The Messy Middle
ACZC Happenings, 3/1 - 3/8
“You can't sit motionless for 30 minutes without learning something, and when that happens day after day, we learn and we learn. Like it or not, we learn.” - Heather Ross
Hello Sangha!
What can we say about last weekend’s festivities for ACZC’s first ever Dharma Combat, except thank you so much to everyone who came out, flew in, and took part in all the ways you do. It was really a magical moment, and a joy to see so many of you, and to get to put on an ancient epic show like that for ourselves and everyone else. Also we have a feeling Dave won’t be the last one to face down the dragons and elephants in the dharma ring, and we look very forward to seeing who gets to step up and grab that sneaky snake by its jewel encrusted collar next. Video of the event will be posted on all the socials this week!
And following up on an epic weekend, tonight kicking off another epic weekend here at ACZC with our Spring Commuter Retreat (Friday 3/1 - Sunday 3/3) right here in the city at ACZC for easy attendance by all, which you are welcome to attend in person, on zoom, or in whatever sort of hybrid of those you would like. Offered on a sliding scale based on your own expected attendance and what you can afford - drop ins welcome.
Just a few of the fun inclusions to the schedule this time around:
Our favorite ACZC band leader Robert will be leading us in his Deep Listening/Sonic Meditation workshop he’s been doing on Saturday afternoon.
Talks with Sara & Dave of course, plus Sara will be leading her Book Club on Shundo Aoyama’s “Zen Seeds” Sunday afternoon. All texts will be provided with no prior reading required, so you can jump right in.
Also we have a mild Echo Park adventure portion Sunday afternoon where we’re pretty excited to get to take our Zen out in the sunshine, including a silent sit among the trees and geese!
Schedule, registration, and more info here!
But speaking of unboxing the dharma jewels we might already own but would never be disappointed to receive, this week on the podcast we are very excited to bring you The Messy Middle (The Curse of Self Awareness) w/ Heather Ross. Heather opens up the Pandora’s Box of zazen and takes a hard and healing look at all the hidden aspects of ourselves that inevitably unhide through regular sitting. How do we cope when we see through our own coping mechanisms? What do we do in the messy middle when we’ve learned to see our mistakes all too clearly, but before we’ve figured out how not to make them? How are we supposed take personal responsibility for the faults of others without making it all about us?? Find out here!
Up now at http://aczc.org/aczcpodcast or on all your favorite podcast platforms.
And hey, here’s a koan for the week:
Case in point:
When Ruiyan first met with Yantou he asked, “What’s the universal constant?”
Yantou said, “Change.”
Ruiyan said, “What happens when it changes?”
Yantou said, “It’s no longer the universal constant.”
Ruiyan thought about this deeply.
Yantou said, “If you embrace it, you bind yourself to the dust of the world. If you deny it, you’ll be weighed down by life and death forever.”
Ruiyan completely understood and his body and mind were completely cleared. From then on, whenever Yantou spoke, Ruiyan answered him perfectly.
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):
Friday 3/1 - Saturday - 3/3
Commuter Retreat at ACZC - Schedule and info for the weekend up here! Including quite a few fun inclusions this round. Join us for as much or as little of the weekend as you’re able - in person or on zoom at the usual link. Pay-what-you-can donation based, drop-ins welcome.
Saturday - 3/2, 10am - 12:30pm
Sit & Discussion w/ Sara Campbell - And not to fear, our retreat schedule includes our usual weekly Saturday Sit & Discussion at the regular time open to all, with Sara joining us back in the hot seat, live and in person. Join us!
Monday - 3/4, 7:30pm - 9pm
Sit & Discussion w/ Pedro Perez (What Am I Doing Here??) - One half hour of zazen and then long time sangha friend, Pedro, joins us to regale us with the story of what he’s doing and why he’s here, while we just maybe learn something about those things for ourselves. Come on out and show your sangha support!
Wednesday - 3/6, 7:30pm - 9pm (Zoom Only)
Sit & Koan Discussion w/ Henry Zander - The only constant is change! As true an aphorism today as it was an enlightening koan back in the day. Which is to say, some things never change?? We’re already confused… Let’s discuss!
Thursday - 3/7 at 7pm - 8:30pm (Zoom Only)
Yoga & Zazen w/ Nina Snow - And Nina is back with one rousingly restful hour of Slow Flow Zen Yoga, followed by one half hour of sweet sweet zazen to perfectly round out your evening and your week. We’ll see y’all there.
Friday - 3/8 at 8am
Chanting & Zen Breakfast - This week! We honor the ancestors with words too sweet and timeless to translate, with the Hannya Shingyo and Daihishin darani. 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