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New Beginnings

Shunryu Suzuki Roshi
Shunryu Suzuki Roshi

Editorial

By Frances Collins & Devin Ashwood

Dancing mountains received its name in December 2007 after many suggestions were put forward. Chris Brown skilfully facilitated a process where the whole sangha could express their preference and it was a wonderfully auspicious moment when among the UK students, ‘Dancing Mountains’ emerged as the clear favourite, while at the same time  our founding teacher, Roshi Reb Anderson expressed a preference for this as our name.
The naming of an established sangha was recognition of our identity within the teachings of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi and San Francisco Zen Center. Looking back that was probably the start of a second phase of development here in U.K. arising out of the first phase of the practice of individuals coming together to form a sangha over the 32 years since Reb Anderson first came to UK. Development has been organic and results from a response to generous offering of supportive suggestions toward growth and deepening of practice. The third phase seems to have begun in April 2008 when a constitution was first offered to the sangha by Devin Ashwood. This suggestion opened up discussion about the shape of membership organisations and what a constitution involves. Investigation led us to the understanding of how fellow Buddhist organisations have formed. This is where discussion becomes lively as we appreciate natural and philosophical resistance to forms of incorporation.
However, it was agreed by a significant number of practitioners that in order to best support many efforts from the whole sangha, that the next step in our growth was to set up a organisational structure which may function as a charity, legally accept membership, apply to funding streams and hold to a constitution. Advice and support from our good friend Dene Donalds from Community of Interbeing (C.O.I.) has been important and greatly appreciated. C.O.I. is also a Community Interest Company that endured similar difficulties along the way to incorporation. The journey has been challenging and demanded much time, learning and collaboration from a small but focused team of people practicing together as a sangha.  Connected through our practice and vows to the whole sangha we have stumbled many times but somehow have made it to the point that we can announce officially that Dancing Mountains has now incorporated as a Community Interest Company (CIC) to support Dancing Mountains sangha and all beings.
As a Social Enterprise our main function is to benefit the community. Our greatest aspiration has always been and is still clear. We offer this service as a gift not separate to receiving and giving support to practice in all areas of UK. In this edition we have included our constitution which has been the heart of this developmental practice. You can access it here.
We also include the Articles of Association as our legal documentation (not so much for night time reading!).
This incorporation allows us to apply to funding streams for resources that may support engaged practice and to create a fund toward the purchase of a venue in UK that functions as our first Zen Centre that serves our whole community and supports teachers and priests.  It will also hold a container for practice within a democratic structure and can facilitate practical support for local groups such as personal insurance for group facilitators.  One way of supporting this aspiration is to sign up for membership.  You can access our membership form here which also invites you to consider any voluntary service you are able to offer.  Another way is to offer a donation or to organise a fund raising activity that we can support you with. We warmly invite all feedback and suggestions and continue to offer our wholehearted support and practice to all.
This issue of Mountain Silence brings together updates from all strands of our sangha, from beginning to propose policy for our organisation on how we take care of our resources to a realistic proposal for the building of a temple in Ireland by Ingen Breen.  We also hear back from the UK’s first extended practice period in Hebden Bridge and of upcoming practice opportunities, not least of which is a vacancy to facilitate the publication of this newsletter!  
With the warmest bows to all at this wonderful new beginning,

Frances Collins & Devin Ashwood


Sangha Update

Dancing Mountains Constitution

By Dancing Mountains

Aims and Objectives

The objectives of Dancing Mountains Zen C.I.C. are to make accessible teachings as expressed by the Buddha&... Read more

Sangha Update

Articles of Association of Dancing Mountains Zen Community Interest Company

By Dancing Mountains

The Companies Act 2006
Community Interest Company Limited by Guarantee
__________________________________________________________... Read more

Sangha Update

Draft Guidelines on Use and Care of Assets

By Chris Brown

As Dancing Mountains becomes a legal entity, it becomes important to consider what Dancing Mountains is, what constitutes its field of act... Read more

Retreat Report

Hebden Bridge Practice Period

By Ingen Breen

Dear Sangha and Friends,

The Practice Period here in Hebden Bridge started in February and we’re now just over a week pas... Read more

Sangha Update

A Zen Temple in Ireland?

