One-Day Meditation Retreat with Gilbert Gutierrez
(In person plus online via Zoom)
Mind Work Beyond Consciousness – How to practice Chan using Right View.
For many years Gilbert has been teaching Chan Buddhism (Zen) at the Riverside Chan Meditation Group in Riverside, California.
In 2002, Gilbert received Dharma Transmission from Chan Master Sheng-Yen, founder of the Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Association, making him the only western lay lineage holder of Master Sheng Yen in North America.
His weekly Monday Night Chan classes are broadcasted live online and reach students all over the world. Gilbert’s teachings emphasize the importance of Right View as it is expressed in the teachings of the ancient Chinese Chan masters from the Tang and Song dynasties, as well as in the key Mahayana Sutras.
In this retreat, Gilbert will introduce both basic and advanced instructions to meditation and will help fine-tuning of participants’ methods. Upon popular request, this will be his 22nd visit to Michigan and we cordially invite you to join that auspicious Dharma event.
Friday, Sept 22, 2023, 7- 9 p.m. ET: Group Meditation & Dharma Talk
Saturday, Sept 23, 2023, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET: One-Day Meditation Retreat:
Mind Work Beyond Consciousness – How to practice Chan using Right View.
This class is designed to strengthen your practice and to align it with the Right View of Chan using the proper contemplation of Mind. This class will be beneficial for new and experienced practitioners alike.
Lunch & dinner are provided for in-person attendees; $30 donation (in-person attendee) or $20 donation (online attendee) to help with expenses is requested.
Please register at Online Registration.
The retreat starts at 10 a.m. ET on Saturday, Sept 23. Please arrive between 9:00–9:45 a.m. ET at Amitabha Village. Zoom meeting will be available at 9:30 a.m. ET.
For more information, contact lansingbuddhist@gmail.com or 517-292-3110.
Retreat Directions:
Address:
Amitabha Village Retreat Center
14796 Beardslee Rd.
Perry, MI 48872
(20 minutes east of Lansing)
> From East Lansing: Go east on Saginaw. Bear right at Haslett Road. Stay on Haslett for 9.1 miles. Turn left onto N. Williamston Road. After 2.2 miles, N. Williamston becomes Beardslee, a dirt road. Go about 1/3 mile to Amitabha Village. Retreat check-in is at the first house on your right (14791 Beardslee).
> From Ann Arbor/Detroit: Take I-96 west to exit 117 (Williamston Rd). Go north on Williamston to Haslett Rd, a dead end. Turn right on Haslett, then make an immediate left on next street (N. Williamston) and proceed as in the E. Lansing directions (see above).
Short Bio: Gilbert M. Gutierrez – Chan Master
Gilbert Gutierrez is a lay Chan master in the Chinese Chan tradition.
His parents were of Mexican descent. Gilbert grew up and was raised as a Catholic in the United States. He obtained a BA and a law degree from UCLA. In 1974, he was admitted to the California Bar and has been practicing law for over 40 years in Riverside, CA.
Growing up Catholic, Gilbert felt strong ties with the Virgin Mary and the idea of universal compassion for all beings. However, he also had religious doubts and felt a longing for a greater truth which he knew existed but hadn’t yet found. His religious search took him to many different places, and he also practiced martial arts for many years.
Being drawn to the meditative dimension of martial arts, Gilbert began studying with many Chi Gong masters and felt the need to find out about the purpose and meaning of the practice. Yet his deeper questions were not answered by those masters in a satisfactory manner until he encountered Buddhism.
Gilbert began formal training in Buddhism under a Buddhist Chi Gong master. Coming across the Diamond Sutra he had a profound experience.
Later, Gilbert met and undertook years of training as a disciple of the Great Chan Master, Venerable Sheng-Yen. After devoted effort, in 2002 he received Dharma transmission from Master Sheng Yen and became one of his five lay Dharma heirs, and the only western lay lineage holder of Master Sheng Yen in North America.
Today, Gilbert teaches Dharma and practices law in Riverside California. He also travels across the country and overseas to teach the Buddha Dharma in the United States, Canada, Taiwan, and in Europe.
Link to the Riverside Chan Meditation Group’s webpage: http://www.riversidechan.org/.
Audio recordings of Gilbert’s Dharma talks can be downloaded from http://dharmatalks.riversidechan.org, and a
Video archive of Gilbert’s more recent teachings is hosted on his group’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@chanmindwork
(Out of town attendees: Please let us know if you need to stay over at Amitabha Village for the events.)
Group Meditation & Dharma Talk:
Friday, Sept 22, 7:00- 9:00 p.m. (Eastern Time)
One Day Retreat Schedule:
Saturday, 09/23/2023 (Eastern Time)
9:00 – 9:45 a.m. Check-in
10:00 – 12:00 p.m. Morning session
12:00 – 1:30 p.m. Lunch & break
1:30 – 5:00 p.m. Afternoon session
5:00 – 9:00 p.m. Optional dinner gathering with Q&A
Brunch Gathering with Q&A at the Retreat Center:
Sunday, 09/24/2023 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Eastern Time), there will be a brunch gathering and an informal discussion with Chan Master Gilbert at the retreat center.