Zen Sesshin at the Ammerdown Centre
As part of the on- going activity of the Wild Goose Sangha we recently had a weekend Zen sesshin at the Ammerdown Centre near Bath. There were 25 people who attended from several different parts of England. It was a good mixture of married and single men and women through a range of ages.
The sesshin was led by a Jesuit priest Fr. Robert Kennedy from Jersey City in America. Fr Robert is also a Zen Roshi in the White Plum Asangha. He has two major books published on the practice; "Zen gifts for Christians." and "Zen Spirit, Christian Spirit"
Fr Patrick who is a Dharma Holder in the same Asangha assisted Fr. Robert with talks and the co-ordination of the sesshin. Roshi's general theme flowed from a saying of St..Maximus the confessor, a seventh century theologian whose emphasis was that the whole purpose of history is the Incarnation of God and the divinization of humanity. Maximus affirms that "Scripture adds nothing to the revelation of God to be seen in the natural world." Using this as a basis from which to start Roshi spoke of the importance of taking this seriously. Our view of the natural world therefore will affect the way we view God. Using insights from Buddhist, Christian and scientific sources Roshi's talks challenged us to review carefully our understanding of the natural world and the way we live our life within it as an integral part. We were encouraged to enter into living life to the full just as it is without simply getting caught up in philosophical or theological over-theorization or analysis.
The effect was that both beginners and long-time Zen practitioners were stimulated to enter whole-heartedly into a daily practice of sitting Zazen.
Following the sesshin there has been an expressed desire for some follow-up. Fr. Patrick has responded by offering two Zazenkai ( a full one day practice of Zen) , one at the Wild Goose Zen Centre in Fairford and one at the Ammerdown Centre. Details of these can be accessed at Zazenkai Ammerdown and Zazenkai Fairford
