Zen with a Social Transformation Heart and Walking
by Aussie Bodhi Dharma Friday December 24, 2004 at 12:10 PM

Clifton Hill Zendo holds a regular weekly schedule of sitting meditation at the Organ Factory Community Centre at Clifton Hill. Our aim is to provide a supportive environment for meditation in an open non-hierarchical setting and with minimum Buddhist ritual.

Clifton Hill Zendo
Clifton Hill Zendo holds a regular weekly schedule of sitting meditation at the Organ Factory Community Centre at Clifton Hill. Our aim is to provide a supportive environment for meditation in an open non-hierarchical setting and with minimum Buddhist ritual. Anyone is welcome to join for one or more periods of sitting. Each zazen period lasts for 50 minutes followed by 10 minutes kinhin (walking meditation). If people have trouble with the traditional zazen postures, they should feel free to sit on a chair, or just stand for a few minutes as needed.


Weekly Schedule

Monday 7.30am - 10.30am

Wednesday 7.30am - 10.30am

Thursday 6.00pm - 9.00pm

Friday 7.30am - 10.30am

Sunday 5.00pm - 7.00pm

Please note: Regular sitting schedule is suspended on days when sesshin or intensive are scheduled.

Augusto Alcalde

Augusto Alcalde has been deeply involved in Zen practice for over thirty years and is an acknowledged teacher in both Chinese and Japanese Zen Buddhism. He works within the tradition of his late Chinese teacher, Shifu Yuan Chueh, of the Chin Lien school.

Augusto currently visits Melbourne twice a year to lead Zen practice activities. He brings a particularly creative approach to Zen teaching and is concerned with the development of a form of Zen practice appropriate to lay people, as an alternative to the monastic model that has evolved in traditional Asian societies.

In addition, Augusto is a practitioner of traditional Chinese Medicine and Indigenous Healing, and a teacher of Tai Chi (Chen style) and Zen in the practice of movement according to the Tao.

A committed social activist, Augusto has for many years participated in struggles for social justice, including those of indigenous peoples. When visiting Australia, he often gives talks and coordinates encounters on these struggles and their inspiration, and on current social justice and freedom movements in Argentina, particularly the MTD Solano (Autonomous Workers Movement). In these meetings, Augusto seeks to address the creation of a new world with healthy values and actions in all fields of relationship.


For information on Augusto and Zen Practice in Melbourne, see inside this brochure. For information on Augusto’s talks/meetings on social change & justice movements, contact:

Jill Jameson ph: 9844 2289 or email jamesonjg@bigpond.com


ZEN PROGRAM JANUARY 2005

with Augusto Alcalde


Clifton Hill Zendo

Sesshin




Friday January 14 to Friday January 21

7 day residential retreat


Starts 6.00pm on Friday January 14

Finishes 2.30pm on Friday January 21

Camp Eureka

100 Tarrango Road

Yarra Junction

(Melways 288, K10)

Sesshin


A seven day meditation retreat with Augusto Alcalde at ‘Camp Eureka’, a bush setting on the Little Yarra River, Yarra Junction. An opportunity to participate in a silent retreat involving a full schedule of zazen (sitting meditation), with daily teisho (talks) and dokusan (private interviews with Augusto).

Accommodation is camping so you will need to bring your own tent and sleeping gear. If you have special needs which make it hard to camp out, please let us know. (There are a small number of huts that may be available). All meals provided (vegetarian). Bring your own zafu and zabuton if you have them.


Enquiries and booking form:

Lin Fong 9417 1064

Mobile 0405 102 718

Email lfong@rdns.com.au


Orientation to Zen Practice




Monday January 24 to Wednesday January 26

3 evening classes


7.00pm to 9.00pm each evening

Clifton Hill Zendo

‘Studio 1’ (first building on left)

Organ Factory Community Centre

6 Page Street

Clifton Hill

Orientation Classes


Augusto will cover the fundamentals of zazen (sitting meditation) including posture, breath awareness, shikantaza and koan study. He will also give some instruction in Chinese movement practice in the context of Zen.

A good orientation for anyone interested in Zen practice and especially relevent for people considering taking part in the following weekend’s Zen Intensive.

Class is limited to 15 people.

Enquiries and booking form:


Susan Moss 9354 5606

Email moss_sm@hotmail.com


Zen Intensive

Friday January 28 to Sunday January 30

3 day non-residential intensive


Starts 6.00am on Friday January 28

Finishes 9.00pm on Sunday January 30

Community Church of St Marks

100 Hodgkinson Street

Clifton Hill


Zen Intensive

A non-residential three day Zen program centred around zazen (sitting meditation) with evening teisho (talks) and morning and evening dokusan (private interviews with Augusto). Participants are encouraged to attend the

full weekend but the intensive is also open to part-timers.


Bring your own zafu and zabuton if possible. Breakfast is provided. A wide variety of food is available around the corner in Queens Parade.

Daily schedule


6.00am – 8.00am zazen / dokusan

9.00am – 12.00pm zazen / dokusan**

1.30pm – 4.30pm zazen

7.00pm – 9.00pm zazen / teisho / dokusan

Enquiries and booking form:


Paul Boston 9499 2671 Email plbstn@yahoo.com

Movement Workshops

Tuesday January 11 7.00pm - 9.30pm

Introductory: Augusto will cover the fundamentals of Tai Chi and Taoist movement practice. An ideal introduction to and review of the ‘Eight Pieces of Silk’.

Saturday & Sunday February 5 & 6 2.00pm – 6.00pm

Continuing - ‘Zen in Movement’: Open to those who have done the introductory session and to students who have participated in Augusto’s movement workshops in previous years. There will be a focus on integrating movement and zazen.

Venue: Community Church of St. Marks, Clifton Hill

Enquiries: Meg Irwin 9489 5880

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