always start again with sincere effort.
“Back to one” is especially resonant right now. As you may have heard, IZL’s sister organization the International Zen Dojo of Wisconsin has purchased an old mission church near downtown Madison. Our new Madison dojo needs a lot of TLC. Every time we start one project, we discover another. “And back to one,” I remind myself.
If you can, please add your sincere effort to help the Madison dojo reach its “$20K in 20 days” goal and check out the revamped website, thanks to Anita Taylor.
PS The Higgs boson, or “God particle,” is considered the building block of the universe and lasts only a millionth of a millionth of a millionth of a millionth of a second—taking tiny ferociously fast loops into and out of existence—so that the universe is continuously being reborn. Read more about “going back to one” in this context in this article from the winter solstice edition of Tricycle magazine: https://tricycle.org/trikedaily/winter-solstice-buddhism/
HEAL 2 – weekend workshop
Begins April 22, 7:00 pmEnds April 25, 12:00 pmOnline – US Central Time Zone
HEAL 2 is where we work at removing fear, first in ourselves and then helping others. We’ll trace the roots of fear and share several ways to overcome it, along with skills to resolve conflict, empower others and deepen relationships.
Zen Leader 2 – Weekend Workshop Spring 2021
Begins April 22, 7:00 pmEnds April 25, 12:00 pmOnline – Central Time Zone
Take the next step towards unleashing your capacity to lead from your whole self.
Zen Leader 3 – weekend workshop (Online/Europe)
Begins May 6, 7:00 pmEnds May 9, 1:30 pmOnline – Central European Time Zone
This final program in the Zen Leadership trilogy completes your journey through the “flips” of The Zen Leader, equipping you with skills and practices by which you can sense the whole picture, seize opportunities and transform visions into value.
Resonate – 6 Week Course
Begins May 17, 11:00 amEnds June 21, 12:00 pmOnline – US Central Time Zone
Leadership that makes a difference.
Summer FEBI Certification
Begins May 18, 10:00 amEnds June 29, 11:30 amOnline – US Central Time Zone
Learn the FEBI inside and out.
Zen Leader 3 – weekend workshop (Online/US)
Begins June 10, 7:00 pmEnds June 13, 12:00 pmOnline – US Central Time Zone
This final program in the Zen Leadership trilogy completes your journey through the “flips” of The Zen Leader, equipping you with skills and practices by which you can sense the whole picture, seize opportunities and transform visions into value.
HEAL 3 – weekend workshop (Online/US)
Begins June 10, 7:00 pmEnds June 13, 12:00 pmOnline – US Central Time Zone
The final course in the HEAL Series equips you with the physical condition to face challenging situations with resilience, joy and a sense of abundance. You’ll deepen your resourcefulness for realizing desired shifts in your practice, clinic, or system. We’ll guide you in taking on a transformation project of your choice, where you apply all the “flips” and practices you’ve learned with support from instructors and peer coaches.
Master Class 2021
Begins September 9, 1:00 pmEnds September 12, 12:00 pmOnline – US Central Time Zone
Deeper training to become coaches and instructors in Zen Leadership.
Fall FEBI Certification
Begins September 14, 10:00 amEnds October 26, 11:30 amOnline – US Central Time Zone
Learn the FEBI inside and out.
HEAL 1 – serial course
Begins September 18, 8:00 amEnds October 23, 10:00 amOnline Serialized Program – US Central Time Zone
Our HEAL Series explores Zen leadership through the lens of healthcare. You’ll learn how to sustainably thrive and be a force for positive change in your patients, practices and systems.
Zen Leader 1 – serial course
Begins September 18, 8:00 amEnds October 23, 10:00 amOnline Serialized Program – US Central Time Zone
The best way to jump into Zen Leadership when you can’t devote a full weekend to it.
HEAL 1 – weekend workshop
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Awaken the Zen Leader In You. Your leadership will never be the same.
Zen Leader 1 – Weekend Workshop Fall 2021
Begins October 21, 7:00 pmEnds October 24, 12:00 pmOnline – US Central Time Zone
Awaken the Zen Leader In You. Your leadership will never be the same.
Zen Leader 2 – Weekend Workshop Fall 2021
Begins November 18, 7:00 pmEnds November 21, 12:00 pmOnline – Central Time Zone
Take the next step towards unleashing your capacity to lead from your whole self.
HEAL 2 – Weekend Workshop Fall 2021
Begins November 18, 7:00 pmEnds November 21, 12:00 pmOnline – US Central Time Zone
HEAL 2 is where we work at removing fear, first in ourselves and then helping others. We’ll trace the roots of fear and share several ways to overcome it, along with skills to resolve conflict, empower others and deepen relationships.