Silky Oak Zen

24/03/2026

A selection of photos from our recent four day retreat at The Old Stroud Monastery.

19/09/2022

Ordination and Transmission Ceremony in the lineage of Grandmaster Hsu Yun. Performed at Open Gate Zendo - Olympia WA, July 23, 2022.

22/08/2022

Silky Oak Zen is now holding weekly practice at East Gosford NSW. For more information, please contact us through the details on our website

Central Coast Meditation, Zen, Soto Zen, Rinzai Zen, Zen Buddhism, Buddhism in Western Culture, Buddhist practice, Order of the Boundless Way, Mugendo Zen Kai, OBW,

22/08/2022

So wonderful to finally be able to travel to America and catch up with our extended Sangha at Open Gate Zendo - Olympia- Washington. It was a week of organisation, friendship and ceremony. 🙏☺️

24/07/2015

Hi Dear Friends.

In tomorrow morning's "Teisho" (Saturday 25/7/15) at Silky Oak Zen, we start on perhaps the most important of all masters in our lineage......the famous Linji (aka: Linchi; Rinzai). An awesome being, no doubt. I look forward to seeing you, if you are able to make it along.

Omni-Kindness....H/Matt

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linji_Yixuan

04/01/2015

Hi Everyone,

Here is our revised Schedule for 2016
http://www.silkyoakzen.org

Saturday Mornings 7.00 am:

We sit every Saturday from 7.00am to 8.20am. This is simply Zazen and Kinhin followed by a short discussion. We then meet for social coffee/breakfast at a local cafe.

The Saturday format is:-

7.00 Traditional wooden tapping (Moktok) and bell
7.05 Seated Practice 1 (Zazen)
7.35 Walking Meditation (Kinhin)
7.40 Seated practice 2 (Zazen)
8.10 Dharma Talk (Teisho)
8.20 Closing Gatha
8.30 Social "coffee" at Local Cafe

Wednesday Mornings 7.00 am:

We will also be sitting every Wednesday from 7.00am to 7.30am. This is simply sitting meditation (Zazen).

The Wednesday format is:-

7.00 Traditional wooden tapping (Moktok) and Bell
7.05 Seated Practice 1 (Zazen)
7.30 Closing Bell and Finish

Events:

We have special events throughout the year.

Zazenkai: (One day retreat) dates Please see Silky Oak Zen News
Sesshins: (Retreats) TBA.
Rohatsu: Celebration of "The Buddha's" Life, Awakening and Nirvana (Early December)
Mantras to Music: Several each year. TBA

Central Coast Meditation, Zen, Zen Buddhism, Buddhism in Western Culture, Buddhist practice, Zen practice, Sajja, Sacca, Keep sitting, keep smiling, Zen Buddhist Order of Hsu Yun, ZBOHY, Order of the Boundless Way, OBW,

03/09/2014

Spring Zazenkai – One Day Retreat
20th September 2014

Hi Dear Friends

As promised, our one day retreat (Zazenkai), is coming up on Saturday 20th, September at the Erina Zendo.

I have provided the program below, but it may change slightly during the day, depending on the weather.

As per tradition, let's keep our food to a vegetarian mix.

Breakfast will be quite a simple self service of toast, muesli, fruit juice, teas,coffee etc. Please bring a little something for yourself if this is unsuitable.

Lunch will be "please bring a plate" to share. I'll do a quinoa (or some brown rice) and veges with no gluten, legumes etc). Perhaps others could bring a salad or another vege dish? We wont be ready to do Oryoki on this retreat but it's coming soon :-). We will practice mindful eating though.

I also have some beautiful Mountain Oolong tea to experience during ceremony.

Please wear your comfy blacks or dark colours. You will need some walking shoes too and maybe a hat. Those who wish to wear the Zen hats during the "Anya Walk" may need to wear a scarf or head band underneath. I'm looking to have the inner head piece modified to be a foam and material band for more comfort.

Standard Zendo ettiquette applies. Please refrain from using strong deodorants colognes, after shave lotions and perfumes. Mobile phones should be switched to silent or turned off.

So really all is needed is yourself, a hat and a plate for lunch.

The topic for the group discussion at 2.30 pm, will be Chapter One (1) of "What The Buddha Taught" by Walpola Rahula. The chapter title is "The Buddhist Attitude of Mind" You can find it here.....

http://www.dhammaweb.net/books/Dr_Walpola_Rahula_What_the_Buddha_Taught.pdf

Just a short note that this was first published in 1959, so it doesn't include current gender conventions. That said, the tone of the text is quite well written for the general public and should promote some healthy discussion.

There are no dues or fees for the retreat, but any small contributions to cover the retreat costs would be welcome. They can be placed in the donations box near the entry.

Places are limited to about 20, so please respond to this email to confirm your place.

Please forward to friends or family who may be interested.

Any questions please just come back to me.

Yours in the Dharma
Hoka Matt.

