SATURDAY,  April 25th 2020

2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

A ZOOM Universe Event from Rockridge Meditation Community

When Xuefeng was the cook at Deshan’s place, Deshan came down to eat before the meal

signal had sounded. Xuefeng asked him where he was going and Deshan turned around and

returned to his room, without saying a word. Later Xuefeng was told that the teacher, Deshan,

didn’t know the ‘Last word’ of Zen.

We probably all know somebody who’s an annoying know it all. The person who always has to

have the last word. In some ways we are all that annoying person. We think we know it

all…about ourselves. How is it that Xuefeng was told by another student that their teacher

didn’t know what the last word of Zen was? How was it that Xuefeng believed it? We will be

exploring the journey of Xuefeng and ourselves, from thinking his teacher didn’t know the last

word was to responding this way to a question about his teacher: Xuefeng was asked, “When

you visited your teacher, what was it that you attained that put an end to your search?”

Xuefeng said, “I went with empty hands and I returned with empty hands.” If only we could

live our lives more with empty hands. Knowing what the last word of Zen is can help with that.

The Urban Retreat format is a user friendly, easily approachable way of participating in a

meditation retreat. We will be holding this event online via a ZOOM link.

We will be changing the format slightly. The retreat may take place in two sections with a break in middle for 'lunch'.
We will keep you posted as the details emerge.

Basically we will meditate, hang out with another related koan and have a

conversation about our experience - online. There will be opportunities for private

conversations about your meditation practice available as well.

Fee: $30. - member & $45.non-member  

Registrar: Vickie Miller – Vickieix[email protected]