Something Special
ACZC Happenings, 10/22 - 10/28
“I’ve had the experience of sitting zazen and just watching the dust bunnies blow around and thinking ‘this is great…’ It feels ordinary, and exciting, because only good can can come out of that sense of boring - showing up and hanging out without a lot of expectations.” - Heather Ross
ZEN CENTER HAPPENINGS - WEEK OF 10/22 - 10/28
Hello Sangha!
Y’all, is it just us or are these nights getting longer faster than usual as this Fall quickly winds through itself? Or is that just because we have so many exciting things coming up that the calendar is just bouncing off the wall to announce the next round of fun, such as our Halloween Costume Party and No Talent Show on Sunday October 30th at 7pm (show off your threads! and your stupid human tricks! or your brilliant human tricks… on Zoom and in person!), or our just announced December 8th Annual All Night Rohatsu Sit, or next month’s Fall Fundraiser (details coming soon!) complete with goodies and rewards for all your generous support including brand new calendars to pop off the wall in excitement all over again.
Also, coming up soon, is our Fall Mount Baldy Retreat (November 11th - 14th), and there is still time to register! But no time like the present. Registration and info is posted up here. Zoom option is available, including for partial participation if you need. And don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
But hey, speaking of our sangha specialities, this week on the podcast we are very excited to bring you Heather Ross with “Something Special (What Am I Doing Here??)”. In our ongoing series where brave sangha members bring us the story of what they’re doing and why they’re here, Heather takes the hot seat to tell us all about ambition and being special, wanting to be special, the beauty of boredom, and the quest for the coolest Zen center that led (for better or for worse) to us, the most avowedly disappointing place in LA. What makes some people stick around for a practice predicated on disappointment, when the normal reaction would be to go find the fun? What exactly is the beauty of boredom?? 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, 10/22 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 Emily returns with a special treat for all of you beginner’s old & new out there - Shunryu Suzuki’s classic Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind! We’ll see y’all there.
Monday 10/24 at 7:30pm
Sit & Talk w/ Jason Dodge - One half hour of zazen and then Jason is back, rumor has it, with some thoughts to discuss on the Diamond Sutra, or whatever else he might have in mind. Join us!
Wednesday 10/26 at 7:30pm (Zoom Only)
Sit & Koan Discussion - This week! Case 6 of the Book of Serenity - A monk just wants a little instruction, but Mazu says he’s tired, Zhizang has a headache (sorry honey), and Hai says he doesn’t understand any of this stuff either… What’s a monk to do? Let’s see if we can help him out!
Thursday, 10/27 at 7pm (Zoom Only)
Yoga & Zazen w/ Nina Snow - And Nina is back for one hour of that meditation in motion we call yoga, followed by one half hour of that perfect one posture yoga we call zazen. We’ll see y’all there.
Friday, 10/28 at 8am
Heart Sutra Chanting Service - This week! We chant the Heart Sutra in English, followed by the newest addition to our burgeoning ACZC cannon, Sengcan’s bouncing and bountiful ode to finding a little faith in the unthinkable - Trusting the Mind Inscription. 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