Program

7:00 Arrive (Chosho -morning bell tolled 9 times)

7:15-Call to Zazen - (Han or Moktok)

7:30-8:00 One period of Zazen (Chosan- first morning meditation)

8.00-8.30 Chanting practice

8:30- Kitchen aids prepare Genkan for breakfast- bring out trays and toaster :-)

8:30-9:15 Breakfast ceremony “Mindful Eating - Silence for the first 30 minutes”

9:15-9:30 Break and kitchen clean up.



Second Morning Session

9:30- Call to Zazen (Han or Moktok)

9:35-10:40 Two periods of Zazen alternated with Kinhin and Dokusan

9:35-10:40 Dokusan (one on one meeting with the teacher) by rotation.

11.00-11:45 Anya Walk – Rumbalara Reserve

11:50 Han or Moktok Roll

12:00-12:30 One Period of Zazen

12:30- 12:40 Kitchen aids prepare Genkan for lunch- bring out trays

12:40-1:30 Social Lunch



Afternoon Session

1:30-2:00 Break and kitchen cleanup

1:45- Call to Zazen (Han or Moktok)

2:00-2.30 One period of Zazen

2:30-4:00 Tea ceremony, Teisho/Group Discussion

4:00-Closing - Konsho (striking the evening bell) tolled 9 times _/|\_

05/02/2014

Community Zen Sitting Every Saturday

Greetings Everyone!

We are now sitting every Saturday at our usual time of 8am. This will be followed by our usual breakfast or "coffee" at a local cafe

The format is:-

8.00 Traditional wooden tapping (Moktok) and bell
8.05 Seated Practice 1
8.35 Walking Meditation
8.40 Seated practice 2
9.10 Short Dharma Reading or Teisho
9.20 Closing gatha and dedication
____________________________________________________

9.30 Optional social breakfast or "coffee"

Where: Suite 3 / 63 Webb St East Gosford NSW 2250.

We are located in the unit at the end of the alley

http://www.silkyoakzen.org/schedule.php

"Keep Sitting....Keep Smiling"

Yours under the Silky Oaks.

Sensei Jishin Hoka (Matt)

Chan, Zen, Zen Buddhism, Buddhism in Western Culture, Buddhist practice, Zen practice, Sajja, Sacca, Keep sitting, keep smiling, Zen Buddhist Order of Hsu Yun, ZBOHY, Order of the Boundless Way, OBW,

21/10/2013

Community Zen Sitting This Saturday - 26th October :-)

Greetings Everyone!
This Saturday morning, Silky Oak Zen Community will be holding "Community Sitting" at our "Floating Zendo" at 7am.

This will be followed by an optional breakfast or "coffee" at "The Teapot Cafe" Davistown Rd - Davistown.

Our "Floating Zendo" is held on nominated Saturdays (floating dates) throughout the year.

This Saturday's format is:-
7.00 Traditional wooden tapping (Moktok) and bell
7.05 Seated Practice 1
7.35 Walking Meditation
7.05 Seated practice 2
8.05 Short Dharma Talk or Reading
8.15 Closing gatha and dedication
____________________________________________________

8.30 Optional social breakfast or "coffee"

Where: Shop 5 / 220 The Entrance Rd (Central Coast Hwy) Erina, NSW.

We are located above the hairdressers in the same building as “Happy Herbs” and “Central Coast Yoga Centre”

http://www.centralcoastzencentre.yolasite.com/

"Keep Sitting....Keep Smiling"

Yours under the Silky Oaks.

Matt :-)

Buddhism, Buddhist practice, Zen practice, Western culture, peer support 12 steps, addiction, alcoholism, substance abuse, depression, stress, burnout, obsessive behaviour, relieving their stresses and anxieties, wisdom, compassion, truth, truthfulness, honesty, Sajja, Sacca, Keep sitting Keep smili...

02/09/2013

Hi Everyone,
This Tuesday's topic at Silky Oak Zen Community (3rd Sept) is "Courage" - What is the quality of our relationships with family, friends, community and Earth?

How are our actions impacting others? Are our actions congruent with our values and beliefs, or are we acting out of alignment with our inner core belief system?

Verse:
One who understands others has knowledge;
one who understands "the self" has wisdom.
Mastering others requires force;
mastering "the self" needs strength.

If you realize that you have enough, you are truly rich.

From...33rd Verse ....Tao Te Ching
Reference: Lao Tzu. trans. by Stephen Mitchell. Tao Te Ching: A New English Version.

Where and When:

Tuesdays 7.30 pm, Shop 5 / 220 The Entrance Rd (Central Coast Hwy) Erina NSW

We are located above the hairdressers in the same building as “Happy Herbs” and “Central Coast Yoga Centre”

Yours under the Silky Oaks....

Matthew :-)

http://www.centralcoastzencentre.yolasite.com/schedule.php

Buddhism, Buddhist practice, Zen practice, Western culture, peer support 12 steps, addiction, alcoholism, substance abuse, depression, stress, burnout, obsessive behaviour, relieving their stresses and anxieties, wisdom, compassion, truth, truthfulness, honesty, Sajja, Sacca, keep sitting keep smili...