Sorrowful Splendor
ACZC Happenings, 1/13 - 1/19
“It’s less, yes it must be this way; and more, let's go this way together.” - Sara Campbell
Hello Sangha!
And yes, there are a few variations on that joke floating around by now, but hey, like everything we do around here, it’s like emptiness itself - nothing but a pregnancy of possibility. It’s the great cosmic joke that refuses nothing but is endlessly giving - that we might be nothing more than an illusion delighting in its own impossibility. So hey, cheers to another week of beautiful delusion. And thank you for being, whether or not you know the reason.
But yes, this particular week of beauty is the 2nd Saturday of the month ( tomorrow, 1/13 - 10am), which means it’s time again for a little yoga before our zazen with Yoga Sit, & Discussion w/ Nina Snow, aka one hour of yoga, one half hour of zazen, and the a little tea (or coffee) and talk with Nina and friends to kick off the weekend right.
But speaking of taking care of what takes care of us, we have added a couple of volunteer opportunities to the schedule this season. We are now open at 6pm on Mondays before the evening sit, and 9am on Saturdays before the 10am sit for some samu work practice. Come on out for some good crew banter and a little karmic barter and help us prepare the center to be the warm and wonderful place it wants to be!
Also! As part of our focus this season on running ACZC as a truly community led endeavor, we are looking for some kind good folks to join the crew to bottom line sitting sessions; including ringing the bells for zazen, learning the secrets behind ACZCs magic teas, and being a part of creating the weird and wonderful little experience this place is for everyone who attends. If you’re interested, simply write your name down for a shift on the form you see here, and we’ll train you up on everything you need to know when you show up. And feel free to write in with any questions about that you may have.
But speaking of buddhific bucket list opportunities, this week on the podcast we are very pleased to bring you Sorrowful Splendor w/ Sara Campbell. Sara reflects on the holidays and turns the page on a new year with a simple but endless question, how do we live when we know we’re going to die? Also, what to do when you suddenly realize you’ve gone from wacky aunt to wacky family matriarch without even having applied for the promotion. Are hidden dark forces out there controlling the world, and if so, what are they to us? Is Buddhism a nihilistic philosophy? Is Sara a closet nihilist?? Find out here!
Up now at http://aczc.org/aczcpodcast or on all your favorite podcast platforms.
And speaking of beginnings in an ending, here’s a koan for the week:
Case in point:
A monk asked Jiashan, “What if we clear the dust and see the Buddha?”
Jiashan said, “Immediately brandish your sword. If you don’t, the old fisherman stays in his perch.”
The monk asked Shishuang the same question, “What if we clear the dust and see the Buddha?”
Shishuang said, “Buddhas don’t belong to any place, where are you going to find one?”
The monk returned and told Jiashan what happened.
Jiashan went to the main hall and told the assembly, “If you want someone to found a school, I’m as good as it gets. If you want a sharp wit and deep discussion, Shishuang is miles ahead of me.”
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 - 1/13 at 10am - 12:30pm
Yoga, Sit, & Discussion w/ Nina Snow - 2nd Saturday of the month means Nina is in the house to lead us in one hour of glorious yoga, a half hour of sweet sweet zazen, and then a warm and welcoming discussion with Miss Nina herself. Also, coffee! (or tea (or whatever you like))
Monday Evening - 1/15, 7:30pm - 9pm
Sit & Discussion w/ Dave Cuomo
One half hour of zazen, then Dave takes the hot seat to find out what to do when you, or someone right in front of you, gets stuck beating their head against the window pains of life (see what we did there?), with commentary and thoughts on a choice selection from our new book study, Shundo Aoyama’s Zen Seeds. Join us!
Wednesday - 1/17 at 7:30pm - 9pm (Zoom Only)
Sit & Koan Discussion w/ Heather Ross - A monk sees the light while Jiashan and Shishuang fight over who gets to rob us of our insights. Are they why can’t we have nice things?? And can we rob them of their dharmic disillusionments?? Let’s find out.
Thursday - 1/18 at 7pm - 8:30pm (Zoom Only)
Yoga & Zazen w/ Nina Snow - And Nina is back for one blissful hour of Slow Flow Zen Yoga to round out the evening and wind down our week, capped off with one half hour of sweet sweet zazen, before sending us off to bed for some (more than likely) sweet sweet dreams. We’ll see y’all there.
Friday Early - 1/19 at 5am-6am
Rise and shine y’all, it’s the season for a little zazen before our zazen. Especially a good opportunity for those who work early, or live in an earlier time zone. In person and on zoom! Same format as our usual morning sits - one simple hour of sitting with an optional five minute stretch break offered in the middle.
Friday - 1/19 at 8am
Chanting & Zen Breakfast - This week! We chant the Heart Sutra in English followed by Red Pine’s lyrical and lilting rendition of Sengcan’s classic ode to the bigger than big and smaller than small dark lights glowing up the corners of our faithful little minds (believe ‘em or not), The Faith in Mind Inscription. Poetry for the ages! And then stick around for ACZC’s fresh hot take on traditional Zen breakfast (house milled multi grain porridge! mmm…). A nutritious (and delicious) part of this complete practice. Let’s dig in.
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