A Shorter Conversation
⚡️ ACZC Happenings, 7/20 - 7/26 ⚡️
“Most of us play life as if it was a game and it always feel as if we are losing this game. We never win this game.” - Muhō Nölke
Hello Sangha!
Ok, yes, Dogen did go on “…and don’t be attached to life and death, care about all beings, respect those above and love those below, free yourself from the mind that dislikes things and the mind that desires them, the mind free of thought and free of grief: this is a Buddha.” Which is all good advice! But forgive us for stopping at the short and pithy version. We’re not saying Dogen needs an editor, we’re just saying that when Muhō quoted it that way in his talk, it landed.
And yes, Zen fans, that is Muhō Nölke Roshi, former long time abbot of Antaiji Monastery (the temple founded by Kodo Sawaki (nbd)), that we’ve got on the podcast this week. He just so happened to stop by Toshoji monastery while our caretaker was over there, who just so happened to get to record the talk, and Muhō graciously said we were welcome to use it for the podcast, and so here you are, a thank you gift to all of us for being just the best sangha a tradition could ask for.
And speaking of reasons to show up and stick around, great things happening this week to show up and stick around for! Tomorrow (Saturday 7/20), Robert wraps up his sonic meditation series with Pauline Oliveras, the Zenniest of composers here to show us how to turn our zazen into pure music. And then speaking of music to our ears, Sunday (7/21) we’ve got the return of the melodious Full Moon Ceremony which we would love to sing in single note glory with you. And then Monday (7/22) Dave is back to crack open his diary, get a little personal, and finish up his two parter on what the hell happened over in Japan this Spring.
But speaking of zazen, zazen, and so much more than just zazen, this week on the podcast we are very excited to bring you The Easy Way w/ Muhō Nölke. Muhō, Former longtime abbot of Antaiji Monastery (home temple of Kodo Sawaki), treats us to a talk about best practices for farming students and the self, and why zazen alone might not be the answer to Zen. Do each of us really create the whole universe, and if so, how is our practice not about ourselves? Is just sitting enough? Can we teach a cucumber to grow itself? Why can’t pumpkins just get along?? Find out here!
Up now at http://aczc.org/aczcpodcast or on all your favorite podcast platforms.
And hey, here’s a koan for the week:
Case in point:
Changsha once had a monk ask Hui, “What was it like before you met Nanquan?"
Hui remained silent.
The monk said, What about after meeting him?”
Hui said, “It was everything.”
The monk went back and told this to Changsha. Changsha said, “It’s like someone sitting on top of a hundred-foot pole: they may have gotten somewhere, but they’re not all the way there yet. When you’re on top of a hundred-foot pole, take another step. The universe in all directions is your body.”
The monk said, “When you’re on top of a hundred-foot pole, how can you take another step?”
Changsha said, "The mountains of Lang, the rivers of Li."
The monk said, "I don't get it.”
Changsha said, "The whole world is in the empire’s grasp.”
This Week in Zen! All times posted in Pacific time zone, all sessions hosted in person and on Zoom unless otherwise marked (email us for quick and easy Zoom access info):
Saturday - 7/20, 10am - 2:00pm
Sit & Discussion w/ Robert Holliday - Two half hour rounds of zazen, and then Robert returns to the hot seat to put a little music in our mindfulness with a look at sound and sonic meditations - this month: Pauline Oliveras! See y’all there.
Sunday - 7/21, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Full Moon Ceremony - Join us for a short and sweet half hour of zazen before we do the lyrical and melodious Ryaku Fusatsu, where we chant the precepts and remember why they were such good advice in the first place. All are welcome (no prior precept commitment required)!
Monday - 7/22, 7:30pm - 9pm
Sit & Discussion w/ Dave Cuomo - One half hour of zazen and then Dave is back with part 2 of his wrap up about his time in Japan - this week: The Angry Cloud Diaries (no need to have caught part 1, anyone can jump right in.) Join us!
Wednesday - 7/24, 7:30pm - 9pm (Zoom Only)
Sit & Koan Discussion w/ Dave - We returns to classic koans with another koan classic! This week: Changsha’s 100 ft pole. Where’s left to go when you’ve made it to the top? Is Zen truly the path of failing up? Let’s discuss!
Friday - 7/26, 8am
Morning Chanting Service - This week we chant the Heart Sutra in English, Dogen and Hongzhi’s friendly Guidance for Zazen (aka the Zazenshin), and send our respects and shoutouts to all our women ancestors. 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