Sunday, December 9, 2012

Leicester Great Heart Circle Meeting



The Circle met on a cold and dark night at Great Meeting. We talked of darkness and the light in the turning of the seasons and the differences between countries north, south and close to the equator. Celebrating Christmas in the dark of winter or the light of summer.  Mike read some poems by Ryokan, though not the one below, and we sat to meditate - silent night.


A cold night - sitting alone in my empty room
Filled only with incense smoke.
Outside, a bamboo grove of a hundred trees;
On the bed several volumes of poetry.
The moon shines from the top of the window,
And the entire neighbourhood is still except for the
cry of insects.
Looking at this scene, limitless emotion
(Ryokan)

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Second Chester Circle, 6th December


We held the second Chester Circle this evening, in Sally's Secret Garden on Bridge Street Rows.  It was a great evening, nine of us in a big circle in the upstairs room, warmed by Sally's glowing heater, lit by candlelight and perfumed by inscense which Sally lit for us.  We did some relaxation, had a talk about Zen as a way of softening our usual sense of ourself and becoming more open to life, and then held a session of Silent Sitting meditation...  At the start of the meditation there was a big noisy parade outside with drums and trumpets!! (like last time too!)  The next circle will be on Thurs 20th Dec at 6.15pm.