The Ann Arbor Buddhist Society,

Lansing Buddhist Association and

Dharma Drum Mountain Michigan Chapter Invite You To

Returning by popular request for the seventh

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.  The 1-day meditation retreat will take place at the Amitabha Village Retreat Center in the countryside 20 minutes east of Lansing.

Public Talk at Ann Arbor: Friday, Oct 8, 2010, 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

   Topic and Location (TBD)

1-Day Retreat at Amitabha Village:  Saturday, Oct 9, 2010, 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Check –in :  9:00 – 9:45 a.m

Free and open to all

Questions: contact lansingbuddhist@gmail.com or 517-292-3110

Directions

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

Brief Biography

Gilbert M. Gutierrez – 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 hadn’t found. His religious search took him to many corners, and he also practiced for years in the marital arts.

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-yen’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.

Gilbert’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.