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!
We will resume our regular All Beings Zen Sangha schedule on Tuesday July 6th, 2021 with the 2pm Dharma Tea. Inryū Sensei will lead the tea using the topic of “Freedom – what is it? What is it good for”? First 5 minutes are silent tea drinking together. All are welcome! Use this link to join. If asked for a password use 012494
Use this link to join.
If asked for a password use this 826408
Photography by Yosan
Here is the link to join us via the cloud zendo at 7PM on Thursday for the All Beings Zen Sangha evening program. Tonight we will have a period of zazen followed by a Talk by our Ino (head of the zendo) Seido David Sarpal. We will close by chanting the Refuges.
If you are asked for a password please use this 118879
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 in Spanish and English
30 Minute Zazen Period
Four Great Vows
Talk offered by Ino Seido David Sarpal on the topic of “Eight things I’ve learned during Covid”
Refuges in Pali
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.
Refuges in Pali (Call and Response)
Accapella, inflections as follows:
➞Buddham Saranam Ga➚cha➘mi➞iii
BUDDHAM SARANAM GACCHAMI
DHAMMAM SARANAM GACCHAMI
SANGHAM SARANAM GACCHAMI
DUTIYAMPI BUDDHAM SARANAM GACCHAMI
DUTIYAMPI DHAMMAM SARANAM GACCHAMI
DUTIYAMPI SANGHAM SARANAM GACCHAMI
TATIYAMPI BUDDHAM SARANAM GACCHAMI
TATIYAMPI DHAMMAM SARANAM GACCHAMI
TATIYAMPI SANGHAM SARANAM GACCHAMI
Photo taken by Sensei Inryū
In light of the recent availability of vaccinations and increasingly relaxed public health restrictions, this document is intended to offer guidance for how to safely transition the Sangha to indoor in person zazen at our urban Zendo and our un-urban indoor sitting spaces at Woodburn Hill Farm.
General thoughts on the risks of in person zazen for our Sangha:
A strain could spread that some of currently available vaccines only have limited ability to prevent illness from.
The sangha will have to monitor the situation and be prepared (if necessary) to re-close the zendo in the event that the vaccines lose efficacy against new strains of the virus. As such, this document should be updated and re-circulated to the board to review the decision to open to in person zazen as new CDC guidance becomes available.
Answers to logistical questions
How will we verify that zendo visitors are vaccinated?
Inryu will ask visitors to affirm in writing that they have been fully vaccinated, symptom free for at least two weeks, and indicate they have not knowingly been in contact with people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19. There will be a chart at the front entry for people to initial this affirmation.
Should practitioners. be asked to wear masks?
We recommend mask use for the first month of zendo reopening, and re-evaluating this policy every 6 weeks.
How far apart should Zafus be spaced?
Six feet apart to minimize risk of transmission.
What number of people can attend?
No more than 10 people total indoor zendo spaces at any time, as currently stipulated by DC/MD regulations for indoor gatherings in condominiums or cooperatives.
Should kinhin take place?
Yes, with everybody making their best effort to remain six feet apart.
Should chanting take place?
We recommend that only the Kokyo (chant leader) or the Doshi (Inryu Sensei) chant on behalf of those present given the increased risk of transmission brought about by singing/chanting.
How can we ensure the space remains sanitized?
We recommend placing hand sanitizer at the entrance to the zendo and encouraging all who enter to make use of it.
In addition, to limit the number of hands making contact with zafus and zabutons, we recommend that they remain in place rather than being stacked and stored. Only the Doanryo should handle instruments to ensure that they are in contact with as few hands as possible.
If more want to attend than the limit, how do we decide who gets to join?
We will encourage those interested in attending in person to contact the Tenken, and monitor the response rate to ensure that we do not reach a situation where a greater number is seeking to attend than the zendo can hold.
Should sangha members be allowed to eat or drink in the zendo?
Not for the time being as these activities require removing one’s mask.
What should a Sangha member do if they feel unwell or have knowingly had recent contact with someone who is symptomatic/has confirmed Covid?
That person should stay at home and join via Zoom (ABZS Cloud Zendo)..
When should we allow in person zazen to resume?:
Inryū Sensei had her second vaccine on Sunday May 24th, 2021. She recommends that we could allow in person zazen beginning on Monday June 7, 2021.
***guidelines are set up by the ABZS Board of Directors and will be reviewed every 6 weeks and updated***
Use this link to join
If asked for password use this 826408
Use this link to join
If asked for password use this 826408
Here is the link to join us via the cloud zendo at 7PM , 2020 for the All Beings Zen Sangha evening program. Tonight we will have a period of zazen followed by a wellbeing ceremony. We will close by chanting the Refuges.
If you are asked for a password please use this 118879
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 in English
30 Minute Zazen Period
Four Great Vows
Enmei 9 times
The Loving Kindness Sutra
Dedication of Merit
All Buddhas Chant
Refuges in Pali
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.
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
Loving Kindness Meditation
This is what should be accomplished by the one who is wise,
Who seeks the good and has obtained peace:
Let one be strenuous, upright and sincere,
WIthout pride, easily contented and joyous.
Let one not be submerged by the things of the world.
Let one not take upon one’s self the burden of riches.
Let one’s senses be controlled.
Let one be wise, but not puffed up: and
Let one not desire great possessions even for one’s family.
Let one do nothing that is mean or that the wise would reprove
May all beings be happy.
May they be joyous and live in safety.
All living beings, whether weak or strong,
In high or middle or low realms of existence,
Small or great, visible or invisible,
Near or far, born or to be born,
May all beings be happy.
Let no one deceive another, nor despise any being in any state;
Let none by anger or hatred wish harm to another.
Even as a mother at the risk of her life
Watches over and protects her only child,
So with a boundless mind should one cherish all living things,
Suffusing love over the entire world,
Above, below and all around without limit;
So let one cultivate an infinite good will toward the whole world.
Standing or walking, sitting or lying down,
During all one’s waking hours
Let one practice the way with gratitude.
Not holding to fixed views,
Endowed with insight,
Freed from sense appetites,
One who achieves the way
Will be freed from the duality of birth and death.
All Buddhas
All Buddhas, ten directions, Three times
All Honored Ones, Bodhisattvas-Mahasattvas
Wisdom beyond wisdom
Maha Prajna Paramita
Refuges in Pali (Call and Response)
Accapella, inflections as follows:
➞Buddham Saranam Ga➚cha➘mi➞iii
BUDDHAM SARANAM GACCHAMI
DHAMMAM SARANAM GACCHAMI
SANGHAM SARANAM GACCHAMI
DUTIYAMPI BUDDHAM SARANAM GACCHAMI
DUTIYAMPI DHAMMAM SARANAM GACCHAMI
DUTIYAMPI SANGHAM SARANAM GACCHAMI
TATIYAMPI BUDDHAM SARANAM GACCHAMI
TATIYAMPI DHAMMAM SARANAM GACCHAMI
TATIYAMPI SANGHAM SARANAM GACCHAMI
Hello All,
