Our Programs

• Winter Kyol Che 2012 – Opening ceremony is Friday January 6 at 7:30PM. Kyol Che begins the following morning Saturday, January 7, 2012 and runs through Friday, March 30, 2012 – led by Zen Master Soeng Hyang, Zen Master Bon Shim, Zen Master Bon Haeng, Myo Ji Sunim JDPS, Nancy Brown Hedgpeth JDPSN, and Tim Lerch JDPSN.
• Entry is on Friday January 7, 2012 at 7:30pm, or any subsequent Saturday at 8:00am.
• Exit is on Friday, March 30, 2012, or on any Saturday at 8:00am.
• Minimum participation is one week.
• The intensive week, which begins February 12, includes nightly midnight practice, and is limited to those who have previously sat retreats or who have entered this retreat earlier.
• Teaching Schedule:

  Jan. 7 - 14: Zen Master Soeng Hyang

  Jan. 14 - Feb. 5: Zen Master Bon Shim

  Feb. 5 - 18:  Tim Lerch. JDPSN

  Feb. 18 - Feb. 25:  Zen Master Soeng Hyang

  Feb. 25 - March 3:  Nancy Hedgpeth, JDPSN

  March 3 - 10:  Zen Master Bon Haeng

  March 10 - March 17:  Nancy Hedgpeth, JDPSN

  March 17 - 24:  Zen Master Bon Haeng

  March 24 - 30:  Zen Master Soeng Hyang

For more detailed information, download the Kyol Che Information Booklet (pdf format).

Retreat fees are:

$4500/entire retreat or $455/week for non-members and associate members;

$3000/entire retreat or $315/week for students, clergy and school members;

$2500/entire retreat or $245/week for Dharma Teachers and Dharma Teachers in training in the Kwan Um School of Zen.

Half price for Eastern Europeans who are members in good standing of their home zen centers (does not apply to Eastern Europeans living in the U.S.).

SEE YOUR GUIDING TEACHER FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO OBTAIN A SCHOLARSHIP.

To register for your retreat online – fill out the retreat registration form.

You can download and print the 2012 Heart Kyol Che PDF here: 2012 Heart Kyol Che

Weekly Meditation Classes are always free but a suggested donation of $5 helps us keep these programs running. If you are interested in learning about zen meditation, the best way to start is to attend a walk-in meditation instruction class at the zen center. By attending the class you will learn about what zen teaching is and the meditation techniques that we use here, as well as a general introduction to the zen center. The hour-long class is free and no registration is required. See the schedule below.

Wednesdays

First Wednesday each month

5:30pm Public dinner
6:30pm Meditation instruction class
6:30pm Special Chanting
7:00pm Regular Chanting
7:30pm Sitting and walking meditation to 8:30pm plus Zen interviews with Zen Master Bon Haeng (Mark Houghton) or Nancy Hedgpeth, JDPSN or a guest teacher

Second Wednesday each month

5:30pm Public dinner
6:30pm Meditation instruction class
6:30pm Special Chanting
7:00pm Regular Chanting
7:30pm Sitting and walking meditation to 8:30pm plus consulting interviews with a senior student

Third Wednesday each month

5:30pm Public dinner
6:30pm Meditation instruction class
6:30pm Special Chanting
7:00pm Regular Chanting
7:30pm Sitting and walking meditation to 8:30pm plus Zen interviews with Zen Master Bon Haeng (Mark Houghton) or Nancy Hedgpeth, JDPSN or a guest teacher

Fourth Wednesday each month

5:30pm Public dinner
6:30pm Meditation instruction class
6:30pm Special Chanting
7:00pm Regular Chanting
7:30pm Talk

Fifth Wednesday each month (if any)

5:30pm Public dinner
6:30pm Meditation instruction class
6:30pm Special Chanting
7:00pm Regular Chanting
7:30pm Sitting and walking meditation to 8:30pm

Sundays

Note: Sunday programs are subject to change. Please call (401-658-1464) to confirm.

First Sunday each month

No Sunday program, but there is usually a two- or three-day Yong Maeng Jong Jin retreat the first weekend.

See the retreat schedule for details.

Second Sunday each month

9:00am Meditation instruction class

10:00am Talk

10:00am Dharma School class in meditation, mindfulness, and the Buddhist tradition
for children ages 4-17 and their families

Third Sunday each month

One-day meditation retreat or Foundations of Zen workshop.

See the retreat schedule for details.

Fourth Sunday each month

9:00am Meditation instruction class

10:00am Sitting and walking meditation to noon plus Zen interviews with Zen Master Bon Haeng (Mark Houghton) or Nancy Hedgpeth, JDPSN or consulting interviews with a senior student

Fifth Sunday each month (if any)

No program

Please note that there is no public practice, meditation instruction or dinner during Yong Maeng Jong Jin retreats – see the retreat schedule.

Talks are a great opportunity to learn more about zen teaching. They consist of a short introductory talk by a student followed by a question and answer session with a teacher or senior student. They are held on the second Sunday and fourth Wednesday of each month at the Providence Zen Center and usually last about one hour.

The Center offers classes for children ages 4-17 and their families in meditation, mindfulness and the Buddhist Tradition . There is a general information flier available for the Dharma School on-line (pdf format).

• Classes will be held on the second and fourth  Sunday of each month from 10-11:15AM

Dharma School’s History and Mission:

The Providence Zen Center launched Dharma School in December 2010 during the Buddha’s Enlightenment Celebration, and continues to offer classes on a regular basis, the second Sunday of each month at 10am. The mission of the PZC Dharma School is to provide sangha members and other interested parents the opportunity to involve their children in Buddhist education and mediation practice. Dharma School’s goal is to introduce children and adolescents to our Buddhist tradition, while emphasizing creativity, play, and togetherness. The program is open to any child, age 4 to 17, interested in exploring the dharma. Parents are always invited to attend.

It is our hope that the Dharma School will help create an atmosphere in which families feel welcome to bring their children to the Zen Center for exposure to the dharma and meditation practice. Each month’s class will center on a new theme or teaching, and will be scheduled during Sunday morning so that parents have the opportunity to practice in the main dharma room while their children learn about the Buddhist tradition. In the future, we hope to be able to offer talks on parenting and Buddhism, visiting talks for children from senior teachers within the school, and special events such as parties and celebrations.

Meditation Course Schedule:

Classes are broken down by age group, with one class consisting of Pre-K through 4th graders, and one class spanning 5th grade through high school. Each Dharma School class is centered on a Buddhist theme or teaching, many of which are taken from sources such as the Buddha’s life, the Tathagata stories, the Four Noble Truths, and the Precepts and Paramitas. For the 2011 school year, the class will be focusing on the Six Paramitas, which include generosity, morality, patience, diligence, concentration, and wisdom. Every class will be comprised of three major learning components: education about the Buddhist tradition, exploration of an ethical theme, and practice of mindfulness and mediation. These three components are explored through stories, crafts, movement, meditation, activities, and games.

For Parents:

Parents are always invited to accompany their children in the classroom, and parent involvement helps create a more lively and dynamic atmosphere. However, if your child wishes to attend alone, Dharma School is held during a dharma talk, held in the main dharma room at 10am. Parents are invited to attend the dharma talk while their child is in Dharma School. For parents who would like instruction on meditation practice, there is a mediation instruction class held prior to Dharma School at 9am. If you are interested in attending that session, then please contact the Dharma School at the email address below and childcare can be arranged for the 9am – 10am hour.

For More Information:

If you are interested in becoming involved, please attend one of the monthly classes; students may join at any time. If you would like more information on Dharma School, please write pzcdharmaschool@gmail.com.