Holy High
⚡️ACZC Happenings, 10/5 - 10/11⚡️
“You hear about the guy who violated all his vows in one night. It started with number five, a couple of drinks…” - Patrick Carroll
Hello Sangha!
Forgive us our clickbait, no this week’s podcast is not about any particular holiday, but yes! we do wish a Happy High Holy Days to all who celebrate such things. And speaking of wholistic days that leave you saying wholly moly, tomorrow (Saturday 10/4) is the first Saturday of the month which means join us at 10am for our monthly Half Day Sit - a full half day of Zen hosted by your friendly ACZC caretaker with a couple rounds of sweet sweet zazen, a short Well Being chanting service for our good friends who could use such a dedication, a talk with Dave Cuomo on the odd intersection where the warm fuzzies of a scrappy little boot strap community meet the wild and wonderful mysticisms of time and space, a short break for lunch (homemade wholesome pizza), and then we’re back for two more rounds of sweet sweet zazen. As always feel free to join us for as much or as little of the day as you’re able. Schedule posted up here!
If anyone (who you know personally) is sick or otherwise in need of good health well wishes, you can add their names to the form you see here (bottom of the page) to have them included in this month’s Well Being dedication.
And speaking of putting a little sangha sweetness into our space registration is open for our Fall Sesshin (11/8-11/11) being hosted right here at ACZC in the city. Join us for three full days of deep zazen, free flowing yoga, deep discussions (no pressure), great and hearty vegetarian food made by your local monk, opportunities for one on one practice discussion, opportunities to connect with your friends and community in the wonderful ways that only happen in the trusting intimacy of silence, and did we mention the zazen? Just the right amount of zazen. Overnight accommodations are available here at the center, but as a bonus of hosting here in the city, commuter and partial attendance options are available as well. Schedule and info is up here (schedule subject to change, but we’ll have it set solid in the week before so you can plan your attendance). And as always feel free to reach out if you have any questions at all.
But speaking of going whole hog to find exactly and only the boundaries you were longing for all along, this week on the podcast we are very excited to bring you Holy High (Intoxicants) w/ Patrick Carroll. Patrick draws on the full education of his bartending certificate and sobriety chips to sort through our most intoxicating impulses with a deeply person talk on the 5th precept - no dealing in intoxicants. Can good Buddhists still enjoy a little beer? How can Zen help us control our addictive impulses? Is the desire for self control just one more addictive desire? And is that new fangled weed the kids are smoking getting them too damn high?? Find out here!
Up now at http://aczc.org/aczcpodcast or on all your favorite podcast platforms.
And speaking of mind melters, here’s a doozy of a koan for this week:
Case in Point:
The Surangama Sutra says, “If the seeing mind was a real thing, then wouldn’t you be able to see my seeing mind? Maybe you think you can see my seeing mind when we’re both looking at the same thing.
But when I don’t see something, why don’t you see my not-seeing? If you do see my not-seeing, clearly that’s not really not-seeing. But if you don’t see my not-seeing, then what is there to see?
Why not admit that it’s all just you?”
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 - 10/5, 10am - 2:05pm
Half Day Sit w/ Dave Cuomo - Our biggest day of the month! Two half hour rounds of zazen, a short and sweet Well Being chanting service for our friends and loved ones who could use the well wishes, a dharma talk with Dave, a short break for lunch (did someone say homemade pizza?? Yes! we said that.) and then we’re back for two more rounds of that sweet sweet zazen. As always feel free to come for as much or as little of the day as you’re able. See y’all there!
Monday - 10/7, 7:30pm - 9pm
Sit & Discussion w/ Gyokei Yokoyama - One half hour of zazen and then our far flung favorite supporting teacher is back in the city and back at ACZC to catch us up on all the happenings in the wider world of Zen. Come on out and help us welcome him back!
Wednesday - 10/9, 7:30pm - 9pm (Zoom Only)
Sit & Koan Discussion w/ Dave Cuomo - Do you see what I see? No, like literally… because it doesn’t sound like Buddha even believes in such a thing. Where is my mind? What is yours, and how are we supposed to ever meet if we don’t understand what we see in the mirror? Hey, let’s get a little weird this week, see y’all there!
Friday - 10/11, 8am
Morning Chanting Service - This week! And speaking of bedazzled self reflections, we chant the Heart Sutra in English followed by Dongshan’s sweet song to the jewels you probably forgot you were carrying around deep inside of you (don’t over think the logistics on that) all along - The Song of the Jewel Mirror Samadhi. 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