Barefoot & Drinking
⚡️ ACZC Happenings, 6/15 - 6/21 ⚡️
“Giving up the the need to help anybody, it might become possible to reach them.”
- Henry Zander
Hello Sangha!
Ever have one of those slow weeks where the time seems to stretch out and make you think you have lots of time to do lots of stuff…later? This was one such week for your humble writer, who may or may not have been suffering from jet lag, vacation withdrawal, insomnia, summertime sadness, a poor attitude, or some combination of all of the above, did not manage to accomplish much of anything. Well, anything but daydream about the strange beauty of temple bells and real Japanese sushi. Which was fine! Until she realized it was late Friday afternoon and she still had an ACZC newsletter to write. One full of good stuff, no less! So here we go…
As we mentioned last week, this Monday night are pleased to present a guest speaker, Rev. Shinryu Okuma. Okuma sensei is a Zen Buddhist priest and renowned singer and teacher in the Soto school’s hymn chanting lineage, the Baikaryu. His home temple is in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan, which means he’s traveled a long way to share this practice with us (hopefully he does not also have jet lag!). Come on out and give him a proper ACZC welcome!
And speaking of the music of words, this week on the podcast we are pleased to present Barefoot & Drinking (Poetry Corner) w/ Henry Zander. Henry brings us a highly entertaining poetry hour as we follow the the lives and words of two Buddhist poets; Miyazawa Kenji trying to help the masses one annoyed farmer at a time, and Santoka Kenji picking himself up from a life of tragedy to drink himself into a sutra steeped stupor. What does it take to live a free life, an honest life, and/or a helpful life? Does the world want to be changed or be accepted as it is? Is just being your self ultimately being selfish? Find out here!
Up now at http://aczc.org/aczcpodcast or on all your favorite podcast platforms.
Your koan-like Kodo Sawaki quote for the week:
These days, people try to accomplish things by forming groups and outnumbering the opposition. But in any group, members are infected with group stupidity. Forming factions within the group and competing with other subgroups is a good example of group paralysis. To be free of group paralysis and become the self that is only the self is the practice of zazen.
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 - 6/15, 10am - 12:30pm
Sit & Discussion w/Sara Campbell - Our biggest day of the week! Two half hour rounds of zazen, one walking meditation in the middle, and then our wandering friend Sara returns to the hotseat to recount some of her experiences visiting Toshoji monastery. Word on the street is she’ll also read some gorgeous poetry she came across there that reimagines the Therigatha, an ancient collection of short poems by early Buddhist nuns. Join us!
Monday - 6/17, 7:30pm - 9pm
Sit & Discussion w/ Shinryu Okuma - We’ll sit zazen for 30 minutes and then we are pleased to host Shinryu Okuma, who will be visiting us from Hokkaido and sharing a new-to-ACZC type of chanting practice called Baikaryu or Goeika. We’ll see you there!
Wednesday - 6/19, 7:30pm - 9pm (Zoom Only)
Sit & Koan Discussion w/ Emily Eslami - Emily is back to lead us in a group discussion of Chapter 14 of The Zen Teaching of Homeless Kodo, featuring the group-bashing text quoted above. What will happen?? Let’s see! Join in the fun.
Friday - 6/21, 8am
Morning Chanting Service - This week we’re chanting Zazenshin and paying tribute to the male ancestors in our lineage. 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