The Authenticity Problem
⚡️ACZC Happenings, 11/8 - 11/14⚡️
“What are you doing if you’re not trying, or trying not to be doing something? Everything you’re doing.” - Dave Cuomo
Hello Sangha!
This year we kinda made a big deal out of Halloween, which was weird because we’ve never done that before. But you know, it’s been a year full of reminders about the dead! Between the monthly memorial services at Sozenji, Sara’s training ango, Dave’s dharma transmission, and our ongoing dives into ancient texts at Zen Lit night, we are constantly being reminded that we are only here courtesy of the efforts of the practitioners who came before us. So why not pick the spookiest holiday of the year and make it a thing here at ACZC? The macabre is part of the grand old It too, you know – might as give it a little love when we can.
Plus? Costumes. At Saturday night’s Same Difference event, we spotted a minion, an artist’s palette, Annie Hall, an escaped convict, Special Agent Cooper, Barney the Dinosaur, and a few other high concept characters that kept us guessing. Thanks to all of you who trick-or-treated with us, proverbially speaking. Let’s do it again next year, shall we?
But now that the hungry ghosts have left the building, our sights have turned to a different kind of garment beloved by the mortal beings who haunt this Zen Center: ACZC’s annual t-shirt.
This year we’ll feature the cartoon above, but we need your help on the accompanying caption. Two choices:
Just Be Normal - whatever you are, may that be normal to you! Like scripturally accurate Buddha here, with that three foot tongue, earlobes and jaw for days, webbed and wheel lined hands, and all the rest. That’s normal to him and we love that for him. And whatever it is you got going on, we love that being normal for you, too.
如意 (nyoi) - Literally means “as you wish” but colloquially is slang for “the freedom to be yourself,” or kinda “you do you” (if anyone but us is still saying that).
Please vote for your favorite!
📋 ACZC’s Fall Retreat is One Month Out! 📋
We’ve got a great crew shaping up, and would love to have YOU. Join us Friday, 12/5 - Sunday, 12/7 for a commuter retreat at ACZC and nearby Sozenji temple in Montebello to celebrate Rohatsu. More details and registration here! Feel free to email us with any questions, as ever. We can’t wait.
And speaking of staying true to whatever state of being we happen to be inhabiting this go-round, this week on the podcast we are very pleased to present 🎙️ “The Authenticity Problem (Hopeless Faith) w/ Dave Cuomo” 🎙️
Dave gives us an exhortation to hopeless faith for the hopelessly secular who might still be in the market for meaning and purpose. Can we really base a strong and sincere faith on literally nothing? Can skepticism and doubt be both the prison and the way out? Is it possible to believe in something you don’t already believe in? Is any of this up to us if the truth is it was never actually about us?? Find out here!!
Up now at http://aczc.org/aczcpodcast or on all your favorite podcast platforms.
📖 This Week in ZenLit(™): 📖
Guishan told Yangshan, “Someone donated three bolts of silk so that we can buy a new bell.”
Yangshan said, “That’s great. How will you ever repay them?”
Guishan tapped a zafu three times and said, “With this.”
Yangshan said, “That’s it? What good will that do them?”
Guishan said, “You don’t think that’s good enough?”
Yangshan said, “It’s not that it’s not good enough, it’s just that it already belongs to everyone.”
Guishan said, “If you already understand it belongs to everyone, why would you ask how I’ll repay them?”
Yangshan, “My only issue is that you’re trying to sell what already belongs to everyone”
Guishan, “Don’t you get it? Bodhidharma came to China selling the same thing. And all of us are still collecting the profits.”
⚡️This Week in Zen! ⚡️
All times Pacific. All sessions are in-person + on Zoom unless otherwise noted (email us for Zoom info).
Saturday - 11/8, 7am - 12:15pm
Sit & Talk w/ Matthew Sherling - Our biggest day of the week! We’ll do two half-hour rounds of zazen, then ACZC’s own poet-in-residence Matthew returns to the hotseat for a look at the relationship between Zen and artistic expression. How does this ancient tradition that often reminds us of the limits of language encourage (or not encourage!) our attempts to write, speak, and create? Come on out and let’s find out!
Monday - 11/10, 7:30pm - 9pm
Sit & Discussion w/ Gyokei Yokoyama - One half hour of zazen and then our wonderful supporting teacher Gyokei is back with a talk on the fascinating relationship between Dogen and his lesser known dharma heir, Koun Ejo Zenji. What can we learn from these two teachers with differing perspectives who nonetheless deeply influenced each other (and all of Zen history)?? Join us and let’s see!
Wednesday - 11/12, 7:30pm - 9pm
Sit & ZenLit(™) Night - This week! Guishan and Yangshan get into the age old debate over whether zazen is good for nothing. What are we doing when we dedicate our efforts to all beings, and it is enough when we know it already belongs to them anyway?? Let’s discuss!
Friday - 11/14, 8am
Morning Chanting Service - This week! We’ll chant the Heart Sutra and Great Ancestor Shitou’s Declaration of Unity, followed by our lineage ancestors. 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