Ordinary Mind Zen Melbourne offers a Zen Buddhist approach to cultivating mindful awareness and presence in the activities of daily life.
It is open to beginners and experienced practitioners, and people of all traditions. The group is evolving a style of Zen Buddhism that is adapted to Western temperaments and ways of life, but maintains the rigour and discipline of its traditional roots.
Everyone is welcome to join us for our activities. We offer monthly meditation meetings, zazenkai (one-day sittings) three times a year, and sesshin (multi-day meditation intensives) once a year
The monthly meditation meetings are suitable for anyone with little or no meditation experience. If you are coming for the first time, please contact us to arrange an introduction for newcomers.
News & Updates
| 2020 Upcoming Calendar The 2020 Upcoming Calendar is now available. The starting time for monthly meditations at Kangaroo Ground is now changed, and will be a 9.00am arrival for 9.30am start of meditation. |
Contribution by Anja When my grandmother died, she had a cellar full of old nails, pieces of string, tools she hadn’t used in years, old clothes, shoes, crockery and books. Having lived through two world wars and the depression, she did not like to throw anything away. Her flat upstairs was neat and tidy, but downstairs in the cellar was a different story. Hers was an era before ‘planned obsolescence’, where she used the same record player and radio she’d bought as a young mother after the war, right until her death. She valued her possessions and looked after them, treating everything with care and respect so it could last as long as possible. Yet she also had a cellar full of rusty nails she’d never use, old clothes which could have gone to someone else – all these possessions stored below, just in case. Our mind is often the same. Click here to read the full contribution |
| Attachment, Detachment and Non-attachment. Dharma Talk by Geoff Dawson Attachment is a word that is used in a negative sense in Buddhism to describe clinging. The word attachment is also used with a different meaning in psychology to describe bonding between a parent and child. We also use the terms secure or insecure attachment styles in psychology to describe the way we may relate to others as adults. So from a psychology perspective attachment may be healthy or unhealthy. In the Buddhist meaning of the word it is always unhealthy. There is a lot of confusion in the way these concepts are used and what they are pointing to in human behaviour. Click here to read the full text. |
| 2019 Four-Day Sesshin Not a silent spring It’s a symphony of songs Blest Sesshin and yet Penny Wagstaff (Nov 2019)  In the Dojo Feeling the vibrations Of the Tibetan bowl ringing All sitting still and quiet A moment of silence Then the magpies song. Michelle Morris (Nov 2019)  Morning walks Surrounded by soft mist. Tiny water droplets glisten, Spiders web is made visible. We stand watching the two horses So present in their horseness They see us The expression in the grey one’s eyes Touches me deeply Michelle Morris (Nov 2019)  Dharma talks Geoff’s talks Provoking, humorous, inspiring Planting seeds in our minds and hearts Michelle Morris (Nov 2019)  |
| Dharma Talks by Geoff Dawson Sesshin Day 3 The “Fifth” Noble Abode – Nov 2019 Sesshin Day 2 To Mature in Buddha’s Wisdom – Nov 2019 Sesshin Day 1 The Last Troubadour – Nov 2019 Nansen Kills The Cat 2 Absorptions and Awakenings Global Warming |
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation, and pay respect to them and to their Elders past, present and emerging. We give thanks for their wisdom and for their care of country since ancient times, and acknowledge their resilience, their continuing culture, and the ongoing contribution they make to the life of this region.
