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This week with All Beings Zen Sangha

Saturday, November 14:  Book Discussion on Shohaku Okumura Roshi’s “Living by Vow,” 1pm-2:30pm EST in our online zendo.  Use this link to join.

We will begin with a short period of zazen at 1pm.  

Watch a short film produced by Okumura’s daughter Yuko titled “Sit”

Kōryū Naomi Knoble will offer some reflections on her study of the text.  

Then we will have ample time for dialogue and discussion of the text and Dharma teachings within it.

At 2:20 we will evaluate whether we should schedule additional time to meet regarding this book and conclude with a circle poem and chanting the 4 great vows.

 

 

 

Way Seeking Mind Talk offered by Kōryū Naomi Knoble after morning zazen, 6:30 am

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday, November 19: Dharma Offering by the Shuso titled “Being on Time: Dogen’s Uji and Managing the Present Moment” , Tendō Shōryū Christopher Leader, 7:00 pm

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Inadvertently Evil Giraffes – a class offered by Susan Cho Sunday Nov 1, 2020 1:30EST

Open Class offered by Susan Cho on —Sunday Nov 1, 2020 1:30 pm EST

“Inadvertently Evil Giraffes”        About this  class:    Most of us in the US gobble up an unsustainable portion of the earth’s resources.  More and more of us are realizing this, however, and are eager to scale back to “not too terribly much” or even “just enough.”  Let’s look at ways in which we can consume mindfully in our everyday lives.

About Susan Cho

Led by a growing appreciation for wildlife and the environment that sustains it, I got a bachelor’s in Environmental Science and Policy at U of M College Park, in 2008.  I also became vegan and joined an intentional community (Maitri House) that strives to live with consideration for others.  I’m now serving on the Board of the Takoma Park-Silver Spring Coop.  This past year I helped establish Fullfillery, which sells cleaning and body care products with as little waste as possible.  I’m honored to be asked to share some of what I’ve learned along the way with the All Beings Zen Sangha community.

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Sejiki-e Ceremony October 31, 2020 5pm EST

Sejiki-e is a Japanese word meaning “The Feeding and Nourishing of Hungry Ghosts.” Hungry ghosts are depicted as beings with very large stomachs swollen from malnutrition, who have the tiniest of throats, and who are always hungry. They are symbolic of the state of mind which is never satisfied with who we are or what we have. In the ceremony we call forth hungry ghosts and beings who are stuck in intermediary states, as well the dark, unknown regions of our own psyches, bringing them into the light. We offer them the nourishment of Dharma with the hope of satisfying and releasing them.

The Sejiki Ceremony also has the feeling of a universal memorial service. In addition to releasing the spirits of the departed, the ceremony is intended to resolve our karmic relationships with the deceased. During the ceremony, the names of those for whom we have performed memorial services during the past year will be read and the cards placed into a fire.

 This years ceremony was held in the yard of Sangha member Alan Brenner.  We are grateful to Alan for providing such a perfect bon fire to support the burning of the ABZS past years memorial cards, leftover bits of incense and thread.    Due to Covid we had limited attendees and we were careful to wear masks and stay physically distanced.   Photo by Alan Brenner

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Stepping Down Ceremony for Sojun Roshi October 24, 2020 6pm EST

Join members of the All Beings Zen Sangha in offering our gratitude to Sojun Roshi for his many years of service and teaching.  Hakuryu Sojun Mel Weitsman is the Dharma teacher of our first guiding teacher,  Dairyū Michael Wenger.  Our current guiding teacher Rev. Inryu, Sensei received Dharma transmission for Dairyū.  All of those who receive precepts in our ABZ Sangha have Sojun Roshi as their Great-Grandfather in our Suzuki Roshi Lineage.  Saturday, October 24: Stepping Down Ceremony and Stepping Into Founding Dharma Teacher Ceremony of Hakuryu Sojun Mel Weitsman Roshi, 6:00 pm EST (at the Berkeley Zen Center’s online zendo,

Here is a recording of the ceremony

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVKMrXXffRg

It begins with incense offerings outdoors around the Berkeley ZC grounds
and the speaking begins around 25 minutes in. You will see that Sojun
Roshi needed some assistance walking and has lost a lot of weight due to
cancer of the bile duct, which he was diagnosed with at the end of
September, 2019.