Escape Artist
⚡️ACZC Happenings, 1/31 - 2/6⚡️
“It’s sad that we humans have to learn this way, but it seems to be the case.” - Sara Campbell
Hello Sangha!
There was a doberman pinscher in the zendo on Monday night. I couldn’t believe my eyes at first, but sure enough there it was, staring intensely with eyes that looked through me, ears pointed, a resolute set to the chin. It was coming for me, I was sure of it, a formidable creature who knew what I’d done, who I’d been.
And then I blinked and its pointy face faded, a trick of the light and the gnarled contours of the wall of ACZC’s 110 year old building. Just another small lesson in impermanence, a blip in time when causes and conditions conspired to conjure a confounding sight. Funny how that’s just always happening, isn’t it? On the wall, in your mind, in the sheets, on the streets. Gotta stay alert.
While we’re on the subject of strange sights and sounds, have you ever made it to a Full Moon Ceremony? We’ve got one happening on Sunday night at 7pm. It’s a ceremony so old that it pre-dates the Buddha, meaning somewhere along the way we picked up an ancient form and made it our own. Join us for 30 minutes of zazen followed by some lovely, mysterious bells and chanting. Word on the street is some of us might mosey out for karaoke afterwards, and we’d love to have you there, too!
→DON’T FORGET! A week from tomorrow we are hosting our first Same Difference variety show of the year (Feb 7 at 7pm). Everyone is invited, especially you!
→ALSO: Mark your calendars for Monday, Feb 16, at 7:30pm for the return of Zen Beginner’s Night with our head teacher Dave, and bring a curious friend.
And speaking of figuring out what we’re getting ourselves into, this week on the podcast we are very pleased to present 🎙️ “Escape Artist (Commitment) w/ Sara Campbell”🎙️
Sara takes a hard-hitting honest look at commitment, its phobia, and the choices we seem to be making for better or worse. What are we committing to whether we avoid it or not? Is regret the truest path to wisdom? Is there still time to take the path not taken?? Find out here!
Up now at https://aczc.org/aczcpodcast or on all your favorite podcast platforms.
📖 This Week in ZenLit(™): 📖
Be a lamp to yourself, be a home for yourself. Have no other home; let reality be your lamp, let reality be your home; have no other home.
And how does someone live as a lamp to themselves? Consider the body enthusiastically, clear, and focused, with no want or worry in the world. Consider feelings, awareness, and reality just the same; that’s how someone lives as a lamp to themselves, as a home for themselves.
⚡️This Week in Zen! ⚡️
All times Pacific. All sessions are in-person + on Zoom unless otherwise noted (email us for Zoom info).
Saturday - 1/31, 10am - 12:05pm
Sit & Talk w/Dave Cuomo - Our biggest day of the week! We’ll do two half-hour rounds of zazen, and then Dave takes the hotseat for a talk he’s been excitedly jabbering about called Toon Town, which will apparently involve conversations with the inanimate, a blowout fight on a jet, the line between sanity and mild psychosis, and, oh, probably some stuff about religion. Call us curious. Come on out!
Sunday - 2/1, 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 recite the precepts in glorious one note harmony and remember why they were such good advice in the first place. All are welcome!
Monday - 2/2, 7:30pm - 9pm
Sit & Discussion w/ Henry Zander - One half hour of zazen and then Henry is back for a talk about the Sandokai, writing, running, board game design, and being a good facilitator. How will he pull it all together? Join us and let’s find out!
Wednesday - 2/4, 7:30pm - 9pm
Sit & ZenLit(™) Night - This week! A couple of millennia ago, just before the Buddha shuffled off this mortal coil, he left us some instructions, and people have been puzzling over them ever since. Let’s step into the fray the ACZC way! See you there.
Friday - 2/6, 8am
Morning Chanting Service - This week! We’ll chant the Maka Hannya Haramitta Shingyo and the Daihishin Darani, followed by our lineage 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