Take It Easy
⚡️ACZC Happenings, 4/19 - 4/27⚡️
“ After 10 years of looking, in the end I found there was no truth outside, but only inside of myself. In other words, I was now 10 years behind everyone else…” - Kiyo Tezuka
Hello Sangha!
Well the blossoms on our plucky little nectarine tree out there are hitting their full glory, which can only mean (despite what the thermometers tell us), Spring is in full swing! Which is to say a big shout out and thank you to you for sharing in the blooming of a little innate beauty with us here at ACZC, however you do.
But speaking of artwork too cool for any one to have made, this Saturday (tomorrow! 4/19, 1pm - 3:30pm), our monthly Zen Writing Workshop is back to encourage you into some playful writing practice. Combining creative prompts, free writing, and zazen, it’s a wholesome and fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon with friends. Writers of all levels (or lack thereof) welcome! (no pre-written work required)
And in just three weeks, Saturday, May 3 (7pm), we’ve got the next installment of Same Difference - our bi-monthly Rent Party, in which we host a variety show of music, comedy, stories, poetry and other entertainments right here in the ACZC zendo. Word on the street is that there will also be a raffle of mysterious and delightful prizes, and maybe (just maybe) a special fermented beverage from our resident tenzo, Dave. Also, popcorn. Deliciousness all around, guaranteed!
And last but not least (at least for now!) join us for our annual Spring Retreat! Fri, June 6 - Mon, June 9, we’ll gather at nearby Sozenji temple for our trademark mix of zazen, yoga, dharma talks, and good friends in great community. We’ve got on site, commuter, and Zoom options available, and we’d love to see you however you can make it.
Details and registration here. And, as always, feel free to reach out if you have any questions at all.
But speaking of getting by with a little help from our friends, this week on the podcast we are pleased to present “Take it Easy” w/ Kiyo Tezuka. Very special guest Kiyo joins us all the way from Hikone, Japan to share an epic tale of wayward youth spent as a globe wandering hippie looking for truth before accidentally settling down to the responsible(?) life of a temple monk. What do we become when we’re all grown up and still don’t know what we want to be when we grow up? Does Western Zen have something unique to teach Japanese Zen in return? Is parallel parking one of those secret magical powers Buddha hinted we might one day attain?? Find out here!
Up now at http://aczc.org/aczcpodcast or on all your favorite podcast platforms.
How about a delicious helping of ZenLit(™)? Coming right up!
When Yangshan was first ordained as a young boy, he went to thank his teacher Zhongyi. While they were talking, Yangshan asked, “How can we see our true nature?”
Zhongyi said, “Imagine there’s a monkey inside a room with six windows. Then someone outside calls out ‘Hey little Shan-shan!’ Little Shan-shan immediately responds. And just like that, the six windows all call out and all respond at the same time.”
Yangshan bowed and thanked Zhongyi saying, “Thank you so much for the metaphor, I understand now. But wait, one more thing, what if the monkey inside is asleep? How will they meet each other??”
Zhongyi got down from his seat, grasped Yangshan by the hands and danced around saying, “My dear little Shan-shan, at last we meet! - like an aphid nesting on the eyelash of a mosquito, calling out at the crossroads, ‘The world is vast and people are few, to meet is rare indeed!’”
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 - 4/19, 10am - 12:15pm
Sit & Talk w/ Dave Cuomo - Our biggest day of the week! Two half-hour rounds of zazen, and then Dave is back with an off the record open format discussion with a little prompt help from some 1960’s Soto Shu marketing materials. Join us! (Also! All Saturdays during our ango period now include a full half day of activities, including extra zazen at 7am and chanting of the Ryogon Shu (see below)! )
Saturday - 4/19, 1pm - 4pm
Zen Writing Workshop - Meditation, free writes, readings, reaction/reflections, and found poetry all created spontaneously in a judgement free zone. All experience levels welcome (including none at all), no prewritten work required (as a structured group event, we do ask people to be on time for this one please).
Monday - 4/21, 7:30pm - 9pm
Sit & Discussion w/ Sara Campbell - One half hour of zazen and then our favorite trainee-in-residence returns to the hotseat with some reflections on ango process and going from casual “Zenthusiast” to something a bit more… immersed. See y’all there!
Wednesday - 4/23, 7:30pm - 9pm
Sit & ZenLit Night - The monkeys are back! Along with our favorite resident facilitators to guide us through some classic flash fiction from the Transmission of the Lamp. Have we ever actually met anyone? Can dramatic proclamations from a mosquito hanging out on an eyelash carry any weight?? Let’s discuss!
Thursday - 4/24, 7:30pm - 8:40pm
Evening Zazen - ACZC’s latest addition to the schedule! Join us for two 30 minute rounds of evening sitting to wordlessly wind down your day and week. We’ll see y’all there.
Friday - 4/25, 8am
Morning Chanting Service - This week! We chant the Heart Sutra and Hongzhi & Dogen’s classic Zazenshin, aka the point of zazen. Razor sharp 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.
Tuesday - Saturday - Morning Ango Schedule
As always feel free to join for as much or as little of the schedule as you’re able.
7:00 - 8:10am………………Zazen & Kinhin
8:10 - 8:40am………………Chanting
8:40 - 9:10am…………..…Zen Breakfast
9:10 - 9:50am………………Work Practice
See y’all soon!
Love,
ACZC