Bring It On
⚡️ACZC Happenings, 7/19 - 7/25⚡️
“…A church was warning us to be careful with the Obon rituals. They said, ‘We’re not saying that your family's spirits are bad. There are a lot of good spirits and souls. But then there are the sneaky ones too….’ In Buddhism we don’t say that, we say ‘bring it on.’” - Gyokei Yokoyama
Hello Sangha!
In the last few weeks at ZenLit night, we’ve been talking about our Great Ancestor Keizan Jokin’s Points to Keep in Mind for Zazen, and it has brought up a lot of feelings! When we give zazen instructions in the zendo, they’re pretty straightforward, but Keizan gave us a lot more fodder for discussion. And it’s been interesting to talk more about it, because for all the zazen we sit together, and for all we talk about how important it is to sit zazen, we don’t actually spend much time talking about what happens in zazen.
What happens in zazen? Well, it seems like that’s different for everyone. But also, you know, more or less the same. So many of us wonder if we’re doing it correctly. So many of us get annoyed when it doesn’t go how we want it to go or how we think it should go. Ironically, we have a lot of opinions about this practice that helps us let go of our opinions. It’s amusing and and confusing and infuriating and sublime, not to mention hard to explain.
It’s an elusive beast is what it is. Just like Zen. Just like…life! And we could probably say more, but we should probably just keep doing zazen, huh?
Great news! We will. Will you join us?
And speaking of elusive beasts, 🎙️ This week on the podcast we are excited to present “…Bring It On! (Obon, Ghosts, & Materialism) w/ Gyokei Yokoyama”🎙️
Gyokei gives us stories of friendly (and hungry!) ghosts as he explains the meaning and history of Obon, the summer festival of spirits in Japanese Zen. Is it possible to keep dying traditions and communities alive while also letting them go? Has a fish ever remembered to be grateful for water? Do ghosts count as living beings?? Find out here!
Up now at http://aczc.org/aczcpodcast or on all your favorite podcast platforms.
📖 May we interest you in this week’s installment of ZenLit(™)? 📖
Some [More] Points to Keep in Mind for Zazen:
“When we sit zazen we don’t engage with teachings, practice, or realization, and yet we are fully included in them. A realization that comes from patiently waiting for enlightenment is not the mind of zazen. A practice of sincere action and engagement is not the mind of zazen. A teaching based on stopping evil and doing good is not the mind of zazen. Even when Zen sets down a teaching, it is not a normal teaching. It is directly pointing to a single passed down truth, a fully embodied expression, an underlying language that knows no structure and is beyond all meaning and reason. A single word can express the whole universe without the slightest mention. Surely this is the real teaching of the buddhas and ancestors.
Put everything aside, give fate a break, don’t engage in spiritual or material teachings, forget about your sentimental attachments to the world and the way; with no right and wrong, no good or evil, what is there to defend? - This is the ineffable precept of the fundamental mind. Nothing changes, nothing shifts, nothing acts, nothing knows. Like a fool, like a statue, like a mountain, like the ocean, the twin forms of motion and stillness don’t arise at all; it’s a meditation that doesn’t take the form of meditation - and because it doesn’t take the form of meditation we call it the Great Meditation.” - Keizan Jokin
⚡️This Week in Zen! ⚡️
All times Pacific. All sessions are in-person + on Zoom unless otherwise noted (email us for Zoom info).
Saturday - 7/19, 10am - 12:15pm
Sit & Talk w/ Jordan Mylet - Our biggest day of the week! Two half-hour rounds of zazen, and then Jordan is back for a talk about the label of “Zen Buddhist” and how she feels identifying as that — what it used to mean, what it has come to mean, what it is supposed to (?) mean according to others. See y’all there!
Monday - 7/21, 7:30pm - 9pm
Sit & Discussion w/ Dave Cuomo - One half hour of zazen and then Dave takes the hotseat to try and find the hints of happiness hidden between the lines of our tough love teachings. Do these monks ever lighten up? Is there a spark of joy in between the great mater of life and death? Let’s find out.
Wednesday - 7/23, 7:30pm - 9pm
Sit & ZenLit Night - This week! A single word contains the whole universe with nary a mention. A meditation takes the form of ANYTHING but meditation. And pop quiz! What does a fool, a statue, a mountain, and an ocean have in common? 🤔 A wisdom that takes the form of ANYTHING but wisdom?? Let’s discuss.
Thursday - 7/24, 7:30pm - 8:40pm
Evening Zazen - Join us for two simple 30 minute rounds of serene evening sitting to wind down your day and week. See y’all there!
Friday - 7/25, 8am
Morning Chanting Service - This week we chant the Heart Sutra ❤️ followed by Shitou’s idyllic Straw Hut Song. How could it be anywhere but this old leather bag you find right here and now? Let’s chant it together and maybe we’ll find out. 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