“People say zazen is hard, so it’s important to check in - are you stressing out about it? Are you taking it too harsh? Are you trying too hard? Are you disappointed with your Zen? Are you waiting for something to happen? Consider taking it easy. Stop waiting for anything to happen and just watch… Zen is the easy path, the very easy path. It doesn’t need to add stress.” - Erik Andersen
ZEN CENTER HAPPENINGS - WEEK OF 9/24 - 9/30
Hello sangha!
Well happy fall y’all. We hear there may be one more heat wave in store for us but that will not deter us from enjoying the cool air breezing through the zendo in the morning and that fall feeling that things are starting to wind down into something…. Most likely into a zafu or a yoga pose. Which sounds to us like a perfect way to celebrate the endless cycles of impermanence (is that an oxymoron?) they call seasons.
But speaking of opportunities to appreciate and emulate the wisdom of trees, don’t forget registration for our Fall Mount Baldy Retreat is up! (November 11th - 14th). Join us up on the mountain for good food, good views, good yoga, good friends, and just the right amount of sweet sweet zazen. Registration and info is posted up here. Zoom option is available. And please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions at all.
And speaking of opportunities to meet the Time Being in its natural habitat, this Saturday (9/24) at 7pm, Salon 17 is back - our sister spinoff series where we gather under the string lights in a lush garden party setting for a talk and Q&A, only on topics other than dharma! I know, it turns out they exist. So join us off site (not at ACZC - at 1922 Baxter St, 90026. All are welcome!) around the fire pit where this month sangha friend Danny will sit us down for a serious talk about Time Travel. Whoa.
But hey, speaking of time honored truths forged in fire, this week on the podcast we are very excited to bring you Erik Andersen with “Take It Easy”. You’re busy, we’re busy, Erik’s busy… which becomes the perfect opportunity for a delightfully lighthearted meta commentary on how we deal with overwork, burnout, trying too hard, and running ourselves ragged trying to clean the corners of our already spotless minds. Shouldn’t a book literally called “The Book of Serenity” offer some relief from our stress? What do they mean there’s “someone who’s not busy” and can we copy their notes? Are two moons better than one??? 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, 9/24 at 10am
Sit & Discussion w/ Emily Eslami - Our biggest day of the week! Two half hour rounds of zazen and then Emily is back continuing her series on the the first and last book on Zen you need to read, Shunryu Suzuki’s Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind. Beginner’s only! We’ll see y'all there.
Saturday, 9/24 at 7pm
Salon 17 (**Off Site - 1922 Baxter St Los Angeles, 90026. NOT AT ACZC (In Person Only))- Join us around the fire pit as sangha friend Danny takes the hot seat to regale us with a talk about Time Travel. Including a live demonstration of time literally moving forward while he speaks! See you at the pit.
Monday 9/26 at 7:30pm
Sit & Talk w/ Gyokei Yokoyama - One half hour of zazen and then our favorite supporting teacher is back in the hot seat to discuss pickles, cartoons, the dark animalistic heart that lives inside all of us, or whatever else might be on his mind. Join us!
Wednesday 9/27 at 7:30pm (Zoom Only)
Koan Night - This week! We are on case 2 of the Book of Serenity, and it’s an absolute must read koan classic - our great red bearded founder himself, Bodhidharma, is summoned to court to meet Emperor Wu. A thrilling debate ensues! Is the Emperor a good person? Is nothing sacred?? (Actually yes, we have it on good authority that nothing is quite sacred…) Let’s find out!
Thursday, 9/28 at 7pm (Zoom Only)
Yoga & Zazen w/ Nina Snow - And Nina is back with one delightful hour of evening wind down yoga, perfectly preparing us for the lightest zazen you will sit all week, quite likely followed by the deepest sleep you will sleep all week. See y’all there!
Friday, 9/24 at 8am
Heart Sutra Chanting Service - This week! We chant the Heart Sutra in the timeless sacred language of English, followed by Shitou’s loving ode to getting along with a world too busy being itself to be sure what that means - The Harmony of Difference and Equality. 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