Blue Heron Kyol Che Commitments
Blue Heron Kyol Che has four areas of commitment:
1. Group Practice
An important aspect of Kyol Che is “coming together”, that is, practicing regularly together and supporting each other throughout the 90-day period. Participants are encouraged to attend every Sunday morning group practice and the three scheduled retreats, unless family or work commitments prevent them from doing so. Before Kyol Che begins, please consult with Paul PSN about group practice sessions or retreats that you will not be able to attend.
First Day Meeting of Kyol Che: The first Sunday of Kyol Che will be an orientation session to introduce the subject matter of our theme and to describe how Kyol Che will work this year.
Weekly Group Practice: All participants will meet for Group Practice every Sunday morning, from 10 AM – 11:30 AM Pacific time. Group practice sessions will alternate between formal group practice with Dharma Dialogues on one Sunday, and workshops related to this year’s theme on the next.
Retreats: Kyol Che participants are strongly encouraged to attend all retreats during Kyol Che unless pre-arranged with the Kyol Che Teacher.
End of Kyol Che: On the last day of Kyol Che we will celebrate the conclusion of the intensive practice period. A circle talk – at the end of the third retreat – will give everyone an opportunity to reflect on their experience and offer any recommendations for Kyol Che in the future.
2. Personal Practice
Participants are encouraged to have a solid daily home meditation practice during Kyol Che. At least 20 minutes of daily meditation are suggested, plus any additional practice that you can reasonably maintain during this period. Before Kyol Che begins please review your personal practice intentions with Paul PSN.
3. Bodhisattva Action Project
Your Bodhisattva Action Project is a personal project designed by you that will put your practice into action. This can be any activity involving service, either for the Blue Heron community, your family, or the larger community. You are encouraged to use this “work period” aspect of Kyol Che as another opportunity to stretch, exploring an area of work that is a little beyond what you habitually do. It need not be grand (although it might be!). It’s important, however, to choose a project that you can reasonably complete during the three-month Kyol Che period.
4. Donation and Dana
Other than our usual retreat fees, there is no set fee for Kyol Che. In the spirit of generosity, however, please make a donation to both the Blue Heron Zen Community and to the teachers. The amount is not as important as the appreciation and intention behind it.
How to Register for Kyol Che
To register for Kyol Che, please submit your Kyol Che Intentions as soon as possible in January, using the form below. Once you have submitted the form, you will be redirected to the Donation/Dana form. The completed Intentions form will be forwarded to Paul PSN, who will be in touch with you after reviewing your Kyol Che practice plan. If you have more questions, feel free to email Paul. After that, we’ll all meet together on January 25th for our first session!