Zensplain
⚡️ACZC Happenings, 4/11 - 4/17⚡️
“ Where does that impulse come from, that we all have to be useful for something, that I can’t just be whatever I am, that not only do I have to be something other than what I am right now, but that I’ll accomplish it and it’ll be done?” - Bryan Turley
Hello Sangha!
Greetings from the Annual Lay Zen Teachers Association meeting in beautiful Seattle, Washington, which your humble caretaker has skipped off to attend. It’s pretty incredible to be in a room with a few dozen folks who have spent many years supporting sanghas. There are many different flavors of dharma manifesting though these folks, but one common thread is a refreshing directness that’s pretty consistent across the board. No shrinking violets here. Which is not to say that everyone is a big talker — more like, when they have something to say, you’ll know. 👀🗣️🧙
On the home front, last week we ran a rather polarizing poll to choose ACZC’s new welcome mat. While the frog won by a country mile, it seems that our snarky little joke about Live, Laugh, Love fell flat. So in the spirit of collaboration (and never leaving a good gag behind), we came up with a round 2 that incorporates your feedback while remaining true to the live, laugh, love spirit we embody here. Behold our froggy friend and his mysterious caption above — perhaps you can guess what he’s saying? He’ll be coming soon to a welcome mat near you. 🐸
Thanks to everyone who came out for our first Zazenkai on Saturday, and Same Difference that night! The zendo was a high traffic area all day between zazen, chanting, work practice, yoga, talks, and a little good old fashioned merry-making. It was a joy to see everyone move fluidly between observing the forms and hangtime. Let’s do it again soon!
🧘🌊⛺️⛰️🧘🌊⛺️⛰️🧘🌊⛺️⛰️
Speaking of hangtime, the next big event on the ACZC docket is our spring retreat!
From noon Friday, 6/12 to noon-ish Monday, 6/15, we’ll gather at a beautiful group campsite in Point Mugu State Park (just north of Malibu).
We’ve high hopes about this becoming a new ACZC tradition, so do register as soon as you can, and invite a friend! From hand drawn awnings to meals cooked over an open fire to zazen to the sound of the ocean and beyond, this will be a truly Californian expression Zen, and we need you there to pull it off!
And speaking of making it happen, this week on the podcast we are pleased to present 🎙️“Zensplain (The Final Answer) w/ Bryan Turley”🎙️
On a quest to find us the final answer to the problem of time, ethics, and being, Bryan stumbles into the far more fascinating conundrum of himself and what we’re really seeking when we try to settle our questions. What is philosophy and intellect actually good for and how can it help? What’s the difference between explaining something and anyone understanding? Can Bryan redeem the patriarchy in 40 minutes or less?? Find out here!
Up now at https://aczc.org/aczcpodcast or on all your favorite podcast platforms.
📖 This Week in ZenLit(™): 📖
Buddha told a parable in a sutra:
A man traveling across a field encountered a tiger. He fled, the tiger after him. Coming to a precipice, he caught hold of the root of a wild vine and swung himself down over the edge.
The tiger sniffed at him from above. Trembling, the man looked down to where, far below, another tiger was waiting to eat him. Only the vine sustained him.
Two mice, one white and one black, little by little started to gnaw away the vine. The man saw a luscious strawberry near him. Grasping the vine with one hand, he plucked the strawberry with the other. How sweet it tasted!
⚡️This Week in Zen! ⚡️
All times Pacific. All sessions are in-person + on Zoom unless otherwise noted (email us for Zoom info).
Saturday - 4/11, Sit & Talk with Chris Arnett - 10am - 12:05pm - We'll do two half-hour rounds of zazen, and then Chris is back for a talk about his attempts to view his modern office job through the lens of the 13th century classic, Instructions to the Zen Cook. Can the Three Minds be found in the middle of a quarterly performance review? Let’s discuss!
Monday - 4/13, 7:30pm - 9pm
Sit & Talk w/Dave Cuomo - One half hour of zazen and then Dave takes the hotseat to answer an important question you may never have thought to ask: what would make you not a Buddhist? And what’s the one burning problem that is the source of our problems?? Lets’ find out.
Wednesday - 4/15, 7:30pm - 9pm
Sit & ZenLit(™) Night - This week! A classic story of monk like equanimity and appreciation, ripe and juicy for discussion, but is it actually Zen story? Is it even Buddhist? Let’s do a little digging and see how the sausage of history and legend gets made… See you there!
Friday - 4/17, 8am
Morning Chanting Service - This week we’ll chant the Ryogonshu and the Straw Hut Song, followed by our lineage ancestors. There’s a thousand ways of speaking, infinite understandings / all just inviting you to befriend your unknowing. Poetry for the ages! Come on out and lend us your voice.
Tues - Sat - Ango Schedule | 3/17 - 5/23
As always, feel free to join for as much or as little of the schedule as you’re able.
6:30 - 7:00am……………..Coffee
7:00 - 8:00am………………Zazen
8:05 - 8:40am………………Morning Chanting Service (the epic Ryogonshu!)
8:40 - 9:10am…………..…Zen Breakfast (aka oryoki)
9:10 - 9:50am………………Work Practice
11:30 - 11:45am………….(Zoom only) Midday Nitchu Chanting Service
4:30 - 5pm…………………..(Zoom only) Evening Banka Chanting Service
See y’all soon!
Love,
ACZC