By Ingen Breen

Dear Sangha and Friends,

Aside from the Practice Period at Hebden Bridge, two new developments have happened in the growing San... Read more

Sangha Update

Visit by Catherine Gammon 2014

By Frances Collins

We are delighted to welcome Rev. Catherine Gammon back to England in 2014 for a period from 12th August until 5th October. During this time Catherine will be hosted ... Read more

Event

Rohatsu 2014

By Angyu Devin Ashwood

Advance Notice of Rohatsu 2014 with Ingen Breen

Dancing Mountains are planning a 7 day sesshin (with potential weekend availabi... Read more

Poetry

Metaphor

By Frances Collins

Pen poised yet words and ideas that tumbled forth to be captured now escape the pen.
Searching… connections….that someth... Read more

Poetry

Sitting zazen at GGF

By Kath Bennett

Wind running on the roof
Ocean sounds at the door
Zendo sitting in stillness
My heart sings.

Kath Bennett

... Read more

Article

Mountain Silence - Vacancy

By Angyu Devin Ashwood

The Mountain Silence newsletter was an idea prompted over six years ago by our founding teacher Tenshin Reb Anderson Roshi who suggested i... Read more


Previous issues are available here

In this issue...



Get involved
Facebook group
For general discussion and socialising about Dancing Mountains and related events on Facebook, please click the link above. Business matters and decisions are made separately via an email list - please contact us if you want to be part of this.

Local Contacts
Visit the Local Groups webpage for details of Dancing Mountains groups in your area, and the Diary for their regular meeting dates and times.

Next Issue
For the Summer edition we welcome your articles, poetry, pictures, letters, retreat reflections and book reviews. Publication date: 21st June deadline for submission of material 1st June Submissions to the Newsletter/Website:
Devin Ashwood, 07875 155464
Address: 18 Westfield, Bruton, Somerset, BA10 0BT
devin@dancingmountains.org.uk

 

Membership
You already belong, so why not become a member? Please download a printable membership form and support Dancing Mountains.

 

Events

Hebden Bridge end of Practice Period Sesshin

at Hebden Bridge

with Ingen Breen

29th April 2014 to 4th May 2014

7 days of practice with Ingen Breen

hebdenbridgezen@gmail.com


Brighton sitting day

at Brighton

17th May 2014

A one day practice with the Brighton Sangha

chrisjhannah25@gmail.com


Good Friendship and Perfect Wisdom

at Zen Garden, Sweden

with Tenshin Reb Anderson Roshi

16th August 2014 to 23rd August 2014

7 day retreat - BOOKING RE-OPENED, Last few places

Cost: £260-£460

rebineurope@gmail.com


Dancing Mountains AGM Retreat

at Warminster

3rd October 2014 to 5th October 2014

A weekend of sitting together and our AGM meeting

Cost: £55

07875155464 devin@dancingmountains.org.uk


2 day Retreat

at Hebden Bridge

with Brad Warner

6th November 2014 to 8th November 2014

Brad Warner 2 day residential retreat

07970 425932 hebdenbridgezen@gmail.com


November Intensive Practice Period

at Hebden Bridge

with Ingen Breen

12th November 2014 to 30th November 2014

Practice opportunities with Ingen Breen in Yorkshi

07970 425932 hebdenbridgezen@gmail.com


Rohatsu sesshin 2014

at Sandymount, Crosby

with Ingen Breen

3rd December 2014 to 9th December 2014

Rohatsu sesshin

Cost: £390

07875155464 devin@dancingmountains.org.uk


Evening Talk with Ingen Breen

at Totness

with Ingen Breen

6th March 2015

6 March Evening talk with Ingen Breen

Cost: Enquire

melsmere@hotmail.com


Sewing Afternoon

at Bruton, Somerset

with Ingen Breen

9th March 2015

Rakasu sewing support in Bruton

Cost: By Donation

07875 155464 devin@dancingmountains.org.uk


Evening Talk with Ingen Breen

at Glastonbury, Somerset

with Ingen Breen

9th March 2015

A Dharma talk in Glastonbury

Cost: By Donation

07875 155464 devin@dancingmountains.org.uk


Equinox Sesshin

at Boghill Centre, Co. Clare, Ireland

with Ingen Breen

24th March 2015 to 28th March 2015

4 day residential sesshin

Cost: Please enquire

ingenstheme@gmail.com


All Day Zen

at Calderdale Yoga Centre, Hebden Bridge, England

with Ingen Breen

9th April 2015

One day sesshin

Cost: Please enquire

rebeccahabs@googlemail.com