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EAST-WEST MEDITATION |
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A PATH THAT BRIDGES TWO SPIRITUAL TRADITIONS
Program History The East-West Meditation program at Mercy Center Burlingame was founded in 1984 by Fr. Thomas Hand, S.J. For nearly 30 years, Fr. Hand had lived in Japan, where he led retreats, taught haiku poetry, and studied Zen meditation with Yamada Koun Roshi. Yamada Roshi, a teacher in the Sanbô-Kyôdan Zen lineage, encouraged Western students to learn Zen practice as a way of deepening their Judeo-Christian faith. Mercy Center Burlingame's East-West Meditation community honors Christian contemplation and Zen meditation. Practicing meditation together leads us to a deeper way of seeing Reality and a richer life.
Fr. Greg Mayers In 2005, the community welcomed a new resident teacher, Fr. Gregory Mayers. Fr. Gregory Mayers C.Ss.R., a Redemptorist priest, began Zen koan studies in the late 1970s and completed them in 1996. He is an Associate Roshi of the Sanbô-Kyôdan Religious Foundation in Kamakura, Japan. He was given the teaching name of Ryûun-ken (Flowing Cloud) by Yamada Ryôun Roshi, the 4th Abbot of Sanbô-Kyôdan. On November 11, 2010 Fr. Greg received full transmission as an Authentic Zen Master with the honorific title of Roshi from his teacher, Willigis Jaeger, who is the founder of the Empty Cloud Zen Lineage at Benediktushof, Holtzkirchen, Germany. He is the 46th successor to Master Lin Chin and has been teaching both Zen and Christian Mystical prayer in retreats around the United States. Father Greg is the award-winning author of Listen to the Desert: The Secrets of Spiritual Maturity in the Desert Fathers and Mothers. He directs the East West Meditation Program at Mercy Center and is its resident teacher.
MEDITATION PROGRAM On most Wednesday evenings from 7:00–9:00 pm, and during his meditation retreats and zen sesshins, Fr. Greg leads the community in sitting meditation, offering visitors and long-time meditators a welcoming space in which to explore the spiritual path. In addition to our Wednesday evening sittings, the community gathers for Center Day, four hours of sitting and walking meditation, interviews with Fr. Greg, Eucharist and lunch.
2013 EAST-WEST RETREATS Spring Zen Sesshin June 16-21, 2013 (Registration now open) East-West Intensive August 13-18, 2013 (Registration now open) Fall Zen Sesshin November 10-15, 2013 (Registration now open) New Year's Retreat Dec 27, 2013 - Jan 1, 2014
HAIKU POETRY GROUP The Four Seasons Haiku Kai was founded by Fr. Thomas Hand. Our group meets four times each year to share and learn about haiku poetry. Everyone who is interested in this fun and meditative approach to writing poetry is welcome to participate. Visit the Haiku Kai page to learn more.
PROGRAM SCHEDULES
AUDIO, VIDEO AND ARTICLES Fr. Gregory Mayers, C.Ss.R. Listen to MP3s of spiritual talks |