The Lansing Buddhist Association and

Dharma Drum Mountain Michigan Chapter Invite You To

 A Free Meditation Retreat with 

Gilbert Gutierrez

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Returning by popular request for the fifth

time to Mid-Michigan, Gilbert Gutierrez is one of only five laypersons

and the only American designated as dharma heirs of the Great Chinese Chan Master Venerable Sheng-yen, founder of Dharma Drum Mountain. 

Gilbert teaches with a mix of stories, humor, and

practical instruction.  This one day meditation retreat is free with a vegetarian lunch provided at the Amitabha Village Retreat

Center in the countryside 20 minutes east of Lansing.

Date:  Saturday, October 3, 2009

Check ¨Cin :  9:00 ¨C 9:45 a.m

Teaching & Meditation:  10 a.m. ¨C 6 p.m.

Questions: contact lansingbuddhist@gmail.com

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Click the link below for Online registration for the 1 Day Retreat:

Application Form of 1-Day Retreat by Gilbert Gutierrez

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Location: 14796 Beardslee Road, Perry, MI 48872

In Buddhist traditions, this retreat and all teachings are free.

Donations are always welcome

Directions

>From East LansingˇXGo 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), & proceed as in the E. Lansing directions

 Brief Biography

Gilbert M. Gutierrez ˇV Chan Master

Gilbert Gutierrez is a lay Chan master in the Chinese tradition.

His parents were from Mexico, and he grew up and was raised a Catholic

in the United States. Gilbert obtained a BA and also a law degree at UCLA.

In 1974 he was admitted to the California bar and has practiced law for

over thirty years in Riverside California.

Growing up Catholic Gilbert felt a strong tie with the Virgin Mary and the concept of universal compassion for all beings. But he also had religious doubts and felt a longing for a great truth which he knew existed but hadnˇ¦t found. His religious search took him to many corners, and he also practiced for years in the marital arts.

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Being drawn to the meditative dimension of the martial arts, Gilbert began studying Chi Gong with different masters. He was invited to become a Chi Gong master himself but declined feeling his deeper questions had not been answered. 

Gilbert began formal training in Buddhism under a Buddhist Chi Gong Master. Chance events led him to read the Diamond Sutra, and he had a profound

experience of illumination. 

Later Gilbert met and undertook years of training as a disciple of the Great Chan Master Venerable Sheng-yen.  After devoted effort, he became one of five lay persons and the only American to receive transmission as a Master Sheng-yenˇ¦s dharma heir as a Chan Buddhist master.

Today Gilbert teaches dharma and practices law in Riverside California.

He is married to Ai-Lun Wei, also a discipline of Master Sheng-yen, and has a

son, Ananda who may accompany his father around the country

when Gilbert teaches.

Gilbertˇ¦s web page from The Riverside Chan Meditation Group is  http://www.riversidechan.org/.   His dharma talks can be downloaded at   http://dharmatalks.riversidechan.org.