Friends with Benefits
⚡️ACZC Happenings, 6/14 - 6/20⚡️
“Even today, when someone eats something delicious and says with delight, ‘Oh, that flavor!’ they don't realize they're just repeating an ancient lament. This is what monks learn. Everything we love is really just a lament for what we’ve lost.” - Dave Cuomo
Hello Sangha!
We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming to bring you this breaking news report we thought you might find interesting. Read on!
🚨📰 BREAKING: Zen Takeover in Montebello 🚨📰
Sources confirm that over the weekend, a peaceful demonstration occurred at Sozenji Temple in Montebello, where more than two dozen black-clad Zen Buddhists quietly occupied the premises from Friday through Monday. The group was reportedly armed with meditation cushions, chant books, yoga mats, and an unwavering dedication to waking up and liberating all beings from suffering.
Eyewitnesses observed a curious lack of small talk, while strange and rhythmic sounds—booms, dings, dongs, clacks, and the occasional solemn bellow of a tall, bearded man—echoed from within. The sonic landscape was further decorated by beats from a large taiko drum, struck with such resonance that it may have rattled karmic seeds in neighboring counties.
Inside sources report two marquee ceremonies. First, Jukai, in which six brave practitioners officially “took the precepts,” marking a deep commitment to the bodhisattva path and displaying the very stylish rakusus they made in the process. The second, Dharma Combat, featured a woman wielding what witnesses variously described as a “shippei,” a jewel-encrusted sword, a dragon, or a “three-foot-long venomous black snake.” She responded to shouted questions from the assembly with earnest brevity between a flurry of bows, prostrations, and the kind of theatrical intensity usually reserved for martial arts films and koan collections.
Despite the solemn expressions and long periods of silence, witnesses report that the atmosphere inside was one of profound reverence, mutual support, and occasional suppressed giggles. One participant was overheard whispering, “It was hard and weird and beautiful.” Another simply said, “I think I met myself in the zendo.”
This radical act of community practice concluded peacefully on Monday, with hugs, laughter, and the rare and sacred ritual of talking while eating lunch. Over pizza and leftover stew, stories were shared, eyes met, and the silence gave way to the chatter of a happy sangha in full bloom.
Aka, huge thank you to all of who were able to join us in person and on Zoom last weekend! It was the most meaningful, excellent end to our spring ango we could have possibly hoped for, we are profoundly grateful, and we look so forward to doing it all with you again soon.
Also in breaking news! We have a special guest speaker from Tokyo Soto Zen headquarters joining us to give the talk on Monday night (see below…) and we would love to give him a proper ACZC warm welcome. Come on out and say hello!
But speaking of good ideas that come and go on epic and momentary timescales all their own, 🎙️ This week on the podcast we are very excited to present “This. Is a Good Idea (Buddhist Creation Story) w/ Dave Cuomo” 🎙️
Dave tells us the full creation myth of how Buddhism says this world came to be, how it’s going to end, and all the mishaps and miracles in between. Has all of this happened before? Is everything we love just a lament for what we lost? Was this whole existence thing really a good idea? Is there even such a thing as a true story?? Find out here!!
Up now at http://aczc.org/aczcpodcast or on all your favorite podcast platforms.
📖 Time for another installment of ZenLit(™)! 📖
Vimalakirti said to Mahakasyapa, “Sir, most of those playing the role of devils throughout the universe are really just bodhisattvas living in Inconceivable Liberation. They only appear as devils as a skillful means to guide and teach other beings.
“Also Kasyapa, as for the rest of the bodhisattvas out there, people may come to them to beg for a hand, foot, ear, nose, head, eye, bone marrow, brains, blood, flesh, skin, or bone; or to pray for their villages, towns, wives, husbands, children, servants, elephants, horses, carts, or carriages; or to ask for gold, silver, lapis lazuli, sapphire, agate, coral, emerald, pearl, conch shell, clothing, food, or drink.
“But most of these beggars are really just bodhisattvas living in Inconceivable Liberation using skillful means to test and strengthen those other bodhisattvas.
“But why would they do this? Bodhisattvas living in Inconceivable Liberation have awesome powers of moral clarity that allow them to harass and pressure others like this. Regular people don’t have this kind of energy or skill, and aren’t able to harass or pressure people in this way. They’re like donkeys who can’t handle the kicks of elephants and dragons.”
⚡️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 - 6/14, 10am - 12:15pm
Sit & Talk w/ Dave Cuomo - Our biggest day of the week! Two half-hour rounds of zazen, and then Dave takes the hotseat to lead us in an off the record open roundtable Q&A of which you and your burning (or as chill as you like) questions and comments are the only guide. See you there!
Monday - 6/16, 7:30pm - 9pm
Sit & Discussion w/ Rev. Gihan Un-no - One half hour of zazen and then we have a special treat! Guest speaker Gihan Un-no from Iwate, Japan will be here in person to give a talk called “Heart of Compassion, Words of Gentleness,” about living Zen in contemporary life. Word on the street is that in addition to being a Soto Shu priest, he is also a professional skier. ⛷️ Come on out and let’s give him a proper ACZC welcome!
Wednesday - 6/18, 7:30pm - 9pm
Sit & Zen Lit Night - While Dave is on vacation, Sara holds down the fort, offering facilitation and commentary to guide us through another installment from the Vimalakirti Sutra, that most lackadaisically insightful of lay practitioners. Let’s get into it!
Thursday - 6/19, 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 - 6/20, 8am
Morning Chanting Service - This week we chant the Heart Sutra followed by Sengcan’s Trusting the Mind Inscription, that lilting ode to equanimity, and the women ancestors in our lineage. 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