Over the Wall
ACZC Happenings, July 22nd - 28th
“The biggest problem I have with the monastic training, the thing that annoys and angers me the most about the entire experience, is that I can’t deny that it works.” - Dave Cuomo
Hello Sangha!
We hope you’re all keeping cool in more than just metaphor out there. But if you’d like to warm your heart (regardless of the weather) while also nourishing your belly, the big news this week is that we have a great opportunity for a little sangha social time this weekend with the Gather Potluck hosted here at the center this Sunday (7/23) early evening, 5:30 - 8:30pm. All are welcome! Feel free to give us a heads up here to let us know what you plan to bring, or just show up and surprise us with your favorite dish and best banter (good banter not required, we’ve got plenty to go around). Vegetarian dishes only please, vegan friendly always welcome too.
But speaking of breaking bread with the big crazy family you always wished you had, this week on the podcast we are very pleased to bring you Over the Wall (Monastic Training Report) w/ Dave Cuomo. Our long wandering resident priest returns from his stint in Japan ready to dish the dirt on all the monkly mayhem. Did they beat the self out of him, or just grind it deeper? Is mild compassionate misery really the best teaching tool for the masses? Is there a method to the madness or is it all just one continuous mistake lost in translation?? Find out here.
Up now at http://aczc.org/aczcpodcast or on all your favorite podcast platforms!
And hey, here’s a koan for the week:
After his ordination, Luoshan traveled far and wide on pilgrimage. Eventually he came to Shishuang’s and asked, “Whether I stay or go, I’m always restless. What should I do?”
Shishuang said, “Just give up.”
This didn’t satisfy Luoshan, so he went to see Yantou and asked him the same question.
Yantou said, “Then why does it matter if you stay or go?” Luoshan took this to heart.
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 - 7/22 at 10am
Sit & Discussion w/ Emily Eslami - Our biggest day of the week! Two half hour rounds of zazen, one walking meditation in the middle and then we pour ourselves a little tea while Emily spills the tea from her great big, empty, over flowing cup of dharma. Drink up!
Sunday - 7/23 at 5:30pm
Gather Potluck - Grab your favorite dish and join us for a little sangha social time with our veggie and vegan friendly potluck. You can give us a heads up here to let us know what you plan to bring, or just show up and surprise us because that’s great too. Let’s dig in!
Monday - 7/24 at 7:30pm
Sit & Talk w/ Jason Dodge - One half hour of zazen and then Jason returns to the hot seat to help us parse apart those wily wisdoms winking at us from the wall. We’ll see y’all there.
Wednesday - 7/26 at 7:30pm (Zoom Only)
Sit & Koan Discussion w/ Dave Cuomo - This week! Luoshan’s restless heart isn’t ready to give up, but is he ready to give in? Are we? What’s the difference?? Let’s discuss.
Thursday - 7/27 at 7pm (Zoom Only)
Yoga & Zazen w/ Nina Snow - And then Nina brings us the certain remedy for all the restless hearts and minds out there with one hour of rousingly restful yoga to help us let go and loosen up for one half hour of the sweetest zazen you will sit all week. Join us!
Friday - 7/28 at 8am
Chanting & Zen Breakfast - This week! We chant the Heart Sutra in English followed by Shitou’s classic treatise on successfully stumbling along blindly in the darkness of being blinded by the light, The Harmony of Difference and Equality. And then! Immediately after the chanting we have the newest (and tastiest) session in our schedule with our own hot take on the traditional Zen breakfast (fresh milled multi grain porridge and other goodies). Silent soup for the soul as they say. See y’all there.
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