Hartford Street Zen Center | Issan-ji

Guest Speaker, Sat. 19 May: Rev. Mark Lancaster

revmyo — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:50:11 +0000

Rev. Mark is a long-time practitioner and a Dharma heir of Rev. Dairyu Michael Wenger, in addition to being an old friend of Hartford Street. Please join us for zazen (seated meditation) at 9:25, the talk at 10:15, and tea with discussion afterwards.

Opening for Practice Resident

Nick Strzelczyk — Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:38 +0000

The Hartford Street Zen Center currently has availability for one practice resident. We are looking for individuals interested in and committed to experiencing residential practice at a small, urban temple. Applicants should have prior experience with Soto Zen practice, and prior residential practice experience is not a requirement, but is preferred. While participation and assistance in the daily events of the sangha are expected of any potential practice resident, it is our expectation that most residents are employed outside of the center, and we are accommodating toward one’s professional schedule.

Sangha Council Meeting – 12 May, 3PM

Nick Strzelczyk — Fri, 04 May 2012 19:28:21 +0000

The Hartford Street Zen Center sangha is starting a Council group. We’re forming it with the intention and hope of building a forum to talk of and discuss with each other – and with the sangha at large – issues, concerns, questions and conflicts which have been challanging – or downright hard – to talk about. We’ll use a practice model of working with each other with the most skillful speech we can access.

Our first meeting will be on Saturday afternoon, May 12 at 3pm. We’ll be meeting for 90 minutes.

We’re working towards building a format that will be flexible enough for a diversity of needs. The group will be facilitated by Beata Chapman, a long time member and Board president of the Santa Cruz Zen Center. She is knowledgable about many aspects of zen communities. The scaffold we’ll be working from is based on the Council process developed by the Ojai Foundation.

You do not need to have an ‘issue’ or overt concern to attend. Council is sangha building. All are welcome!

If you have questions regarding this, call Peter Goetz at 510.595.1281. If you’d like a copy of the Ojai Foundation guidelines for Council process, email Peter at goetzpj@aol.com

Early Zazen, Saturday 5 May

revmyo — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 22:28:37 +0000

We’ll start sitting earlier than usual this coming Saturday. There will be two periods of zazen (seated meditation) beginning at 6:00 a.m., with a period of kinhin (walking meditation) in between at 6:40 a.m., and morning chanting following at 7:20. You may think, “Oh, that’s too early for me”, but you should give it a try, and you can always nap later. Also, we’ll serve a simple breakfast to participants, but you MUST sign up ahead-of-time, either via email at hszc108@yahoo.com, or by phone at (415) 863-2507. The rest of the Saturday schedule will be according to custom, with another period of sitting at 9:25 and the Dharma talk at 10:15 a.m., followed by the monthly ceremony of commemoration of the death of our founder, Rev. Issan Dorsey. Afterwards, there will be fistfuls of cookies for your enjoyment! Everyone is welcome…

Good-bye, Little Guy…

revmyo — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 03:00:03 +0000

Today at about 4:15 p.m. our dear friend Buckley left this world behind. This morning he suddenly developed acute symptoms of heart failure, and the very kind vet who came to visit believed that given his age and general weakness there was no way he could recover. Poor Buckley had been suffering uncontrolled diarrhea and vomiting for several hours, was exhausted, dehydrated, and mostly unable to stand. Additionally, the heart problem was affecting his breathing as well. Together with the vet, Jennifer, Sheryl and I determined that this was the “turn” we’d been expecting, and that it represented a fall from which our feline companion would be unable to come back. We thus gave the doctor the go-ahead, and he first administered a sedative so that Buckley went fast asleep. Once that was achieved, another quick injection gently ended the life principle. We all cried as we put his still-warm, frail little body into the carrier for his last journey. He will be cremated and his ashes returned to us for interment in our garden, to be with others who’ve ended their earthly passage here at Issan-ji. We’ll have an event of some sort to say good-bye to our friend before too long, so please stay tuned…

Full-Moon Bodhisattva Ceremony: Fri. 6 April, 6:25 p.m.

revmyo — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 22:02:21 +0000

Please join us for this monthly ceremonial renewal of our Bodhisattva vows, which will take place following a shorter-than-usual period of evening sitting, that nevertheless begins at its usual time of 6 p.m. All are invited to participate in the ceremony, either with full prostrations, standing bows, or simply sitting or standing respectfully, as one’s condition permits.

