Join Ikenobo ikebana artist Paula Tam to learn how to sense the unspoken poetry of flowers and create arrangements for an altar. The class will begin with a brief overview of ikebana history and philosophy, followed by a demonstration illustrating fundamental arrangement techniques, and finally, you will spend the majority of the time creating your own arrangement using flowers. All supplies are provided and you get to take the flowers you use home with you.

This class is a perfect opportunity for anyone to start practicing the meditative art of ikebana and for Zen practitioners to learn a skill for altar care.

Co-hosted by Tea Arts & Culture.

Tickets for this workshop are $60. Reduced tickets available for sangha members who sign up to maintain Shobo-ji’s altar arrangements. Contact office@newyorkzendo.org to inquire.

About the Instructor:
Paula Tam is an accomplished Ikenobo ikebana artist holding the titles of Professor of Ikenobo Ikebana, President of Ikenobo California Pacific Chapter, Ikebana Coordinator of the Japanese Gallery at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Vice President of Ikebana International New York Chapter, and Former President of Ikebana International New York Chapter (2013-2015).

Paula has been studying Ikenobo ikebana for 30 years and was awarded the rank of “Sokatoku”, rank #18, the highest Ikenobo Diploma in Ikenobo Floral Art. She graduated from the Ikenobo Central Institute of Floral Art in Kyoto. She has been passionately teaching and promoting ikebana. Her arrangements have been exhibited in New York, Shanghai, Malaysia, and Kyoto; including in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New Museum, Tenri Gallery, Japanese Stroll Garden, Japanese Ambassadors’ residences, among others. She has given ikebana demonstrations at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, SinoVision TV station and for Ikebana International New York Chapter. Her passion in ikebana propels her to pursue higher levels of studies continuously. At present she is specializing in Koten-Rikka (classical Meiji Rikka) and Shoka with the most venerable Ikenobo professors in Ikenobo Headquarters. In her ikebana she likes to explore how life, nature, and ikebana interact.

Join ikebana artist Kristina Bajunaishvili to learn about ikebana flower arranging. The class will begin with a brief overview of ikebana history, followed by a demonstration illustrating basic principles of creating a balanced arrangement, and finally, you will spend the majority of the time creating your own arrangement using local, sustainably sourced flowers. Plus, you will learn tips for how to make spontaneous arrangements with found materials. All supplies are provided and you get to take the flowers you use home with you.

This class is a perfect opportunity for anyone to start practicing the meditative art of ikebana and for Zen practitioners to learn a skill for altar care.

Flowers provided will be sourced from Queens Perennial, a local BIPOC owned+grown sustainable flower CSA.

Co-hosted by Tea Arts & Culture.

Tickets for this workshop are $60. Reduced tickets available for sangha members who sign up to maintain Shobo-ji’s altar arrangements. Contact office@newyorkzendo.org to inquire.

About the Instructor:
Studying Sogetsu ikebana since 2015 with Mrs. Fumiko Allinder, a long-established teacher who learned directly from the founder of Sogetsu school Sofu Teshigahara, Kristina finds great solace in ikebana and loves sharing her appreciation of this timeless art.

Ines Sun will instruct how to unite breath practice to the fundamentals of brush strokes with calligraphy basics. We will begin by slowing our mind with some breathing exercises and grinding fresh sumi ink. While we continue to grind ink, we will discuss different calligraphy styles and the basic strokes used to create characters. Mastering the basic brush strokes is the foundation of strong characters. Spending some time to feel the connection of your breath moving through the brush on to the paper and refining the several types of strokes creates the beginnings of this practice and beautiful characters. All participants will complete a character as a finishing piece for this workshop. Tea and light refreshments will be served at the conclusion.

*Please bring calligraphy brushes, ink, and ink stone if you have them. There will also be brushes, ink, and paper available.

About Ines Sun: Ines Sun learned calligraphy as a child and found a deep connection with the art as an adult. She aims to help others find joy and profound peace in this ancient art. It has also served as a means for her to unite her spiritual practice with the physical form of the brush. In addition to offering basic and advanced instruction, she offers calligraphy workshops in sutra writing.

Sponsored by New York Insight.

Join Insight OUT Refuge and allies for an in-person collective expression of our Refuge. We’ll meditate together and share an open discussion of what it means to take Refuge this Pride season alongside daily assaults on our political rights and identities. This is a time to reach for community like never before.

Join us online via Zoom: http://bit.ly/nyiinsightout
Meeting ID: 845 0390 5943
Passcode: 123
Dial by your location: +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbAkW4rpL2

Space for in-person attendance is limited. Please reserve your in-person seat by clicking here.

Please arrive 15-20 minutes early to ensure an orderly check-in.
Reserved seats will be released at 6:30 PM to our waitlist.
If we are sold out, please sign-up for the waiting list – there may be a gap before the Wait List opens.
If you are on the Wait List, please email registration@nyimc.org between 5:30-6 pm on the day to inquire if space opened up for you to join us.
Walk-Ins will be admitted if space is available on a first-come basis at the start of the program.
If you are having trouble completing your RSVP or donation, please CLICK HERE to open it in a new browser. All proceeds will support this sangha’s teacher(s) and other NYI teacher support. Please contact registration@nyimc.org if you need assistance.

Fee by donation: Suggested starting donation is $15 but whatever you offer is greatly appreciated and no one is ever turned away for lack of funds.

Volunteer Days at Dai Bosatsu Zendo

Join the monastery residents this spring for volunteer days at Dai Bosatsu!

Samu (work practice) is a traditional part of Zen monastery life. When the weather allows, we will be working outside. Participants also do nittensoji (temple cleaning), cooking, and other tasks. The schedule will include zazen (meditation), chanting and traditional monastery meals using three bowls and chopsticks.  There will be an orientation for all first-time attendees.

Volunteer days are free. To sign up, please email the office. ZSS Health Protocols apply.

Looking forward to seeing you at DBZ this spring!