One Bright Mistake
ACZC Happenings, 11/19 - 11/25
“What's your intention? What's your aspiration? What are you doing it for? Maybe it’s a delusional question to a goalless practice, but they're going to ask it. And just because it's a silly question doesn't mean you can get out of answering it.” - Dave Cuomo
ZEN CENTER HAPPENINGS - WEEK OF 11/19 - 11/25
Hello Sangha!
The heater’s comforting clanks have once again become the soundtrack to our zazen, the holiday season is about to kickoff, and the year is winding down, which means it’s time once again for our Year End Fall Fundraiser (up now)! Featuring fantastic rewards this year like our brand new ACZC logo you see up there (available as an original hanging wall scroll) sporting calligraphy by our favorite supporting teacher Gyokei Yokoyama (thank you Gyokei!) on top of original art from your friendly center caretaker. We made you the one thing we know we can always deliver - One Continuous Mistake.
Also we’ve got brand new T-Shirts featuring that monk gone bananas, fresh 2023 Wall Calendars with gorgeous full color prints of your favorite Zen cartoons, and even a hand made Buddha cast from our very own statue right here on the altar. Whoa!
This year our goal is to raise $10,000. A little ambitious? Sure. But we got pretty close to that last year (y’all are the best) and the theme of last week’s retreat (thank you to all who came out and joined in for a wonderful weekend!) became something about faith and trust, especially in those sitting next to you, and so we’re going to take our own advice and ask for what we really need to keep things going through 2023. We run as frugal a ship as we can over here, and are firm believers in the pay-what-you-can donation model so that everyone from all walks of life can attend together, but as most of you know we do run deficits every month which are always a little scary to see. So these fundraisers are the only way we’re able to keep things going. Also we’ll be sending our caretaker away to Japan for mandatory monastic training this year and need to be able to fund the trip and take care of things while he’s gone. So thank you first for being a part of ACZC and supporting us all year in all the ways you do, and thank you to everyone who can help with the fundraiser and pitch in to keep this little center and sangha running for everyone. It literally means the world to us, and you are that world. Thank you for being, is what we’re really trying to say.
But hey, speaking of time slipping away like the banana peel beneath our collective karmic feet, this week on the podcast we are very excited to bring you Dave Cuomo with “One Bright Mistake”. Dave unpacks everyone’s favorite Zen quote of ultimate exoneration, Dogen’s “One Continuous Mistake,” while unveiling our brand new logo about said Great Mistake. Along the way Dave opens up about his curiosities and concerns about his upcoming training in Japan, and how a military upbringing both did and did not prepare him for a life of tough love compassion. Is no one really judging our practice? Is Zen really encouraging us to always get it wrong? What is the one fool proof way to master perfect bread baking??? Find out here!
Up now at http://aczc.org/aczcpodcast or on all your favorite podcast platforms
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, 11/19 at 10am
Sit & Talk w/ Dave Cuomo - A wise (and weary) person once said, “If you think you’re enlightened, go visit your family.” Join us for our biggest day of the week with two half hour rounds of zazen, one walking meditation in the middle, and then Dave takes the hot seat to talk about that most tricky time of practice, family time. Let’s dish y’all. We know you have stories.
Monday 11/21 at 7:30pm
Sit & Talk: Q&A Night - One half hour of sweet sweet zazen and then Dave is back on the hot seat to answer all your burning (or just quietly curious) Zen questions. Dig deep and help open the dharma gates for everyone y'all, it’s a collaborative self guided Intro to Zen night for the beginner in all of us. Join us!
Wednesday 11/23 at 7:30pm (Zoom Only)
Sit & Koan Discussion - This week! Case 9 of the Book of Serenity - It’s another absolute koan classic for you this week with Zhaozhou and the Old Woman of Mount Tai. All these wayward monks seem to know where they’re wandering until the old woman of the mountain crosses their paths. Will Zhaozhou be able to clear the road for them so they can find their way home?? Let’s find out!
Thursday, 11/24 at 7pm (Zoom Only)
Yoga & Zazen w/ Nina Snow - Nina returns to loosen up our limbs and put a little peace into that One Bright Heart of ours - it’s one full hour of slow flow yoga followed by one half hour of sweet sweet zazen ready to put our minds and worries to rest. We’ll see y’all there.
Friday, 11/25 at 8am
Heart Sutra Chanting Service - This week! We chant the Heart Sutra in English, followed by that perfect little pin prick of prajna - The Zazenshin (Needlepoint of Zazen) 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