Welcome to Lotus Heart Zen
This small Zen practice group gathers to chant, meditate and study the principles and practice of Buddhism. The purpose of the group is to offer instruction in Zen practice and Buddhist teachings while providing an open and affirming place where people can come together as a community that encourages a life of mindfulness and personal awakening. The Lotus Heart Zen sangha welcomes individuals from all backgrounds, faith traditions and walks of life and experience levels.
LOTUS HEART ZEN TEMPLE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
As of March 14th all public practice and activities in the temple are suspended, due to the coronavirus and New York State of/National Emergency.
For more information, please read the Letter from our Guiding Teacher below:
Dear LHZ Sangha,
We’ve all been hearing about the continuing spread of the COVID-19 virus throughout the world. Countries, communities, and individuals are all trying to mitigate the spread of the virus by following recommendations by the CDC and the World Health Organization. Due to the lack of available testing, we just don't know how widely the virus has spread in our area. On March 12th, I attended a conference call with the Lieutenant Governor about how to mitigate the potential spread by adopting social distancing practices. One of the reasons Italy has had such a huge number of infections is due to the fact that many didn't follow the social distance guidelines.
Because of this, I must consider the safety of our own sangha gatherings, our retreats, meals, meetings, and practice sessions, all of which are done in the very close quarters of our small temple space. For many people, much of this seems like an overreaction. But we just don’t know a lot yet. What we do know is that some of our sangha members are particularly vulnerable either because of health conditions or their age. In an effort to help our sangha members stay healthy, as well as the desire to minimize the spread of the virus in the local community, I have made the decision to close the temple to the general public and suspend all services, retreats, and meetings at the temple until further notice. I will continue to review and update this decision over the coming weeks as the situation evolves and more is learned.
While observing social distancing practices I believe, while not ideal, it is essential that the sangha continues to meet through live streaming our Sunday practice. I am also working on setting up some shorter evening practices during the week where we can meet virtually to chant the Medicine Buddha and Avalokiteshvara mantras, and discuss the dharma and how practice can help ourselves as well as others deal with this stressful time. At times like this we all feel our human vulnerability, and as a result, our need for community, all the more keenly. Let this be an opportunity to strengthen our home practice while facing directly uncertainty and holding the great question of Life and Death. I greatly urge you to attend our live streams, set up individual video meetings with me, and keep in contact with one another for support and to fortify our spiritual centers.
I didn't come to this decision easily, but as I weighed the pros and cons of potential disease transmission, it seemed wise to err on the side of caution for everyone’s benefit. The next few weeks are going to feel strange….and because of that, please check in on each other, especially those of us who live alone or have medical conditions. While we may not be able to be physically present for each other, let's hold each other lovingly in bodhicitta (heart-mind), and take good care of ourselves and each other.
In a letter to their sangha, the monastics of Plum Village in France wrote:
“May all of us as a species use this opportunity to wake up to our shared humanity, our shared vulnerability, and to nourish compassion and tolerance, and not our fear and discrimination.”
Yours in the Dharma,
Ven. Myohye Do'an
Guiding Teacher of Lotus Heart Zen
For more information, please read the Letter from our Guiding Teacher below:
Dear LHZ Sangha,
We’ve all been hearing about the continuing spread of the COVID-19 virus throughout the world. Countries, communities, and individuals are all trying to mitigate the spread of the virus by following recommendations by the CDC and the World Health Organization. Due to the lack of available testing, we just don't know how widely the virus has spread in our area. On March 12th, I attended a conference call with the Lieutenant Governor about how to mitigate the potential spread by adopting social distancing practices. One of the reasons Italy has had such a huge number of infections is due to the fact that many didn't follow the social distance guidelines.
Because of this, I must consider the safety of our own sangha gatherings, our retreats, meals, meetings, and practice sessions, all of which are done in the very close quarters of our small temple space. For many people, much of this seems like an overreaction. But we just don’t know a lot yet. What we do know is that some of our sangha members are particularly vulnerable either because of health conditions or their age. In an effort to help our sangha members stay healthy, as well as the desire to minimize the spread of the virus in the local community, I have made the decision to close the temple to the general public and suspend all services, retreats, and meetings at the temple until further notice. I will continue to review and update this decision over the coming weeks as the situation evolves and more is learned.
While observing social distancing practices I believe, while not ideal, it is essential that the sangha continues to meet through live streaming our Sunday practice. I am also working on setting up some shorter evening practices during the week where we can meet virtually to chant the Medicine Buddha and Avalokiteshvara mantras, and discuss the dharma and how practice can help ourselves as well as others deal with this stressful time. At times like this we all feel our human vulnerability, and as a result, our need for community, all the more keenly. Let this be an opportunity to strengthen our home practice while facing directly uncertainty and holding the great question of Life and Death. I greatly urge you to attend our live streams, set up individual video meetings with me, and keep in contact with one another for support and to fortify our spiritual centers.
I didn't come to this decision easily, but as I weighed the pros and cons of potential disease transmission, it seemed wise to err on the side of caution for everyone’s benefit. The next few weeks are going to feel strange….and because of that, please check in on each other, especially those of us who live alone or have medical conditions. While we may not be able to be physically present for each other, let's hold each other lovingly in bodhicitta (heart-mind), and take good care of ourselves and each other.
In a letter to their sangha, the monastics of Plum Village in France wrote:
“May all of us as a species use this opportunity to wake up to our shared humanity, our shared vulnerability, and to nourish compassion and tolerance, and not our fear and discrimination.”
Yours in the Dharma,
Ven. Myohye Do'an
Guiding Teacher of Lotus Heart Zen
Please note that donations are not tax-deductible under 501(c)(7) rules.
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Lotus Heart Zen is an affiliate of the
The Monastery Beyond Walls
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