Boiled Over
⚡️ACZC Happenings, 5/3 - 5/9⚡️
“Meditation isn't something I have to do. It's something I don’t have to do.”
Hello Sangha!
Can you hear that buzz? It’s not just the bees attending the May flowers — it’s us gearing up for our bi-monthly Same Difference - Rent Party tomorrow night! We’ve got a fantastic variety show of musicians, comedy, and poetry curated by our own poet in residence, Matt, right here in the ACZC zendo from 7 - 9:30 pm. Join us as we cut loose and enjoy some home fermented fresh strawberry beverages, a raffle with very exciting prizes (meditating ants? driftwood swords? art?? and more!?!?), and hear some super talented friends.
But before then, we’ve got our monthly Half Day Sit (Sat, 5/3 - 7am - 12:15pm), led by our resident trainee, Sara Campbell. (Schedule posted here!) We’d love to see you there for as much or as little of the day as you’re able.
(If anyone (who you know personally) is sick or otherwise in need of good health well wishes, you can add their names to the form you see here (bottom of the page) and we’d be happy to include them in this month’s well being dedication.)
And are you thinking of joining our annual Spring Retreat? We’re gathering Fri, June 6 - Mon, June 9 at nearby Sozenji temple in Montebello (aka Gyokei’s home temple) for our trademark mix of zazen, yoga, dharma talks, and good friends in great community. Details and registration are here. If you’d like to attend but haven’t registered yet, please shoot us a note to let us know. And, as always, reach out if you have any questions at all.
And speaking of rollicking good times with familiar faces, this week on the podcast we are pleased to present “Boiled Over” (What Am I Doing Here??) w/ Tip Dunn. In his eagerly anticipated ‘What Am I Doing Here??’ talk, morning stalwart and life of the party, Tip, takes us to the pivotal personal moments that turn life around and upside down and led him to become a fixture here at ACZC. What hope does a better tomorrow offer us for today? Is volunteering at your local Zen center selfish if it helps keep you from falling apart? And is paying 15 bucks to stare at a wall way too much or not nearly enough?? Find out here!
Up now at http://aczc.org/aczcpodcast or on all your favorite podcast platforms.
May we interest you in a fresh hit of ZenLit(™)?
When everything is understood to be Buddha-dharma, there is delusion and enlightenment, there is practice, there is birth and death, there are Buddhas, and there are ordinary beings.
When everything is understood to not exist, there is no enlightenment, there are no Buddhas, there are no ordinary beings, there is no life, and there is no death.
Because the Buddha Way emerged from both abundance and scarcity, there is birth and death, there is delusion and enlightenment, and there are Buddhas-to-be. And yet even though it is like this, the flowers we love die and the weeds we don’t flourish.
Coming to Zen practice with the intent to illuminate things is delusion. But to allow all things to proceed and be illuminated through you? That is enlightenment.
To awaken to delusion is to be a Buddha. To fall into delusion in the midst of enlightenment is to be an ordinary being. And there are people who just keep awakening, and those who fall further and further into delusion.
When Buddhas are truly Buddhas, they don’t consciously think, “I am a Buddha.” They’re just Buddhas and it is evident in their way of being.
We experience sights with our whole body and mind, and we do the same when we hear sounds. But even though there is intimacy in these encounters, it’s not like seeing your reflection in the mirror or the moon on the surface of the water. When you focus on one aspect, you can’t see the rest as clearly.
To study the Buddha Way is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to recognize the self as being one with all things. To be one with all things is to allow the body and mind of yourself and others to fall away. Even your notions of being enlightened cease, and this cessation goes on forever.
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 - 5/3, 7am - 12:30pm
Half Day Sit w/ Sara Campbell - Our biggest day of the month! Join us bright and early (or any time in the schedule you’d like) for morning zazen, chanting, a little Zen breakfast, some quick cleanup, and then we’re back in for two more rounds of zazen, all culminating in a discussion as Sara takes the hotseat to inquire into the nature of the self which is not the self which is really the ineffable it. Drawing upon her adventures on the cushion and recent dive into Dōgen’s Inmo, we’re super curious to see what she’s got in store for us. See you there! Schedule posted here.
Saturday - 5/3, 7pm - 9:30(ish)
”Same Difference” - Rent Party & Variety Show - It’s time again for the second installment of the our bi-monthly mini fundraiser (finds optional), featuring poets, musicians, storytellers, and raffle curated by our most discerning resident promoter, Matthew Sherling. We can’t wait to see you there. Come on out!
Monday - 5/5, 7:30pm - 9pm
Sit & Discussion w/ Dave - One half hour of zazen and then Dave assumes the position to take us into some highly entertaining legends and lore as he finally gives us the deep scoop on this Ryogon Shu we’ve been chanting all ango. Why does a practice of peace have us conjuring up a Buddhist battle of five armies? Can we really banish a demonic demi god only to ask it for help five lines later? And why does a secular sangha who swears they don’t go in for all that ghost and belief style religion have us wholeheartedly shouting out these sorts of epic incantations?? Let’s find out.
Wednesday - 5/7, 7:30pm - 9pm
Sit & ZenLit Night - Sara gifts us a fresh rendition of the greatest hit of Zen’s greatest hits with Dogen’s Genjo Koan (part 1 of 3! (all weeks welcome to anyone - all Lit nights are self contained). Dave facilitates and Sara commentates as we go all for one and one for all on life, the universe, and everything. Let’s discuss!
Thursday - 5/8, 7:30pm - 8:40pm
Evening Zazen - ACZC’s latest addition to the schedule! Join us for two 30 minute rounds of serene evening sitting to wind down your day and week. We’ll see y’all there.
Friday - 5/9, 8am
Morning Chanting Service - This week! In another thrilling installment of our epic ango Fridays, we chant the Ryogon Shu, Heart Sutra, and Trusting the Mind Inscription, great ancestor Sengcan’s gently cascading encouragement to let it all go. 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.
Tuesday - Saturday - Morning Ango Schedule
As always, feel free to join for as much or as little of the schedule as you’re able.
7:00 - 8:00am………………Zazen
8:05 - 8:40am………………Chanting
8:40 - 9:10am…………..…Zen Breakfast
9:10 - 9:50am………………Work Practice
See y’all soon!
Love,
ACZC