The Artless Arts of Zen: An Introductory Talk: July 17
July 17th, from 7 to 9 pm at the Toledo Zen Center
The arts of Zen are not intended for utilitarian purposes, or for purely aesthetic enjoyment, but are meant to train the mind, indeed, to bring it into contact with ultimate reality.”
-D.T. Suzuki
In this introductory talk, Rinsen and Do’on weik, co-founders of the Toledo Zen Center will discuss the artless arts of zen, and set the tone for the arts workshops that will follow for the rest of the summer.
This event is free and open to the public!
Jay Christopher Weik (Chikyo Rinsen) is an American Aikido Sensei, a Jazz musician and educator, and co-founder of both the Toledo Zen Center and the Drinking Gourd Dharma Circle.
Jay began his Zen studies in 1987 at Zen Mountain Monastery with John Daido Loori Roshi. In 1998, he receved the sixteen buddhist precepts and the Dharma name Chikyo. In 2001 he moved to Toledo and co-founded the Toledo Zen Meditation Group with his wife Karen Weik. In 2004 he continued his zen study with Bonnie Myotai Treace Sensei, Daido roshi’s first dharma heir, and the Toledo Zen Meditation Group evolved into the Toledo Zen Center. In 2007 Myotai Sensei acknowledged him as Shuso (head monk) for the winter training period, and his Dharma Talks began being podcast as ‘The Drinking Gourd Podcast.’ In 2008 he received the Dharma name Rinsen and founded the Drinking Gourd Dharma Circle, a non-profit organization that evolved from interest in supporting the podcasts and connecting its listeners with Jay and each other. In addition, he has also studied with Fr. Kevin Hunt Sensei, OCSO since 2006, and in 2009 he became a shoken student of James Ishmael Ford Roshi who is the primary center of gravity for his continued study of the Dharma today. In June 2009 James Roshi empowered Jay to meet with zen students in private interview.
Jay has been on featured the cover of both the Toledo Blade and the Toledo City Paper, is active with theMultifaith Council of Northwest Ohio.
