The All Beings Zen Sangha welcomes and affirms all who come here to seek the Way, and who will work toward respectful acceptance of others across our many differences, harmonizing the one and the many. May all beings be happy!
For this three-month practice period, I will be Benji, aka Inryū’s administrative assistant ~~ helper with various Ango activities.
What does this mean? Well, for starters I am the middle-man to help you connect with Sangha! Inryū Sensei will be accepting Dokusan meetings all Ango, which gives the opportunity to have private one-on-one conversations with our teacher. Practice period is a wonderful time to go inward + dive deeper within our practice; as we enter this three-month Dharma Gate, it’s nice to receive teaching and direction. Another way to lean on Sangha is by sitting down/having a phone call with one of our senior practice leaders (Shinren, Shoryu, Myoshin, Seido, Koryu). If either of these interest you, I’m your person to schedule these 🤗
As you may know from past Ango’s, we will start to have Way Seeking Mind Talks on Monday/Wednesday/Friday mornings (after a shorter period of zazen), as well as Tuesday Tea Talks at 2pm. Way Seeking Mind talks, I find, can be also understood as Way ‘Finding’ Talks! These are talks where we get to talk about our lives, and how we found our Zen practice in the start or maybe even within this year. Now, Tuesday Tea Talks are a bit more casual, but also creative! On Tuesday’s, we convene to hear the speaker of the week talk (or present via powerpoint and the likes) about whatever Buddhist-related topic they wish. It is as long or short as you want the talk, and could even just be a big ole’ discussion with Sangha! Super interesting, but also grounding to have tea in the afternoon with Sangha.
We would like to hear from all of you, so at your earliest convenience please contact me at zenjoyclay@gmail.com to schedule your Way Seeking Mind talk (Monday/Wednesday/Friday) and a Tuesday Tea Talk if possible. Practice period is from September 28 through December 21. If you have any questions about anything, or if I can be of assistance to you this practice period in any way, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I would love to help. 🙏zenjoyclay@gmail.com
Today – Tuesday Dharma Tea at 2PM for October 3, 2023 led by Zen’etsue Clay. Join us for the resumption of our Tuesday Teas. This first online Tuesday Tea 2-2:45pm Eastern will be a fun introduction to Mahaprajapati.
For the All Beings Zen Sangha Tuesday Teas at Two, a topic is introduced and then a few questions are proposed for discussion by those present. The Teas are online only.
We start with 5 minutes of silent tea drinking. Zen’etsu Clay Crowell (our Fall Benji) will provide an introduction to the Life of an early Buddhist woman “Mahaprajapati”. Please use this link to join. If asked for a password use 842721
The dharma tea concludes at 2:45pm Eastern. All are welcome.
What you can expect. Our usual 5 minutes of silent tea drinking. Information and Poetry to discuss and 5 minutes of silence at the end of the online gathering. Online only. The Dharma Tea concludes at 2:45pm Eastern.
To join us via zoom use this link. If asked for a password use 879071
Following a 40 minute period of zazen there will be a Full Moon Ceremony.
Please put your zoom in gallery mode, and keep your video link on while muting your mic until the end of the service – Feel welcome to face away from your device camera while keeping your presence visible in the frame for others in attendance to see and know you are there. Please refrain from moving your device around while others are sitting zazen with you.
RYAKU FUSATSU
Full Moon Bodhisattva Ceremony
Repentance (3 X call and response)
All my ancient twisted karma
From beginningless greed, hate, and delusion
Born through body, speech, and mind
I now fully avow.
Homages (1 X call and response)
Homage to the Seven Buddhas before Buddha.
Homage to Shakyamuni Buddha.
Homage to Maitreya Buddha.
Homage to Manjusri Bodhisattva.
Homage to Samantabhadra Bodhisattva.
Homage to Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva.
Homage to the Succession of Ancestors.
