“Plant seeds in the sky and they’ll never grow. Plant them in dung and dirt and watch them flourish.” - Manjushri
ZEN CENTER HAPPENINGS - WEEK OF 8/20 - 8/26
Hello sangha!
First up! Tomorrow (Saturday) is the 3rd Saturday of the month which means it is time once again for the Zen Writing Workshop at 1pm (Zoom and in person). It’s a perfect chance to open up your hearts and minds and get a little spark into your creativity - all (including no) experience levels welcome, no pre-written work required, it’s a self contained afternoon of judgement free poetry found in the air around us. See y’all there.
And speaking of a sangha so talented we wouldn’t know how to judge, even if we were into that sort of thing, next Sunday 8/28 at 7pm, is the No Talent Show! Dust off a party trick, or just come for the show, either way it’s a no-pressure open mic where the only goal is not taking ourselves too seriously. We want to see whatever it is you want to share. Any and all performances welcome, the less impressive the better (ok, impressing us is ok too if you must). Want to participate but don’t have an act? Reach out and we’ll assign you one! Don’t want to participate but want to join in the silliness? Entertain and delight us with your (in person or Zoom) presence!
But speaking of how right it feels to get it wrong, this week on the podcast we are very pleased to bring you Dave Cuomo w/ “Heavenly Hells!” (Vimalakirti Sutra ch 8). In the culminating thesis of the sutra, our great bodhisattvic heroes Vimalakirti and Manjushri celebrate the irascible and irreverent with a whole hearted endorsement of the path of the Wrong Way and the heavenly delights of hell while Mahakasyapa laments the great disappointment of his own enlightenment. Is this why we can’t have nice things? Would we actually be content if we did get all those nice things? Does being good ultimately do anyone any good?? Find out here!
Up now at http://aczc.org/aczcpodcast on all your favorite podcast platforms
And now without further ado…This Week in Zen!
All sessions hosted in person and on Zoom unless otherwise marked (email us for quick and easy Zoom access info):
Saturday, 8/20 at 10am
Sit & Discussion 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 take us on a wild ride through the wit and wisdoms of the One Great Mind. See y'all there!
Saturday, 8/20 at 1pm
Zen Writing Workshop. All (including no) experience levels welcome, no pre-written work required, no judgements allowed: it’s a self contained afternoon of zazen, free writing, personal reflections, and on the spot found poetry waiting to be plucked from the air in front of your eyes. We can't wait to hear what you have to say.
Monday, 8/22 at 7:30pm
Sit & Discussion w/ Doshin - Story Time! Our friend and dharma sister from Sozenji temple takes the hot seat to regale us with her experiences at Toshoji Monastery in Kamakura, Japan. Join us!
Wednesday, 8/24 at 7:30pm (Zoom Only)
Koan Night - This week! Longya said, “I’ll tell you the answers when that stone turtle speaks.” Well, get ready to lay down some dharma Longya, because that stone turtle is positively singing! Let’s see if we can sing along shall we?
Thursday, 8/25 at 7pm (Zoom Only)
Yoga & Zazen w/ Marvelous Mara - Special guest teacher Mara leads us in one hour of a perfect Thursday evening’s yoga, followed by followed by one half hour of that sweet sweet zazen. Join us!
Friday, 8/26 at 8am
Join us for the Heart Sutra Chanting Service where this week, speaking of the stone statues that can’t help but sing,
we chant the Heart Sutra in English followed by The Jewel Mirror Samadhi! Poetry for the ages.
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.
That’s all for this week. See y’all soon!
Love,
ACZC