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Welcome to Bellevue Dharma!
Currently Bill is providing individual mentorship in Zen Buddhism for newcomers to Zen and anyone looking to start a Zen practice. 
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Some background: Bill is affiliated with Mission Mountain Zen in Montana and the Silent Thunder Order for 6 years. STO is a newtwork of practice centers under the direction of Taiun Elliston Roshi. Bill (Katsuryu)  is currently novice priest and a member of the  Soto Zen Buddhist Association. Bill complies with the ethics policies of these organizations. 
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Bill began his Zen practice in 1981 with the Soyu Matsuoka Roshi and the  Zen Temple of Long Beach, California. He was ordained a priest in 1986 and received the Dharma Seal from Roshi in 1992. 
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What can I offer? That depends on what you need. I would say the relationship is mentor to student, and I can offer foundational teaching in Zen Buddhism as I have learned and experienced it over many years. 
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For instance, many people understand Zen meditation as an experience of no-thinking, or "stopping of mind." That's a pretty hard bar to reach if you have a job and family.
 
Properly understood the Zazen experience can be more like observing thoughts that arise, and finding ways to let go of them, returning to the present moment. This sounds like nothing much. I assure you it is not. Try sitting still for 25 minutes. 
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The "present moment" can begin in a couple of ways--with awareness of the body, one's breathing, or the quality of our awareness. Sometimes it's a  lovely experience. Other times it seems like nothing is happening. It's all grist for the mill. 
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I can also assist to reduce, but not eliminate, some common, but serious, pitfalls by newcomers, such as negatively judging your practice. As a mentor, who has benn there and done that, I  can help you to reduce painful emotions, and feel better about yourself.
Feel free to contact me to find out more. BellevueDharma@gmail.com

Generosity or "Dana" in Sanskit
 

Dana is a common practice in Buddhism. Showing financial generosity to one's teacher, or the Dharma, is our way of collecting the small amount of money to operate websites, and provide modest renumeration to the leader, for their time and effort in presenting  the Dharma to us. 

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