All events in Eastern Standard Time
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 6:30am – Morning Zazen – 40 minute period of zazen followed by a short service. In person and online see www.allbeingszen.org home page to sign in
Thursday March 27th, 2025 7pm – 8:15pm Evening Zazen – Evening Service with two periods of Zazen and one interval of 5 minute Kinhin (slow walking) . We will conclude by chanting the refuges in Pali. In person and online – visit www.allbeingszen.org home page to sign in.
***ABZS Affinity Groups ***
Sundays 5pm – 6pm Weekly Healing Circle – ongoing every Sunday Contact Shinren markstone1924@gmail.com Online only
Monthly Dharma Book Club – contact Shoku @ cristinamariabenavides@gmail.com Online only. Our next book is “Lathe of Heaven” by Ursula K. Le Guin on April 21, 2025 6-7pm Eastern. We’ll be gathering at 6pm on Monday, April 21 to discuss The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin. While not explicitly a Buddhist text, this novel is said to be deeply infused with themes that align with our practice: impermanence, non-attachment, the nature of reality, and the limits of control.
Set in a dystopian future, the story follows George Orr, a man whose dreams can reshape reality. He seeks help from a psychiatrist, Dr. Haber, who attempts to manipulate these dreams for the “betterment” of society. What unfolds is a meditation on the dangers of imposing one’s will on the world, the illusory nature of progress, and the profound wisdom of non-interference.
Le Guin was apparently a longtime student of Taoism and Eastern philosophy, and reviews suggest that this novel is not only a thought-provoking sci-fi story but also a reflection on the Buddhist concept of pratītyasamutpāda or “dependent origination.” It raises questions about whether suffering can truly be eliminated or if attempting to control the world only leads to greater imbalance.
The novel was written in the 1970s and should be available at the library.
Our May meeting date will be May 19, 2025 6-7pm Eastern
Baikaryu Eisanka – Japanese Plum Blossom Style Hymns with bells. Current song we are learning: “Magokoro ni Ikiru” .. which translates to “Living with a sincere heart” – We will meet the first and third Tuesday of each month from 6-7pm. (April dates 1st & 15th). Contact Zen’etsu @ zenjoyclay@gmail.com for more information.
2025 this week
Thursday March 20 th, 2025 – Zen Sewing Class – 10am to noon – urban zendo In person only. rsvp to inryu@allbeingszen.org
Sunday March 23rd, 2025 8:30am-1:30pm – Half Day Zen Retreat and Vegetarian Lunch at Blue Ridge Farm VA– Join All Beings Zen Sangha members for a half day retreat at the famous Blue Ridge Farm “pig shed”. The “pig shed zendo” is a modified outdoor zen meditation space on the mountainside of Blue Ridge Farm located 45 miles west of DC (80 min from DC). Following outdoor zazen and outdoor kinhin, the sangha will relocate to the farm house for an outdoor porch(?) potluck brunch. Dress accordingly in down coats and covered warm shoes/boots. Email Inryū for questions, carpool info or to register inryu@allbeingszen.org. In-person only
Sunday April 13, 2025 3:30pm – 4:30pm – Seminar
June 25-29, 2025 – ABZS visit to Green Gulch Farm/Green Dragon Temple 5 days at $90 per night with daily work practice and Dharma study activities. Registration details
The price for our ABZS members is $90 per night for a private room. Here is the booking link for sangha week at GGF.
Here is additional information about Sangha week. The schedule for the Saturday we are at Green Gulch is below
September 15-18, 2025 – Suzuki Roshi Branching Streams Conference, Loyola University’s Retreat and Ecology Center, Woodstock, IL. More details to follow
October 23-26, 2025 – Annual U.S. Soto Zen Conference, Honolulu, Hawaii
Interested in attending? Please visit www.sotomission.com or www.sotomission.org to sign up for updates. Or register your interest by filling out this form