The Lighter Side of Darkness
⚡️ ACZC Happenings, 6/1 - 6/7 ⚡️
“‘Suddenly completely understanding’ and someone stuck thinking, ‘Aw crap I don’t get it’, is really the exact same moment. It's just about how you handle that moment. If something scrambles your brain, do you take it personally or do you work with it?”
- Dave Cuomo
Hello Sangha!
Greetings from Japan, where your humble writer is hanging with sangha denizens Robert Holliday and Mota Myntinnen before heading to Toshoji monastery to visit with Dave and sit with our Japanese Soto Zen family for a four day sesshin. Is it a massive privilege to be here? Yes! Is it a crazy long way to travel to sit around and do nothing with a bunch of robed strangers for a week? Also yes! We’re large, we contain multitudes, what can we say. Don’t worry though, we did manage to sneak in a couple of day of tourism. (And lots of delicious seafood!)
Speaking of fraternizing, if you find yourself looking for company, one of our friends over at ZCLA is hosting a picnic next weekend “for those of us in our 20s & 30s practicing any kind of Buddhism. Or really any contemplative spiritual practice!” Details here.
And then tomorrow is the first Saturday of the month which means it’s the Half Day Sit at 10am. There will be two half hour rounds of zazen, a short Well Being Ceremony, a discussion with Gyokei Yokoyama, a short break for lunch, and then two more rounds of glorious zazen. As always feel free to join for as much or as little of the day you’re able.
Finally, this week on the podcast we are pleased to present The Lighter Side of Darkness (Story Time) w/ Dave Cuomo. Dave indulges us in a little story time while also indulging in some explaining of how koans work with a classic tale of dharma drama, jealous rivalries, and onomatopoetic poetry. What should we ask in practice discussion when we don’t know what to say? Can we find a safe place for our passions instead of practicing them away? Does every living creature really die alone, and wait… isn’t that something we all share?? Find out here!
Up now at http://aczc.org/aczcpodcast or on all your favorite podcast platforms.
Your koan for the week, courtesy of Kodo Sawaki:
Our practice of zazen is looking at the world afresh after being in hibernation.
It’s best to do zazen without doing anything else. When we do something else, too often we’re made to do it by a demon.
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 - 6/1, 10am - 12:30pm
Half Day Sit w/ Gyokei Yokoyama - Our biggest day of the month! Two half hour rounds of zazen, a brief Well Being Ceremony, a discussion with Gyokei, a brief break for lunch, and then we’re back for two more rounds of zazen. (As always feel free to come for as much or as little of the day as you’re able). See y’all there!
If anyone you know (personally) is sick or otherwise in need of good health well wishes, you can add their names to the form you see here (bottom of the page) and we will be happy to include them in this month’s Well Being Dedication.
Monday - 6/3, 7:30pm - 9pm
Sit & Discussion w/ Gyokei Yokoyama - We’ll sit zazen for 30 minutes and then Gyokei is back once again to treat us to whatever wondrous dharma is alive for him at the moment. We will see you there!
Wednesday - 6/5, 7:30pm - 9pm (Zoom Only)
Sit & Koan Discussion w/ Heather Ross - Heather returns to the hotseat to lead us in a discussion of Chapter 12 of The Zen Teaching of Homeless Kodo, featuring the crazy wisdom above. Join us!
Friday - 6/7 at 8am
Morning Chanting Service - This week we’re chanting the Song of the Jewel Mirror Samadhi and paying tribute to our male ancestors. Come on down and start your Friday off right!
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