Four Bodhisattva Vows (1X call and response)
Beings are numberless, I vow to save them,
Delusions are inexhaustible, I vow to end them.
Dharma gates are boundless, I vow to enter them,
Buddha’s Way is unsurpassable, I vow to become it.
Refuges
ALL: I take refuge in Buddha.
Doshi: Before all beings,
Immersing body and mind
Deeply in the Way
Awakening true mind.
ALL: I take refuge in Dharma.
Doshi: Before all beings,
Entering deeply the merciful ocean
Of Buddha’s Way.
ALL: I take refuge in Sangha.
Doshi: Before all being,
Bringing harmony to everyone,
Free from hindrance.
Pure Precepts
All: I vow to refrain from all evil
Doshi: It is the abode of the law of all Buddhas;
it is the source of the law of all Buddhas.
All: I vow to make every effort to live in enlightenment.
Doshi: It is the teaching of anuttara samyaksambodhi
and the path of the one who practices and that which is
practiced.
All: I vow to live and be lived for the benefit of all beings.
Doshi: It is transcending profane and holy and taking self
and others across.
Grave Precepts
All: I vow not to kill
Doshi: By not killing life the Buddha tree seed grows,
transmit the life of Buddha and do not kill.
All: I vow not to take what is not given.
Doshi: The self and objects are such as they are, two yet
one. The gate of liberation stands open.
All: I vow not to misuse sexuality
Doshi: Let the three wheels of self, object, and action be
Pure. With nothing to desire one goes along
Together with the Buddhas.
All: I vow to refrain from false speech.
Doshi: The Dharma Wheel turns from the beginning. There
Is neither surplus nor lack. The sweet dew
Saturates all and harvests the truth.
All: I vow to refrain from intoxicants.
Doshi: Originally pure, don’t defile. This is the great
Awareness.
All: I vow not to slander.
Doshi: In the Buddhadharma, go together, appreciate
Together, realize together, and actualize together.
Here is the link to join us via the cloud zendo at 7PM for the All Beings Zen Sangha evening program. Tonight we will have short service with Heart Sutra in Mandarin followed by one period of Zazen and Inryu Sensei will talk a little about the Fall Ango and we will introduce the Benji who will be serving the sangha for the Ango. We will close by chanting the Refuges in Pali. If you would like stay after refuges and do a welcome and check-in please do.
If you are asked for a password please use this 041285
ABZS does keep an attendance of participation in sangha events* this is done for the welfare of it’s members and for guidance in future programing
Please put your zoom in gallery mode, and keep your video link on while muting your mic until the end of the service – Feel welcome to face away from your device camera while keeping your presence visible in the frame for others in attendance to see and know you are there. Please refrain from moving your device around while others are sitting zazen with you.
Please put your zoom in gallery mode, and keep your video link on while muting your mic until the end of the service – Feel welcome to face away from your device camera while keeping your presence visible in the frame for others in attendance to see and know you are there. Please refrain from moving your device around while others are sitting zazen with you.
*ABZS does keep attendance for events to support programing and the welfare of the sangha.*
Here is the link to join us via the cloud zendo at 7PM for the All Beings Zen Sangha evening program. Tonight we will have a Wellbeing Service followed by one period of Zazen and the chanting of the refuges. If you would like stay after refuges and do a welcome and check-in please do
If you are asked for a password please use this 041285
ABZS does keep an attendance of participation in sangha events* this is done for the welfare of it’s members and for guidance in future programing
Please put your zoom in gallery mode, and keep your video link on while muting your mic until the end of the service – Feel welcome to face away from your device camera while keeping your presence visible in the frame for others in attendance to see and know you are there. Please refrain from moving your device around while others are sitting zazen with you.
Order of Service
Greeting by the Kokyo
Heart Sutra in English
30 minutes period of zazen
5 minute period of Kinhin (slow walking meditation)
Enmei X 9
Loving Kindness Meditation
Dedication of merit.
