Degenerate Dharma
ACZC happenings, 6/17 - 6/23
“When I found out that we're in the degenerate dharma ending age where nobody can get enlightened, I thought, ‘That sucks. Why am I even doing this then?’ And then I decided that's a great place to practice. If we don’t have to worry about getting anywhere with it, we can just sit.” - Jason Dodge
Hello Sangha!
It seems the sun remains reluctant to emerge from the clouds and grace us with the joys of summer, but change is in the air nonetheless! In case you missed her Monday night talk, Sara Campbell, our ACZC resident of the past three years, is moving on. (Sniff, sniff.) While we’ll miss her daily presence on site, we are excited to say that we will have an opening for a new resident here at the Center as of mid-August.
Yep, you heard it here first, we are offering an opportunity for a curious Zennie to deepen their practice by living in community with other practitioners. So if having zazen, yoga, and great sangha (not to mention the great city of Los Angeles) right outside your door sounds appealing, please read our residency overview for more information. You can fill out the application or email if you have any questions. We look forward to hearing from you!
And speaking of practice, this week on the podcast we are pleased to present Degenerate Dharma (The Diamond Sutra & Buddhist Cosmology) w/ Jason Dodge.
Jason skillfully navigates us through the perfect paradoxes of the Diamond Sutra, and we all get a little nerdy on some fascinating (if a little odd) Buddhist Cosmology. What exactly are the 32 marks of a buddha, the three bodies of a Buddha, and the six perfections? Why does none of it matter to our practice and why is it helpful to hear anyway? And are we truly living in the degenerate age, and if so why is that the best time to practice?? Find out here!
Up now at http://aczc.org/aczcpodcast or on all your favorite podcast platforms!
Your koan for the week!
Case in point:
Linji said to the assembly, “On that lump of meat in your chest is a bodhisattva with no status, constantly coming and going through the orifices of your face. If you haven’t seen it yet, take a look!”
A monk spoke up and asked, “What do you mean ‘a bodhisattva of no status?’”
Linji got down from his seat, grabbed the monk and said, “Tell me!”
The monk paused.
Linji pushed him away and said, “The bodhisattva of no status is a dried up shit stick.” Then he went back to his room.
This Week in Zen! All times are in Pacific time zone and all sessions are hosted in person and on Zoom unless otherwise marked (email us for quick and easy Zoom access info):
Saturday - 6/17 at 10am
Sit & Talk w/ Erik Andersen - Our biggest day of the week - two half hour rounds of zazen, one walking meditation in the middle, and then Erik is back to guide us through another selection from the Book of Serenity and all the paths it’s taken him down in his practice. Join us!
Monday - 6/19 at 7:30pm
Sit & Talk w/ Corey Warner - One half hour of zazen and then our friend from the Central Coast returns to share some wisdom from that quippiest of dharma deliverers, Kodo Sawaki Roshi. Join us and let’s discuss!
Wednesday - 6/21 at 7:30pm (Zoom Only)
Sit & Koan Discussion w/ Mota Mynttinen - When we discover a bodhisattva of no status flits in and out through the orifices of our face, what does it tell us about ourselves or lack thereof?? Let’s find out.
Thursday - 6/22 at 7pm (Zoom Only)
Yoga & Zazen w/ Nina Snow - Nina returns for one hour of her most magical brand of Slow Flow Yoga, followed by one half hour of zazen to send us softly off into dreamland. See y’all there!
Friday - 6/23 at 8am
Heart Sutra Chanting Service - This week! We chant the Heart Sutra in English followed by Tozan Ryokei’s ode to the interplay between absolute and relative truth, the Song of the Jewel Mirror Samadhi. Come chant with us and start your weekend off right.
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