“My teacher trained me so well for the moment things came to a crisis that I could just follow what he taught me. And I think he still hates me for it.” - Dave Cuomo
Hello Sangha!
Six or seven years ago, not long after ACZC had moved into the blue house, a member of the sangha gave us an orchid. It looked like an orchid, at least, and it was planted in the kind of pot they sell orchids in at Trader Joe’s. It lived for a while in its humble little pot and gave some indications that it wanted to keep living and grow bigger, so it was planted it in the front yard next to the lavender. And now here we are years later and 1) the little seedling is now a rather large tree in the front yard (!), 2) we have learned that some orchids are Orchid Trees (Bauhinia variegata)!! Who knew?? (Well, probably some of you did, but not us.)
We wanted to share this delightful tidbit because it seems so emblematic of the Zen experience many of us have had. One day you visit a Zen center to find out what this meditation thing is all about, and then after many years and lots of practice you discover you’ve taken the form of a thing you didn’t even know was possible when you set out! What a journey 🌈, one might say. Thanks for being on it with us.
And speaking of mysterious and surprising journeys, tomorrow afternoon is our monthly Zen Writing Workshop! Join us for an afternoon specially designed to revive and refresh your creativity, whether you consider yourself a “writer” or not. Featuring an inspiring mix of zazen, imaginative prompts, free-writing, deep listening, and reflection among friends, it’s guaranteed to get the old synapses firing. See y’all there!
And speaking of things that happen in relationship to others 👀, this week on the podcast we are very pleased to present 🎙️ “Faith With Eyes Wide Open (Boundaries & Scandal) w/ Dave Cuomo” 🎙️
Good teachers go bad — which is confusing and upsetting. Dave does his best to walk us through best practices for managing boundaries, roles, and scandals in Zen as a balanced part of this complete practice. Is there something about Zen that makes it particularly prone to scandal? Are there things about Soto Zen that make it peculiarly well setup for healthy sangha relationships? Were our teachers ever worthy of the roles we put them in, and do we need such teachers at all?? Find out here!
Up now at http://aczc.org/aczcpodcast or on all your favorite podcast platforms.
📖 This Week in ZenLit(™): 📖
🪞 Golden Mirror Meditation Verse 🪞 (part 2)
It’s like the lines of the hexagram fire over fire
skewed and true intertwine together
Stack a line, it makes three
transformed, it makes five
Like tianma’s flavor
like the vajra’s prongs
Delicately tucked, right in the center
rhythm and voice arise together
Know the roots, and you’ll know the road
carry it close, wherever you go
When things are aligned, this is a good sign
best not to fight it
Innocent & simple, delicate & subtle
it has nothing to do with deluded or enlightened
Through causes and conditions in time and seasons
perfectly quiet, it shines
So small it slips through the seamless
so wide its beyond all location
A hairsbreadth off
and its out of of tune
But now, there are sudden and gradual techniques
because the circumstance makes the teaching
Teachings diverge!
like they’re supposed to
When you’ve mastered the teachings and done what they do
the incessant truth flows on
Outwardly still while shaking inside
like a tethered colt, a trapped rat
The ancient masters sympathized
and as a practice of giving
They joined in delusion
took their black robes as white
Deluded thinking dies out
a heart nods and accepts itself
If you want to walk the ancient path
please, look to the ancient past.
🦅 A Quick Programming Note 🦅
Eagle-eyed readers may notice that as of this week, we will no longer be offering Thursday evening zazen. Stay tuned as we will be announcing a new update to the ACZC schedule soon!
⚡️This Week in Zen! ⚡️
All times Pacific. All sessions are in-person + on Zoom unless otherwise noted (email us for Zoom info).
Saturday - 8/16, 10am - 12:15pm
Sit & Talk w/ Mota Mynttinen - Our biggest day of the week! We’ll do two half-hour rounds of zazen, then Mota returns to the hotseat with an update from the Soggy Dog Hermitage, where the creek is alive, the weather is perfect, and the living is easy. All of that said, why is it still so hard to find peace, even when you are exactly where you choose to be? Join us and let’s find out!
Saturday - 8/16, 1:00 - 3:30pm
Zen Writing Workshop - Join us for ACZC’s signature mashup of zazen, freewriting, deep listening, and creative practice! All are welcome, no previous writing experience required. Just bring a pen, a notebook, and your wild and precious imagination.
Monday - 8/18, 7:30pm - 9pm
Sit & Discussion w/ Sara Campbell - One half hour of zazen and then Sara is back to cut through these soupy dawg days of August with a talk about the foundations of mindfulness, taking us all the way back to the Satipatthana Sutta. What were the Buddha’s meditation instructions, and are they still helpful now?? Come on out and let’s discuss.
Wednesday - 8/20, 7:30pm - 9pm
Sit & ZenLit Night - Join us as we move on to part two of our three part series on Golden Mirror Meditation Verse (the poem formerly known as the Jewel Mirror Samadhi). This week we get to go deep on some ancient woo woo and I Ching lore. Also! Teachings diverge like they’re supposed to. Let’s discuss.
Friday - 8/22, 8am
Morning Chanting Service - This week! We chant the Heart Sutra ❤️ in English along with Dongshan’s Song of the Jewel Mirror Samadhi (otherwise known as the Golden Mirror Meditation Verse), 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