Change Your Mind Day 2005

Phoenix, Arizona

Change Your Mind Day in the Phoenix area was a great success. We had over 100 people brave the 95 degree heat and come out for the first ever Phoenix CYM day. Seven teachers and lay leaders gave interesting talks and guided meditations.

The day began with opening remarks and ringing of the opening bell by Randy Nowell of the Arizona Zen Buddhist Society. Then the first presenter, Sokai from the Haku-un Ji Zen Center gave an orientation on zazen practice from the Rinzai perspective and led participants in some breathing exercises and sitting postures.

Sokai was followed by a Taoist Tai Chi demonstration by Andrew Lahser and several of his senior students from the Taoist Tai Chi Society, U.S.A., Arizona. This got everyone up on their feet for a few minutes before getting comfortable for an extended talk about Shinran from Dr. Jeanne Saint-Amour of the Arizona Buddhist Tempe, a 72 year old Jodo Shinshu temple in Central Phoenix.

After Dr. Saint-Amour's talk, everyone took a 20 minute break for iced green tea, lemonade, and fresh fruit bowls from our hosts, the West Valley Unitarian Universalist Church of Glendale, Arizona.

After the break, Randy introduced Kathleen Lawrence, Kind Acceptance of the Heart. Kathleen is a founding member of the Blooming Desert Lotus Sangha, in Thich Nhat Hanh's Community of Mindful Living. Kathleen and her associates provided insights into Thay's tradition, and his special version of the precepts; the Five Mindfulness Trainings of the Order of Interbeing.

Next up was Gen Kelsang Lingpur, resident teacher at Clear Light Buddhist Center in the Western Kadampa Tradition. Lingpur explained the intricacies of Kadampa meditation methods and led the group in a guided and then silent meditation designed to help develop patience, after which we were treated to a Dharma talk from Venerable Richard Sittinger of Buddha Heart U.S.A. in the Chinese Esoteric Tradition. The Venerable also led the group in chanting "Namo Maha Buddhaya" for several minutes to finish his presentation.

Merrie Fraser, Ji Do Poep Sa Nim from the Myung Wol Zen Center of the Kwan Um School of Zen, our last presenter of the day, got everyone up on their feet again for a chanting retreat practice which involved everyone snaking around the room in what seemed like a Buddhist version of follow the leader while chanting "Namu kwan-se-um bo-sal" at an ever quickening pace accompanied by Merrie on the drum and one of her students on the tambourine.

The day was brought to a close with thanks all around and another 108 strikes of the bell from Randy Nowell, although everyone lingered a while longer outside to browse all the tables set up by each presenter offering books, malas, brochures and other dharma items.

Randy Nowell
Arizona Zen Buddhist Society