Tallahassee Chan Group

Special Events

Transmission of Bodhisattva Precepts: May 16 – 19, 2013 at Dharma Drum Retreat Center, Pine Bush, NY. Please click here for the application form. Partial scholarship is available for this event. You can apply for scholarship by filling out this form. You can either email the completed application and scholarship forms to tallahassee.chan@gmail.com or personally hand it to us at the Tallahassee Buddhist Center during Monday night sittings by Tuesday, April 23.Event Flyer

Half Day Retreats: In the months June - August, we will be offering half-day retreats on Saturdays to maintain our practice when our teacher Guo Gu is away. Check out the calendar by clicking here.

YOGA at TBC!! We now have professionally trained yoga teachers offering classes at TBC. Our aim is to promote health, body and mind for meditators. Click here for a flyer with more information. You can also check us out on Facebook by clicking here .

Intermediate Meditation Class: From February to May, over nine classes, Guo Gu will teach a special meditation class introducing five Buddhist meditation methods aiming to achieve samadhi (meditative absorption). The methods are: Six Miraculous Gates of Breath, Contemplation of Sound, Ocean-Seal Samadhi, Bright Moon Samadhi, and Buddha Recollection. The dates are: Feb. 8, 22; Mar. 22, 29; Apr. 12, 26; May 10, 31 and Jun.2. The time is 7:30-9pm. Each period begins with a 30 min. sitting, then the class begins with an introduction and practice of the method. Participants are to use that method as daily practice for the following two weeks until the next class. In the next class, there will be a Q and A about that method and more teachings about it. A new method will be taught the following class. If there is literature on a method, Guo Gu will supply them ahead of time to participants. This is a rare opportunity. The class has never been taught in Tallahassee and may never be repeated again. Participants are limited to twenty and only to those who have already taken the beginner’s meditation class and have a regular daily meditation practice. This is an ongoing class; one has to attend all classes in order to participate. The cost is $100 suggested donation. Limited scholarship is available. Preregistration is required. Deadline is Mon. 1/28.

Buddhist Summer Camp, 13th Annual Family Summer Camp this year will explore Buddhism, Science & Art in an intimate setting, fostering insightful and entertaining seminars and activities for teens and children, as well as adults. In addition, the program includes delicious and consciously prepared vegetarian meals.Click here for a flyer with more information.

Guo Gu's new ebook, Essence of Chan: A Practical Guide to Life and Practice according to the Teachings of Bodhidharma, published by Shambhala Publications is available to purchase on any online bookstores.

We are planning to publish a *vegetarian cookbook for practitioners*. While we are still in the planning stages, the eventual book will have Guo Gu's introduction on "food and spiritual practice" followed by chapters on "appetizers and light meals," "main meals," "salads," "deserts," "side dishes," and "breads, cakes, and cookies." Please contribute to this collaborate book project by sending your original recipes and photos. All types of vegetarian recipes will be included (lacto-ovo; ovo-free; vegan, raw-vegan). The editor of this cookbook is Fred Glock. Please send your contributions to tallahassee.chan@gmail.com with a subject heading, "cookbook recipes."

Past Events

7-Day Chan Retreat at Dharma Drum Retreat Center, Pine Bush, NY.
Special Talk by Guo Gu on "Teacher-Student Relationship" on Mon., 02/18, from 7:30 - 8:30 pm followed by an informal social gathering. We distributed books by Master Sheng Yen in commemorating his passing.
Guo Gu visited various places in the last three months, giving workshops and leading retreats. For more information, please click here for his activities outside of TCG.
November 4th and 18th (two Sundays), Sara Crayton held a Japanese pottery making class. She has been making pottery for the past 15 yrs. Participants learned to make their own tea bowl, plate, or a unique mug! In the first class they made their own pottery and in the second class, they glazed it.
From November 9 through 11, Venerable Dhammadipa, who is a long time friend of Guo Gu, visited Tallahassee from Europe. He gave a Friday talk on the importance of love and led a two-day retreat on Sat. and Sun. the same topic. To listen to his talk please click here.
On October 14, Guo Gu gave a workshop on stress-reduction at Yoga Quest in Tallahassee, FL. A The yoga practitioners were delighted to be introduced to Chan practice. Guo Gu will start giving classes there regularly next year.
In the months of September, we collected items for the Children's Home Society (CHS). Thanks to all those who contributed!
In the months of July and August, TCG members renovated the whole center inside and out. The exterior of the building was painted, the interior walls were painted, wood flooring was laid down, a drop-ceiling was installed, tiles were installed in the bathroom, interview room was organized and painted, and another air conditioner was installed. We would like to thank all those who have donated their time, skills, and money to complete these projects. Special thanks to Dewaine Rester for heading the project and many others who volunteerd for the renovation.
From July 6 to 9, Guo Gu was in Washington DC giving a talk and a workshop. The Friday evening talk is entitled, "Zen and the Art of Stress Reduction." The Saturday workshop is the Zen Based Stress Reduction Workshop.
On May 17 to May 28, 2012 Guo Gu led a "Pure Land on Earth Pilgrimage" tour to Dharma Drum Mountain in Taiwan.

The pilgrimage was both a unique practice opportunity that allowed practitioners from the US to meet and practice with other bodhisattvas from the US, Europe, and Taiwan. It included the first 5-day intensive Chan retreat in English on DDM, commemorating the third year passing of Master Sheng Yen. Twelve people from TCG participated in this trip, accompanied by eighteen people from other States and Australia. We visited other Taipei Branches of DDM and other cultural sites in Taipei. In 2014 the trip will be held again.
From Fri., 6/15 to Sun., 6/17 Guo Gu was in Orlando at the 2012 Florida Buddhism Summer Camp giving several talks both in Chinese and English at an annual "Florida Buddhism Camp." He was among several Buddhist teachers at this event. There are classes for both adults and teens, and in Chinese and English.
On Sunday, March 18th, 2012, from 11am-4pm TCG held its first picnic. About a dozen people came on that relaxing day. We ate, played a couple outdoor games, and did a mile walk on a nature trail. Guo Gu also led a period of outdoor "direct contemplation" exercise, a meditation on nature, around 2pm. Everyone enjoyed the day and TCG plans to hold a picnic every year.
On Saturday, March 10th, 2012, from 9-12 noon the Tallahassee Buddhist Community practitioners came together for an annual "Cleaning Day" event. We would like to thank all those who came by and offered their time and energy in making the center the best it can be!
On Monday, March 5th, 2012, from 7:30-9:30pm, Guo Gu gave a special talk on the history, misconceptions, development, and practice of silent illumination. The talk clarified the uniqueness of this practice in the context of the Chan and Zen traditions. It also provided ways to enter into the practice. A link to the mp3 file of this talk is available here.
On Monday, February 20th, from 8-9pm, we held a book give-a-way social gathering event at TBC honoring the third year death memorial for Master Sheng Yen. We also view a short film clip of his teachings. Sitting will be from 7-8pm.
On Friday, February 3rd, from 4-6pm through Sunday, February 5th, 5pm, we held an intensive memorial Chan retreat at TBC honoring the late Master Sheng Yen.
On Saturday, January 14th, 2012, from 2-4pm, Guo Gu offered a meditation workshop on the Florida State University campus at the invitation of the FSU Buddhist Student Association and the Center for Global Engagement. Over twenty people came to the workshop. All of which enjoyed it and expressed interest to pursuing the practice of meditation.
For upcoming activities and Guo Gu's activities elsewhere, please check "Retreats" under the Events page.