A Blessing & A Curse
⚡️ACZC Happenings, 7/11 - 7/17⚡️
“How can I trust someone who has no self? How can you trust something that’s impermanent? How can you trust a situation that’s inevitably going to change? What even is trust at that point?
There’s a place where it leaves me sad, longing, and lonely, and a place where it feels liberating and ecstatic, and a place where it feels totally groundless and spiraling, and a place where I feel full of grief.” - Samm
Hello Sangha!
Did you know that freshly-conducted research has indicated that even when you really, really love your life, coming back from vacation still kinda sucks?? Your people and animals are happy to see you, the stuff you need is all where it’s supposed to be, your pillows are exactly right, and yet you just kinda don’t want to do it?? Why is it like this? Why?
Yes, yes, I know, as many Zen teachers have pointed out, (and as we chanted this morning in the Straw Hut Song,) how could it be anywhere but this old leather bag right here? I guess the problem (editor’s note: this is not an actual problem) is that “here” is not the beach? Here is not zoning out with an ice-cold sparkling water and a pleasant offshore wind? Here is not a 2pm nap followed by snack time (kettle corn) whilst watching a thunderstorm roll in?
Anyway, I’m back. I’m BACK!!!
And we’re having a party tomorrow night at 7pm, are you coming?? Yep, it’s time again for Same Difference, our signature bi-monthly variety show, where we liven up the zendo and enjoy the output of the wild minds of our most creative friends. This time we’ve got music, we’ve got poetry, and we’ve got Land, who it sounds like is doing something that is both music and poetry, or maybe neither?? (So Zen.) Anyway, come on out and join us and admire my tan. All welcome, no zazen required!
AND/OR, if you’re free on Sunday, Sozenji’s Obon Festival is happening from 1:00 - 7:00 pm. See their website for details, but there will be a service and then some dancing (!) and performances by Dave and Robert, among other Japanese folk-style entertainments. We’ll be there with shades and sun hats and bells on.
And speaking of ways we amuse ourselves, this week on the podcast we are pleased to present 🎙️ “A Blessing & A Curse (Depression & Impermanence) w/ Samm” 🎙️
Samm walks through a dark night of the soul on retreat and paints us vivid portraits of her grief, embracing liberatory epiphanies. Can depression be a blessing and a curse? Can we trust a world of guaranteed impermanence? Is a midlife crisis really just an opportunity to have an older, wiser, second adolescence? Find out here!
Up now at https://aczc.org/aczcpodcast or on all your favorite podcast platforms.
📖 This Week in ZenLit(™): 📖
There are many ways to enter the path, but essentially only two: first, to enter by principle; second, to enter by practice.
Entering by principle means using the teachings to understand the fundamental truth, having a deep faith that all living beings share the same true nature, just covered up by fleeting dust and deluded thoughts so that it cannot fully be seen.
If we let go of delusions and come back to the truth, sit still, face the wall, no self and no one else, buddhas and regular beings all the same, strong and unmoving, not relying on written teachings - then we are deeply aligned with the principle; with no divisions, still and effortless, this is what it means to enter by principle.
⚡️This Week in Zen! ⚡️
All times Pacific. All sessions are in-person + on Zoom unless otherwise noted (email us for Zoom info).
Saturday - 7/11, 10am - 12:05pm
Sit & Talk w/ Sara Campbell - Our biggest day of the week! We’ll do two half-hour rounds of zazen, and then Sara celebrates her return with a talk on the importance of being confused. But also clear? About your confusion, you know. You know?? Join us!
Monday - 7/13, 7:30pm - 9pm
Sit & Talk w/ Dave Cuomo - One half hour of zazen and then Dave really is going to talk about magic. What it meant, what it means, the formulas to how it works practically and functionally in our secular little chants, and the transformational alchemy we dabble in every time we sit down (believe it or not). See y’all there!
Wednesday - 7/15, 7:30pm - 9pm
Sit & ZenLit(™) Night - Bodhidharma returns for a two-part series on his famous tl;dr of Indian Buddhism (that was all he could get the very busy and important Chinese to read). This week! The point…. Next week! The practice… Let’s discuss!
Friday - 7/17, 8am - 8:40am
Morning Chanting Service - This week! In our new ceremony format, we chant the Maka Hannya Haramitta Shingyo and our fresh new translation of the Heart Sutra, followed by the Trusting Heart and Mind Inscription, our lineage ancestors, and the Daihishin Darani. Poetry for the ages! Come on out and lend us your voice.
Tuesday - Friday, 7am - 8am
Morning Sit - One simple hour of what we do best — just sitting. Optional five minute stretch break offered in the middle.
See y’all soon!
Love,
ACZC