Kerplunk!
⚡️ACZC Happenings, 11/29 - 12/5⚡️
“A temple or a tradition is a structure, but an open ended structure, like a poem; a container that allows us to honor the passing world, creating structures like paintings and poetry - not as things that are fixed, but as beautiful containers to honor reality as it is, honor our open-hearted response to the passing world.” - Matthew Sherling
Hello Sangha!
Well, would you just look at that cozy scene above? We don’t do a lot of glamour shots around here, but what better way to announce the launch of our 2025 Fundraiser than with the help of our dedicated (and very good looking) sangha. ✨🎄❄️
And we’re very excited to offer amazing homemade merch for you this year, including:
All new limited edition T-Shirts (silkscreened in house!) featuring scripturally accurate Buddha encouraging you to be just like him, aka nothing but your own wild, weird self.
Your 2026 Wall Calendar featuring the best of this year’s full color art as seen in these newsletters throughout the year, and including all the Zen holidays, moons, and days of note.
The ghost of greeting cards past, with a selection of full color holiday postcards to send to your friends and loved ones.
And, very excitingly, the launch of an ACZC Zine (!!): Four issues of original commentaries and fresh translations of classic Zen texts from our favorite head teacher in a format we hope could be an ongoing community project in the near future.
So much has happened here this year that expanded not only our hearts, but our idea of what’s possible for this sangha and center. We launched a training ango program that was a big success (and we only see expanding in the future), had two dharma transmissions for our head teacher & first lay teacher, doubled our staff and full time leadership team (from one to two!), launched an ongoing live performance series; and somewhere along the way, we’re starting to get the impression that more than just a place for zazen, this will also be a home for art & culture – fully authentically Zen, and fully authentically LA, right here and now. A place for sincere Zen study and practice, of course! But also for art, stories, music, laughter, and the kind of shared experiences that make a community feel alive.
And we have big plans for next year, including a sangha trip to Japan (!), more community projects, and our ten year anniversary (!!).
It’s kind of crazy how much this little center has grown, and especially recently, cohered into a true community led project. But! As you know, we lose a good bit money here every month, and by the end of the year these fundraisers are the only way we’re able to make it into another one. Last year we really did just about scrape the bottom of the barrel, but then all of you stepped up and got us through. So if ACZC has been a positive part of your life this year, and if you’d like it to be around to do so again next year and beyond, please, check out and
📣 Last call to register for next weekend’s retreat! 📣
We are gathering next Friday, 12/5 - Sunday, 12/7 for a commuter Rohatsu retreat at ACZC and Sozenji in Montebello. Schedule, details, and registration here. The last day to register (or let us know you’re coming) is this Sunday, 11/30. We can’t wait!
And speaking of silence that is so vast it must speak, this week on the podcast we are delighted to present🎙️ “Kerplunk! (Zen and the Art of Art) w/ Matthew Sherling”🎙️
ACZC’s favorite poet in residence Matthew gives us a talk on Zen, creativity, and art and the many frictions and harmonies between them. Can we train spontaneity? Does Zen’s famous skepticism of the written word discourage or liberate our writing? If we’re so focused on letting our thoughts go, will we still be able to grab the good ones and get them on the page?? Find out here!
Up now at http://aczc.org/aczcpodcast or on all your favorite podcast platforms.
📖 This Week in ZenLit(™): 📖
Baoen asked Qingfeng, “What is a buddha?”
Qingfeng said, “The fire boy comes seeking fire.” Baoen took these words to heart.
Sometime later he went to see Fayan. Fayan asked him about his understanding and Baoen said, “The fire boy is fire, but is still looking for it, just like me, Baoen, using a buddha to ask about a buddha.”
Fayan said, “Close, but that’s completely wrong.”
Despite his breakthrough Baoen still doubted himself. He withdrew and thought about it deeply, but still couldn’t understand. So he humbly went back to Fayan for more instruction.
Fayan said, “Ask and I’ll answer.”
Baoen asked, “What is a Buddha?”
Fayan said, “The fire boy comes seeking fire.” Baoen suddenly completely understood.
⚡️This Week in Zen! ⚡️
All times Pacific. All sessions are in-person + on Zoom unless otherwise noted (email us for Zoom info).
Saturday - 11/29, 10am - 12:15pm
Sit & Talk w/ Dave Cuomo - Our biggest day of the week! We’ll do two half-hour rounds of zazen, then our head teacher Dave takes the hotseat for a big year-end state-of-the-center talk. Where have we been, where are we now, and where might we be going?? Is the revolution over, or is it still waiting to begin?? Join us and let’s find out!
Monday - 12/1, 7:30pm - 9pm
Sit & Discussion w/ Dave Cuomo - One half hour of zazen and then Dave is back with a short and spicy (🌶️!) prompt from Yunmen (possibly the only dirty joke in the old records (that we know of)), and then ample time for some open off the record roundtable discussion on whatever’s on your heart’s and minds, aka Q&A night. See you there!
Wednesday - 12/3, 7:30pm - 9pm
Sit & ZenLit(™) Night - This week we play with fire 🔥! Baoen goes on a quest to understand what a buddha is, and his teachers help him along in the best way they can. Can we find what we’re looking for by going out to look for it?? Let’s discuss!
Friday - 12/5, 8am
Morning Chanting Service - This week! We’ll chant the Heart Sutra and The Straw Hut Song, followed by our lineage ancestors. Living here, there’s nothing to learn / who here is trying to sell anything to anyone? 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
Georgiaaaaa