Information about this center is no longer updated. This data was last updated on 17 November 2015.

Contact Information

Address: 532 Morgan Bay Road, Surry, ME 04684
Email: hugh.curran@umit.maine.edu
Website: http://www.morganbayzendo.org/

[flickr_set id="72157621817820133"] Description from website... "The Morgan Bay Zendo is a non-profit corporation, and activities are managed by the Zendo Sangha and Board. The Zendo, formerly known as Moonspring Heritage, was founded in 1971 by Walter Nowick. After his resignation, the Zendo was renamed and reincorporated as the Morgan Bay Zendo." "The Morgan Bay Zendo offers an opportunity for people to practice Buddhist meditation whatever their background or faith may be." Beginners, without prior meditation experience, are always welcome at the Zendo. Information and instruction is available and Introductory Days are offered occasionally. There is no fee for attendance at the weekly sittings, however, donations are appreciated. Activities and Schedule The Morgan Bay Zendo offers weekly sittings on Sundays from 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. at the Surry Methodist Church from January to April. During May through December, sittings take place at the Zendo each Sunday from 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. Additionally, the Zendo schedules 2-5 day retreats from May to September with teachers of various traditions. For more specific information, please check the website at www.morganbayzendo.org. Retreats for 2004 included the following sample. Buddha's Birthday Celebration Sunday, May 2, 2004 Meditation will be held from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. This will be followed by a ceremony to open the season and welcome the baby Buddha. Children are central to this celebration. Pot-luck brunch will be shared after the ceremony. Introductory Days Sunday, May 30, 2004 Sunday, June 27, 2004 Single day introductory retreats to Buddhist practice are a regularly offered at the Zendo. All are welcome. Young Adults One Day Retreat (for youth ages 14 to 24) Saturday, July 17, 2004 Sangha Gathering Sunday, July 18, 2004 Each year the Morgan Bay Zendo Sangha gathers to meditate together and to discuss the needs and accomplishments of their community. Zen and Native American Traditions Saturday & Sunday, July 24-25, 2004 Arnie Neptune, an Elder in the Penobscot nation, will lead a retreat with Hugh Curran. The retreat brings together meditation practices from both Zen and Native American traditions. The gathering focuses on the commonalities shared among the traditions, especially those of holding the earth sacred and having precepts that govern humans’ relationship with animals and nature. Participants practice meditations that concentrate on their relationship with the natural world and participate in rituals from the Penobscot tradition. A Loving Kindness Retreat Friday, July 30 through Sunday, August 1, 2004. “This retreat will teach classical Metta (Loving Kindness) practice. Metta is a practice of unconditional acceptance of all people and all life, exactly as things are. This acceptance gives freedom to see clearly and to investigate life as it unfolds, without judgment. The retreat will focus on the Oneness of all beings and will examine the connections that underlie all differences. For more information, call 374-9963. Zen and Yoga Retreats Two day retreat: Saturday and Sunday, August 7 and 8, 2004 One day retreats: Sunday September 19 and Sunday, October 24, 2004. Participants can come for any single retreat of combination of the three. One Day Women's Retreat Saturday, August 14, 2004 Write Meditation August 20 – 23, 2004 This will be the fifth annual Write Meditation retreat, which concentrates on the creative writing process within a context of Buddhist meditation practice. There are alternative periods of sitting and writing as well as opportunities to read work. One Day Retreat with Ed Brown Saturday, September 4, 2004 This day-long retreat will feature sitting, walking, and moving through internal and external spaces. All are welcome to attend and no prior experience is necessary. An Advanced Zero Balancing Workshop -- Zen and Zero Balancing September 22 to 26, 2004 “This workshop will highlight the energetics of attention -- the relationship between the bare attention of Vipassana (Insight) practice and attention as it is understood in Zero Balancing. Meditation practice and Zero Balancing work will alternate during the four-day workshop. Bodhidharma Day Celebration Sunday, October 10, 2004 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. The community will honor the founder of Zen (Ch’an) with an afternoon of silent meditation and readings from Bodhidharma. Facility Description The Zendo complex includes a meeting hall, kitchen, compost toilets, showers, and an apartment. Cabins and tent camping provide sleeping accommodations during retreats. The facility also consists of a pond, moss garden, and a wooden path.