Refuges in Pali
Heart of Great Perfect Wisdom Sutra
Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva,
when deeply practicing prajña paramita,⨀
clearly saw that all five aggregates are empty
and thus relieved all suffering.
Shariputra,
form does not differ from emptiness,
emptiness does not differ from form.
Form itself is emptiness,
emptiness itself form.
Sensations, perceptions, formations,
and consciousness are also like this.
Shariputra,
all dharmas are marked by emptiness;
they neither arise nor cease,
are neither defiled nor pure,
neither increase nor decrease.
Therefore, given emptiness, there is
no form, no sensation, no perception,
no formation no consciousness;
no eyes, no ears, no nose, no tongue,
no body, no mind;
no sight, no sound, no smell, no taste,
no touch, no object of mind;
no realm of sight… no realm of mind consciousness
There is neither ignorance nor extinction of ignorance…
neither old age and death,
nor extinction of old age and death;
no suffering, no cause, no cessation, no path;
no knowledge and no attainment.
With nothing to attain,
a bodhisattva relies on prajña paramita,⨀
and thus the mind is without hindrance.
Without hindrance, there is no fear.
Far beyond all inverted views, one realizes nirvana.
All buddhas of past, present, and future
rely on prajña paramita ⨀ and thereby attain
unsurpassed, complete, perfect enlightenment.
Therefore, know the prajña paramita ⨀ as
the great miraculous mantra,
the great bright mantra,
the supreme mantra,
the incomparable mantra,
which removes all suffering
and is true, not false.
Therefore we proclaim the prajña paramita ⨀ mantra,
This Sunday will be the final Sunday Program offered by Dragons Leap. For 12 years, Dragons leap has provided a wonderful place to practice, and now it is time for another great leap!
We will sit zazen at 6:00 pm followed by a talk with Dairyū Michael Wenger at 6:30 pm. To join us via Zoom please follow this LINK or use the Meeting ID: 876 4768 9043. If requested, the password is 176924.
There will be time to share your thoughts and memories as part of tomorrow’s program. If you you wish to share something, please do!
Our Ino, Richard Urban, is leaving for Tassajara next week. Ten thousand thank yous to Richard for keeping the Zendo open for these many years and best wishes at the monastery. There will be no more morning Zazen at Dragons Leap.
Thank you all so much for your generous practice. This sangha has always shown me exactly where I am.
May our work and friendships continue!
A very deep bow,
Ryūgin Kyle Getschow, President of the Board for Dragons Leap Temple
P.S. The past couple of days, we have been packing up the Zendo and the Dragon’s library for transport to their new home, the upcoming Dragons Leap/Dairyū Michael Wenger Library in Washington D.C. Thank you very much to Inryū Poncé-Barger and All Beings Zen Sangha for creating such a special place for us all to enjoy.
Tonight we will have a short service followed by two periods of Zazen with an interval of Kinhin (5 minutes of slow walking in between). We will conclude by chanting the refuges in Pali. Please feel welcome to stay on zoom if you are able to share greetings with the sangha.
Please put your zoom in gallery mode, and keep your video link on while muting your mic until the end of the service – Feel welcome to face away from your device camera while keeping your presence visible in the frame for others in attendance to see and know you are there. Please refrain from moving your device around while others are sitting zazen with you.
Please put your zoom in gallery mode, and keep your video link on while muting your mic until the end of the service – Feel welcome to face away from your device camera while keeping your presence visible in the frame for others in attendance to see and know you are there. Please refrain from moving your device around while others are sitting zazen with you.
Order of Service (text available at highlighted links)
Here is the link to join us via the cloud zendo at 7PM for the All Beings Zen Sangha evening program. Tonight we will have short service with Heart Sutra in Japanese followed by one period of Zazen and a Dharma Talk by our ABZS Guiding Teacher Inryū Sensei. We will close by chanting the Refuges in Pali. If you would like stay after refuges and do a welcome and check-in please do.
