HINOTORI AN - UPDATE

 

 

Dear practitioners,

 

Teacher's four-month long retreat had ended on July 31st. It was conducted in 3 phases:

• Withdrawal from social media and other social activities; during which work with selected students was continued

• Silence seclusion, which included 49 days long fasting 

• Body-heart-spirit cultivation and preparation for re-entering the social affairs.

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A new Zen practice program is already ready for you, with a brief overview is attached, and more detailed information is included in the description of each individual class. Further details and explanations will follow. In the meantime, feel free to contact the Hinotori office if you have any urgent questions that require clarification.

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Changes introduced in the second half of 2022:

 

• The name is adapted to the actual structure (Hinotori An – Firebird Hermitage)

• Zendo program, which is still taking place only online, is adjusted to follow the practitioner's dynamic, maturation, and level of consciousness.

• Practitioners who have started Zen training through the Spiritual Gate will now receive additional guidance through modified structure so that the essence of Zen training can be as preserved so strengthened.

• The program offered in the Carp Passage is reorganized to provide more effective guidance for:

  • those who are still unclear about the path they wish to take and are so between two approaches (Zen training vs. mindfulness training), and

  • those who are in the process of building a solid spiritual base through Zen practice.

• Zazen practice is now also open to advanced visitors who are only sporadically dropping in in order to practice in silence.

• The proposed price is still shown as a fixed tuition fee, which is unfortunately slightly higher in the second half of 2022 to cover increased operating costs and decreased donations in the past two years. However, serious practitioners are still offered financial support through various subscriptions. However, the basic approach remains unchanged keeping the Dana practice in its essence, and therefore, for students who have fully mastered the Dana practice, the previous Hinotori Zendo approach (fuse instead of fixed price) will be applied. Those practitioners who live in countries with a lower standard than the Central European one and who wish to work with Doka sensei are advised to contact the Hinotori office to find a more favorable solution that would allow them to access the practice.

 

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NEW PRACTICE STRUCTURE

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THE FIRST GATE (SPIRITUAL-ZEN TRAINING):

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1. GENERAL STUDENTS - for general public; beginners and experienced

   • Intro Meeting

   • Zen Visitor

   • Urban Zen

2. ZEN BASE - for zendo newcomers, zen beginners and students after Carp-2

   • Zen Practice Intro​​

   • Zazen Instructions

   • Brush Up Technique

3. CARP PASSAGE - work on technique, routine, intensification, application (bonpu zen)

   • Carp L1, L2, L3​​

   • Carp Applied

4. DRAGON PASSAGE - work on karma, letting go of dualism (shojo zen)

   • Dragon L1, L2​​

5. PHOENIX PASSAGE - deepening realisation (daijo zen)

   • Phoenix L1, L2​​

6. DISCIPLES - doka sensei official students (saijojo zen)

   • 15' - 60' personal teaching

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MEETING TEACHER:

1. Intro Meeting - required for newcomers, informal meeting to get to know each other

2. Practice discussion - clarification of the organisational aspects of the personal practice

3. Mondo  - included in carp passage classes

4. Dokusan - formal meeting for students practicing within phoenix passage

5. Dharma Meeting - less formal meeting on aspects considering personal spiritual development

   • Carp passage​​: l3 is required to meet teacher once per month

   • Dragon passage: l1& l2 are required to meet teacher twice per month

   • Phoenix passage: l1 is required to meet teacher twice per month

6. Returnees - required for hinotori students with laps longer than 3 months

7. Life Guidance - for general public and students, addresses emotional, mental and spiritual crise

 

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THE SECOND GATE (APPLIED - ZENQIYO ACADEMY)

As long as the teacher remains in the hermitage, this practice path is conducted by invitation only.

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THE THIRD GATE (ENGAGED - DOKA FOUNDATION)

As long as the teacher remains in the hermitage, this practice path is conducted by invitation only.

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May your practice be fruitful 

 

Gassho

Doka Sensei

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