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!
Dharma Tea on Tuesday: 2pm Dharma Teas resumes today January 2, 2024. Inryū Sensei will offer explanation and photographs of the purification and dedication of an 18th century Japanese Zen Temple Bell. The installation was at the National Arboretum in Washington DC on January 1, 2024.
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.
The dharma tea concludes at 2:45pm Eastern. All are welcome.
There will be no 6:30am morning in person practice today.
If you are in the DC Metro area please join members of All Beings Zen Sangha on JANUARY 1, 2024at the U.S. NATIONAL ARBORETUM for the installation of a Japanese templebell cast in 1798 . ALL ARE WELCOME.
Location – Outdoor Dedication of a Japanese Zen Temple Bell at the U.S. National Arboretum Bonsai and Penjing Museum, 3501 New York Ave, NE, Washington DC 2002.
Remarks from the Director of the National Arboretum, Dr Richard Olsen, and the Director of the National Bell Festival Organization, Paul Ashe followed by a blessing, sacred chants and dedication by All Beings Zen Sangha.
The Arboretum grounds are open from 8a-5p, however the Bonsai Museum gates are unlocked from 1-4p. Ask for detailed directions from Inryu or Seiryu paula.
Photograph by Seiryū Paula Chiplis
About the hanshō
The hanshō, or Buddhist temple bell, was cast in the ninth month of Kansei 10 (1798) by Katō Jinemon from Yokokawa, who came from a family of bell makers in the area of present-day Hachiōji, west of the Tokyo metropolitan area. The bell was cast for the Zen monastery and temple, Daisenji. A monk named Myōdō led the fundraising campaign for the bell’s casting. It stands 27 inches tall and weighs 80 lbs.
Daisenji monastery no longer exists. It was located in the Amema village in the Tama district of the province of Musashi. As is true of many Edo-period villages, the names of locations have changed, but the location corresponds to Amema, Akiruno City, Tokyo 197-0825. In 1868, the monastery was incorporated with another temple, Jōfukuji, which also no longer exists.
The bell is inscribed in classical Japanese across three ikenomachi, or panels, which detail the particulars of its casting. It includes the phrase: One strike permeates all things. How could it be said the strike is slight, when it is heard without fail? from National Bell Festival website
Please also join the sangha for an online Dharma Tea on Tuesday (Jan 2) to learn about the history of the bell.
Thursday December 21, 2023 – End of Ango and Winter Solstice Ceremony – We will invite the return of the light. Inryǔ Sensei and members of the sangha will be offering 108 recitations of the Enmei (see chant below) along with bells, drumming and prostrations followed by a dedication of merit. We will enjoy the reading of the 2023 Benji Poem by Zen’etsu Clay which will conclude our Fall 2023 Ango (practice period).
Tonight we will have a short service in Spanish 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)
In person sangha members celebrating the completion of the 2023 Rohatsu Sesshin for All Beings Zen Sangha. Many members (not pictured) joined us throughout the week waving in and out in person and via the cloud. It was really great! Gate, Gate, Parasite, Parasamgate, Bodhi Svaha!
Way Seeking Mind Talk by Eishin Mike Barreda following a brief period of zazen.
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.
