2017 Spring Sesshin May 11 — May 16

The Center will host its Spring Sesshin beginning at 6 PM on Thursday, May 11 and ending at noon on Tuesday, May 16.

Sesshin Theme: Instructions for the Tenzo, by Dogen

Visiting Teacher: Koshin Christopher Cain, Osho, from Puget Sound Zen Center

Koshin Christopher Cain is Abbot of the Puget Sound Zen Center. Koshin was born in 1965 and grew up in London, England, and Raleigh, North Carolina. In 1990 he moved to Mt. Baldy Zen Center in California where he ordained in 1991, and trained at Mt. Baldy as a monk from 1991 to 1999. In 1999 Joshu Roshi made him an Osho, or teacher. In 2003 he moved to Vashon Island and became the founding teacher of the Puget Sound Zen Center. Since 2009, Koshin has also been the formal teacher of the Rinzai Zen Center in Oslo, where he is responsible for the direction of Zen practice there, and visits that center twice a year.

Zen Retreats at the North Carolina Zen Center are conducted in a manner similar to sesshins held at other established Rinzai Zen Centers.  The retreats are conducted mostly in silence.  There are alternating periods of sitting and walking meditation, in addition to Dharma talks given by the teacher and the opportunity for direct interview with the teacher.  For more information about retreats at the NC Zen Center please visit the Retreats Page of the NC Zen Center’s Center’s website.

Deadline for registration is May 1st. Capacity for the sesshin is 24 persons.  Full-time attendance is preferred although part-time is permitted.

Cost is $55.00 per night.  For questions email the center at: info@nczencenter.org

General Information

Currently the Center is following a normal schedule, as indicated on the Schedule page. Please come and participate in the Triangle’s only Rinzai Zen center.

The Center relies on volunteer help for its general care and maintenance, so there are always many large and small tasks that need attending to, including general tidying up and grounds care and maintenance, as well as many other opportunities to contribute time, skills and tools. Please contact Luis Melodelgado at the Center to find out what the current needs are and how you might help.

If you wish to contribute in any way, your help would be most welcome. Please call or email us for specific needs or other information.

On behalf of the Teacher Search Committee I want to offer a gracious “Thank You” to all who assisted with or otherwise participated in making Teshin Matt Sweger’s visit a very pleasant time. As you know, Teshin is a candidate for the position of Teacher/Abbott with the NCZC. I believe we gave Teshin a good look at our community, and I couldn’t help but think that we have much to be proud of.

Teshin arrived on Wednesday, April 12 and departed on Monday, April 16.  During the six days of his visit Teshin had the opportunity to meet many of our sangha and get to know our Center, and he also got to see some of the surrounding area and some of the things that make living here so nice. He walked trails around the Center and by the Haw River. He took a tour around Pittsboro.  He took a drive through the countryside on a beautiful spring day and then got to visit Chapel Hill and Carrboro.

While he was here Teshin also gave Dokusan and Dharma talks at two services, one on Thursday evening and one on Sunday morning. On both occasions a good number of folks came to hear and meet Teshin.  On Sunday every cushion was full! I want to offer my personal thanks to everyone who showed up on both of those occasions.

Sunday was particularly nice. The morning service was followed up with a wonderful potluck lunch and tea. There was lots of good conversation and community, great food, and lots of opportunity for folks to meet Teshin and speak with him informally.  

The Board members, Search Team members, and Practice Committee members had several opportunities for detailed conversations with Teshin, both individually and in groups. Through it all it is safe to say that we were very impressed with Teshin, with his level of training, with his knowledge of Zen, with his ability to communicate that knowledge, and his very personable character.

We will be pursuing the next phases of the search process with Teshin, and we will keep you informed about any new developments. In the meantime, once again, thank you all for your efforts to support the teacher search process by making Teshin’s visit so nice!

In Gassho,

Jason Dowdle

Chair, Teacher Search Committee

Hi, Folks,

I want to let you know that your Board and The Teacher Search Committee are really excited about Teshin Matt Sweger’s upcoming visit and looking forward to the opportunity to meet him in person and introduce him to the sangha! 

Teshin Matt Sweger will be visiting the NC Zen Center from April 13 through April 16, as part of the Center’s Teacher Search Program.  Teshin is a candidate for the position of Abbott/Teacher with the Center.  He is coming here for a chance to get to know the Center, meet the sangha, and get to know our local community.

Teshin will be guiding two scheduled meditation services while he is here.  He will guide the Thursday evening service which runs from 7 PM to 9 PM on April 13, during which time he will give interview and Dharma talk. 

On Sunday morning Teshin will guide the service from 10 AM to noon, and will again offer interview and Dharma talk.  After the service the Center will have a potluck lunch and tea from noon to 2 PM.  This will give sangha members the opportunity to meet Teshin on a more casual basis, share some tea and some community, and talk about the future.

This is a great opportunity to meet Teshin and experience his teaching first hand, and also to get to know him personally.  We urge everyone in the local Sangha to try their best to attend at least one of the two services, and both if possible.  We hope to see you there!

The North Carolina Zen Center and the Teacher Search Committee are very pleased to announce the upcoming visit of Teshin Matt Sweger, Osho, as part of the Center’s ongoing teacher search. Teshin is a candidate for the Center’s teacher/abbot position.

Teshin has practiced Zen for 25 years and was ordained by Lawson Sachter, Roshi of Windhorse Zen Community. He also studied with Bodhin Kjolhede Roshi of the Rochester Zen Center, and was sanctioned to teach by Sevan Ross, Roshi.  Teshin is a licensed psychotherapist and is the Buddhist Chaplain at the University of Rochester where he has led a meditation group for the past 5 years.

Teshin comes to us highly recommended, and has the wholehearted endorsement of the Search Committee and the Board.  He is visiting our Center as an initial opportunity to meet our sangha and become acquainted with our facilities and our surrounding communities.

Teshin will visit the Center from Thursday, April 13 through Sunday, April 16.  He will give dokusan (interview) and Dharma talks during the scheduled services on Thursday evening from 7 – 9 pm and Sunday morning from 10 am — noon, followed by informal tea and a shared potluck meal.  Teshin will also be available before and after those scheduled services, and on the days in between, to meet and converse with members of our sangha.

This is a great opportunity to meet, get to know, and practice with Teshin.  We encourage those who can to attend either or both sessions.  Please don’t hesitate to let others know whom you think might be interested.

We hope to see you there!

The North Carolina Zen Center will host a one-day Zazenkai on Saturday, March 25, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.  This will be a great opportunity for those planning on attending the Spring Retreat to be oriented and to experience a formal practice day similar to the days at the retreat.

Please email the Center at info@nczencenter.org to sign up by March 18 so we can plan accordingly.  We will include a light lunch to participate in the formal meal form used at retreats.  Suggested donation is $15.

This day of practice is being coordinated by Tim Holmes.  Tim may be reached directly at tim@nczencneter.org.