Early Sitting and Buddha’s Birthday Celebration: Sat., 6 April

revmyo — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 21:59:13 +0000

Come help us celebrate Buddha’s Birthday! We’ll start sitting at 6 a.m. in order to have a bit more time to practice together, including sharing a simple breakfast. Everyone is welcome, but you must sign up ahead of time in order to participate in the meal, either by email to hszc108@yahoo.com or leaving us a message at (415) 863-2507. We’ll have a Dharma talk as usual at 10:15 a.m., and afterwards a ceremony celebrating the birth of the baby Buddha in which we circumambulate the zendo (meditation hall) while chanting the Heart of Great Perfect Wisdom Sutra. Subsequently we’ll repair to the dining room for the birthday party itself. Everyone is welcome!

Jokes, Humor, and Trust (Rev. Myo Lahey)

Nick Strzelczyk — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 00:09:20 +0000

Rev. Myo tells of a brief exchange between a monk and Master Linji, in which Linji says that telling jokes leads to a loss of trust. Rev. Myo ponders what Linji might have been getting at, and relates it to the principle of naturalness in practice.

Fear and the Self (Rev. Myo Lahey)

Nick Strzelczyk — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 00:13:58 +0000

Rev. Myo talks about different kinds of fear and how the study of the self affects one’s relationship to fear.

Pure Mind, Impure Mind (Rev. Myo Lahey)

Nick Strzelczyk — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 00:28:10 +0000

Rev. Myo discusses practicing with anger and the concepts of “pure mind” versus “impure mind”. (The comments after the talk have been removed out of respect for privacy.)

Board Meeting (of directors): March 14 2012

joseph_sanfran — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 18:38:06 +0000

Our board of directors will meet this Wednesday, starting promptly at 7:30 p.m., and lasting until 9 p.m. Board meetings are open to visitors.

Ceremonies: Tsunami Commemoration, and Full-Moon Ceremony

revmyo — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 23:21:25 +0000

This Saturday morning, 10 March, we’ll have two ceremonies in which we invite all our Sangha members and friends to participate. Just at the end of the usual 9:25 a.m. period of zazen (silent sitting), we’ll have a brief ceremony in commemoration of the one-year anniversary of the devastating tsunami that struck Japan on 11 March, 2011. Then, after our 10:15 a.m. Dharma talk, we’ll celebrate the monthly Full-Moon Bodhisattva Ceremony wherein we renew our commitment to the path of the Bodhisattva Vows. Everyone is invited to join in, to whatever degree is possible. For instance, the Bodhisattva Ceremony involves some thirty-six full prostrations, but one can always do standing bows instead.

Sangha Social Sundays.: Sunday – March 11th, 5:30pm

joseph_sanfran — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 20:12:25 +0000

The second Sunday of every month will be social time for our Sangha & Friends starting at 5:30pm. A member of our Board of Directors will take a turn each month hosting the event and planning the activity.

This month will be hosted by our very own President of the Board of Directors and Sangha Member, Richard C. who has chosen a viewing of:

Buckley the cat turns 20!

joseph_sanfran — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 18:15:18 +0000

Please see the attached special edition Buckley newsletters of current and old.
1 of 2

2 of 2

Retreat Morning: Saturday 3 March

revmyo — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 19:45:00 +0000

We’ll be sitting together during the morning hours, beginning at 6:00 and ending by noon, when we’ll have cookies and tea together in the living room. The day will feature periods of sitting (zazen) and walking (kinhin), a Dharma talk at 10:15, and morning and noontime chanting services as well as some brief temple cleaning (soji). Our style is quite mild, so no one needs to fear that the day will be too difficult. In fact, retreats such as we have at Hartford Street provide an ideal opportunity just to settle more deeply and quietly into our practice of Buddha’s Way. A simple breakfast will be served, but to join the meal you must sign-up ahead-of-time, either by sending email to hszc108@yahoo.com, or leaving a phone message at (415) 863-3507. We are asking for a donation of $15 from non-members, and $10 from members, but no one will be turned away because of lack of funds. Everyone is welcome!

Guest Speaker, Sat. 25 Feb.: Rev. Tova Green

revmyo — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:44:30 +0000

Please come and join us this Saturday for a Dharma talk by Tova Green. Priest-ordained by Green Gulch Farm Abbess Jiko Linda-Ruth Cutts, Tova is presently Director of Beginner’s Mind Temple at 300 Page St. and is a former director of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship. Zazen will precede as always at 9:25, and the ever-popular tea and cookies will follow. All are welcome.

Parinirvana of Shakyamuni Buddha: Sat. 18 Feb.

revmyo — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 23:40:17 +0000

We will have a simple ceremony commemorating the death of Shakyamuni Buddha this coming Saturday, following the 9:25 a.m. period of zazen and the Dharma talk at 10:15. Everyone is welcome!