If you are asked for a password please use this 041285
ABZS does keep an attendance of participation in sangha events* this is done for the welfare of it’s members and for guidance in future programing
Please put your zoom in gallery mode, and keep your video link on while muting your mic until the end of the service – Feel welcome to face away from your device camera while keeping your presence visible in the frame for others in attendance to see and know you are there. Please refrain from moving your device around while others are sitting zazen with you.
Order of Service
Greeting by the Kokyo
Enmei Jukko Kannon Gyo
Heart Sutra in Japanese
Dedication of Merit
25 Minute Zazen Period
5 Minute Kinhin (slow walking) interval
Dharma Talk
Four Great Vows
Refuges in Pali
Enmei Jukko Kannon Gyo
KAN ZEON
NA MU BUTSU
YO BUTSU U IN
YO BUTSU U EN
BUP PO SO EN
JO RAKU GA JO
CHO NEN KANZEON
BO NEN KANZEON
NEN NEN JU SHIN KI
NEN NEN FU RI SHIN
Maka Hanya Haramita Shin Gyo (Heart Sutra in Japanese)
KAN JI ZAI BO SATSU GYO JIN HAN NYA
HA RA MI TA JI SHO KEN GO ON KAI
KU DO IS SAI KU YAKU SHA RI SHI
SHIKI FU I KU KU FU I SHIKI SHIKI
SOKU ZE KU KU SOKU ZE SHIKI JU SO
GYO SHIKI YAKU BU NYO ZE SHA RI
SHI ZE SHO HO KU SO FU SHO FU
METSU FU KU FU JO FU ZO FU GEN
ZE KO KU CHU MU SHIKI MU JU SO
GYO SHIKI MU GEN NI BI ZE SHIN
NI MU SHIKI SHO KO MI SOKU HO MU
GEN KAI NAI SHI MU I SHIKI KAI MU
MU MYO YAKU MU MU MYO JIN NAI
SHI MU RO SHI YAKU MU RO SHI JIN
MU KU SHU METSU DO MU CHI YAKU
MU TOKU I MU SHO TOK KO BO DAI
SAT TA E HAN NYA HA RA MI TA
KO SHIN MU KE GE MU KE GE KO
MU U KU FU ON RI IS SAI TEN DO
MU SO KU GYO NE HAN SAN ZE SHO
BUTSU E HAN NYA HA RA MI TA
KO TOKU A NOKU TA RA SAM MYAKU
SAM BO DAI KO CHI HAN NYA HA
RA MI TA ZE DAI JIN SHU ZE DAI
MYO SHU ZE MU JO SHU ZE MU TO
DO SHU NO JO IS SAI KU SHIN JITSU
FU KO KO SETSU HAN NYA HA RA
MI TA SHU SOKU SETSU SHU WATSU
GYA TE GYA TE HA RA GYA TE
HARA SO GYA TE BO DHI SOWA KA
HAN NYA SHIN GYO
The Four Great Vows
Beings are numberless; I vow to save them.
Delusions are inexhaustible; I vow to end them.
Dharma Gates are boundless; I vow to enter them.
Buddha’s way is unsurpassable; I vow to become it.
Here is the link to join us via the cloud zendo at 7PM for the All Beings Zen Sangha evening program. Tonight we will have short service with Heart Sutra in Mandarin followed by one period of Zazen and a Well Being Ceremony. We will close by chanting the Refuges in Pali. If you would like stay after refuges and do a welcome and check-in please do.
If you are asked for a password please use this 041285
ABZS does keep an attendance of participation in sangha events* this is done for the welfare of it’s members and for guidance in future programing
Please put your zoom in gallery mode, and keep your video link on while muting your mic until the end of the service – Feel welcome to face away from your device camera while keeping your presence visible in the frame for others in attendance to see and know you are there. Please refrain from moving your device around while others are sitting zazen with you.