Non Duelality
ACZC Happenings 12/17 - 12/31
ZEN CENTER HAPPENINGS - WEEK OF 12/10 - 12/17
Hello Sangha!
Alright y’all first the big news, a huge and hearty thank you to everyone! We have made our fundraising goal for the year. To everyone who pitched in, in all the ways you did - from our helpers here at the center, to everyone out there who joined in, seriously we can’t thank you enough. It was a real joy seeing all your names and support and getting all the rewards packed up and shipped off. As you know, we’re big fans of the pay-what-you-can system around here, and it’s really inspiring to see how everyone does. We always say, those of you who can donate more make it possible for us to fund this place for everyone, which is kind of a pie-in-the-sky faith to put on an endeavor like this, and which is why it’s extra nice to see people come together to make that happen voluntarily. And to those of you who give with your time, practice, or just by opening these emails, thank you so much for making this sangha happen. Y’all are just the best and we are looking very forward to another year of sitting with all of you.
And speaking of people pitching in their gifts and talents. This week’s newsletter artwork comes to us courtesy of long time sangha friend Ariel Fintushel, who’s work also graced the pages of our 2023 calendar this year which has been delighting and amusing us as we put it together. Thank you Ariel! Do yourself a favor and check out her work over on her website - arielfintushel.com
The other big news is that we will have our usual Sit & Discussion w/ Erik Andersen tomorrow (12/17) at 10am and then the center will be Closed for Winter Break this coming Monday 12/19 through Friday 12/30. We will be reopening Saturday 12/31 at 8pm, for our annual New Year’s Eve Sit when we will celebrate the continuous practice of beginnings in endings with zazen at 8pm, a talk w/ Dave Cuomo at 9:10 pm, and then a few more rounds of zazen at 10:10pm accompanied by the traditional ringing of 108 bells up until midnight when the city erupts around us.
But! We will be taking a small break from the break for a brief Christmas Morning zazen (Zoom Only) Sunday 12/25 at 7am, which has turned out to be a nice coming together on a day off the last few years. We might have a new tradition on our hands there….
No podcast this week as we get settled into our break, but we’ll be back next Friday with a fresh one for you.
Thank you all again for everything this year and always. It’s a joy to get to keep practicing with you all and we look forward to many more years of sitting together.
This Month in Zen! All sessions hosted in person and on Zoom unless otherwise marked (email us for quick and easy Zoom access info):
Saturday, 12/17 at 10am
Sit & Talk w/ Erik Andersen - Two half hour rounds of zazen, one walking meditation in the middle and then Erik is back with a koan about a rhinoceros fan (I mean, who isn’t a fan??) AND a Rhinoceros Sutra about the joys of being a loner. Let’s discuss!
Saturday, 12/18 - 12/30
CLOSED FOR WINTER BREAK
(*except) Sunday, 12/25 at 7am
Morning Zazen - One simple hour of what we do best - just sitting. Optional five minute stretch break offered in the middle.
Saturday 12/31 at 8pm
New Year’s Eve Sit - A little sitting, a little New Years discussion, and then more sit-ing (yay!) up into midnight accompanied by the traditional ringing of 108 bells. As always feel free to come for as much or as little of the evening as you’re able.
See y’all soon!
Love,
ACZC
