“If you watch a movie where somebody's having a bad day, you laugh along and empathize and think, ‘Well that's a good movie about a guy having a bad day.’ And that's what zazen is, just watching a guy maybe having a bad day. And then I empathize with that guy. And you know what? I usually have a better day after that.” - Dave Cuomo
Hello Sangha!
Thanks to all who came out on Monday for guest speaker Jitsujo Gauthier’s talk, and thanks to Jitsujo in particular for sharing her flavor of the dharma with us! It’s always nice to host a friend of the sangha. We’ll do it again soon.
Tomorrow is the first Saturday of the month which means it’s the Half Day Sit at 10am. There will be two half hour rounds of zazen, a short Well Being Ceremony, a discussion with Henry Zander, a quick break for lunch, and then two more 30 minute rounds of glorious zazen. Lunch will be served for those joining in person, and as always feel free to join for as much or as little of the day you’re able. We’ll see y’all there.
And speaking of sitting silently and staring at walls, week on the podcast we have Mind Blowing Mediocrity - (The Witness Mind) w/ Dave Cuomo.
Dave delves into Keizan’s Three Levels of Zazen and tries to figure out whether the “witness mind” is an accurate description of the mind of zazen, and if not, what is? What’s the difference between ordinary and superior meditation? Do we have a choice in which one we sit and would it matter if we did? And how are we supposed to entertain ourselves in zazen when the things we’ve been wrestling with up and fly away one day? Find out here!
Up now at http://aczc.org/aczcpodcast or on all your favorite podcast platforms!
Your koan for the week!
In the first month of the year 788, Mazu climbed Shimen Mountain and, as he was walking in the woods, he saw a flat spot in a cave and said to his attendant, “This ruined old body of mine will return to the earth next month.
This turned out to be true, and he soon became ill. The night before he died, the monastery director asked, “Venerable, how have you been feeling these past few days?”
Mazu said, “Sun Faced Buddha, Moon Faced Buddha.”*
*Sun Faced Buddha lived for 1800 years, Moon Faced Buddha lived for a day and a night.
This Week in Zen! All times are in Pacific time zone and all sessions are hosted in person and on Zoom unless otherwise marked (email us for quick and easy Zoom access info):
Saturday - 6/3 at 10am
Half Day Sit w/ Henry Zander - We’ll sit two 30 minute rounds of zazen with a five minute walking meditation in the middle. After that, Henry takes the hotseat with a talk that involves choreography and maybe even incontinence. Curious! We’ll see you there.
If anyone (who you know personally) is sick or otherwise in need of good health well wishes, you can add their names here to include them in the Well Being Dedication.
Monday - 6/5 at 7:30pm
Sit & Talk w/ Jason Dodge - One half hour of zazen and then Jason returns to the hot seat with the latest installment of his ongoing series of talks on the Diamond Sutra. Let’s discuss!
Wednesday - 6/7 at 7:30pm (Zoom Only)
Sit & Koan Discussion w/ Henry Zander - Are we buddhas in both sickness and in health?? Let’s find out.
Thursday - 6/8 at 7pm (Zoom Only)
Yoga & Zazen w/ Nina Snow - Nina gently guides us through a perfect Thursday evening of her trademark slow flow yoga followed by one half hour of that sweet sweet zazen. We’ll see y’all there!
Friday - 6/9 at 8am
Heart Sutra Chanting Service - This week! We honor the ancestors with a rousing chant of the Sino-Sanskrit Heart Sutra, followed by the Dai Hi Shin Dharani. Poetry for the ages! Come on out and chant with us, it’s a lovely way to wind down the week.
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