Monday, 20 Feb., Presidents’ Day: Zendo CLOSED

revmyo — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 23:37:06 +0000

The Zendo will be closed in observance of the national holiday. Come rejoin our regular sitting schedule beginning Tuesday, 21 February, bright-and-early at 6:00 a.m.

Monday 13 Feb.: No A.M. Zendo Schedule

revmyo — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:05:15 +0000

Due to the special GBS/HSZC event with Ven. Robina Courtin this Sunday evening, we’ll have a work period Monday morning in place of our usual periods of zazen (seated meditation) and chanting, beginning at 7 a.m., to restore the meditation hall to its traditional configuration. We’ll resume the standard schedule Monday evening with the 6 p.m. period of zazen. Our thanks to everyone who has been contributing in any way to this event!

Board of Directors Meeting: February 8th 2012

joseph_sanfran — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:05:46 +0000

Our board of directors will meet this Wednesday, starting promptly at 7:30 p.m., and lasting until 9 p.m. Board meetings are open to visitors.

Retreat Morning and Full-Moon Ceremony: Sat. 4 February

joseph_sanfran — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 03:11:23 +0000

Click here for details

Sangha Hour – Wednesdays.: 10:30am – 11:30am

joseph_sanfran — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:26:45 +0000

Click here for more detail

Sunday Feb. 12th.: Ven. Robina Courtin, in Conversation

joseph_sanfran — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:47:51 +0000

Hartford Street Zen Center and Gay Buddhist Sangha invite you to:

An Evening with Venerable Robina Courtin, in Conversation
7:00 – 8:30 pm

Ven. Robina Courtin was ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist nun at Kopan Monastery in 1978. She has worked full time since then for Lama
Thubten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition, first as editorial director of Wisdom Publications and then as editor of the FPMT magazine, Mandala.

She is the founder of Liberation Prison Project, which supports the Buddhist practice and studies of thousands of prisoners in the USA and Australia. Since 1987 she has taught Buddhist courses and retreats at FPMT centers
worldwide.

An award-winning film, Chasing Buddha, made by her nephew Amiel Courtin-Wilson, documents her life and includes her work at Kentucky State Prison. She is one of the subjects of Vicki Mackenzie’s Why Buddhism?, and a film by Christine Lundberg, On the Road Home.
www.vajrapani.org/

There is no fee to attend this event; however, donations are gladly accepted to help our center exist, offer practice and programs.

To pre-register for this free event, please email
gbs.hartford@gmail.com

Guest Speaker, Sat. 28 Jan.: Rev. Cynthia Kear

revmyo — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:53:14 +0000

Please join us this Saturday morning for a Dharma talk by Rev. Cynthia Kear. Cynthia received Jukai from SFZC Abbot Paul Haller in 2004. In 2008 she was given Shukke Tokudo (priest ordination) by Darlene Cohen, her heart and root teacher, and was shuso (head student) in 2009. In December, 2010 Darlene gave her Dharma Transmission. In 2009 Cynthia graduated from the Shokagu Zen Institute, a three year Zen seminary training program. She is the founding member of the Wild Geese Sangha, a group that has met for over 8 years. She leads the Upstairs Sangha, a study group (both of which meet at her home zendo), and co-leads the Women’s Meditation & Recovery Sangha which meets monthly at HSZC.

Zazen (seated meditation) is at 9:25 as usual, with the talk at 10:15, and refreshments afterwards. Everyone is welcome.

Movie night is being moved from routine Sunday of the month for February.

joseph_sanfran — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:25:46 +0000

New date for movie night and alternative event info on Feb 12th to be announced soon…

Wednesdays, Parlez vous francais?: 7pm

joseph_sanfran — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:46:40 +0000

Parlez vous francais? Want to? Upstairs at Hartford Street Wednesdays @ 7:00pm right after evening zazen, Chuck Still begins an ongoing Groupe de Conversation. Practice right speech in French!

Retreat Morning and Full-Moon Ceremony: Sat. 4 February

revmyo — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:15:48 +0000

Our retreat for the month of February will begin at 6:00 a.m., and conclude by noon with the monthly ceremony of renewal of our Bodhisattva Vows. Refreshments for all will follow. The day will feature periods of sitting (zazen) and walking (kinhin), a Dharma talk at 10:15 a.m., and morning chanting service as well as some brief temple cleaning (soji). Our style is quite mild, so no one needs to fear that the day will be too difficult, and retreats such as we have at Hartford Street provide a great opportunity just to settle more deeply and quietly into our practice of Buddha’s Way. A simple breakfast will be served, but to join the meal you must sign-up ahead-of-time, either by sending email to hszc108@yahoo.com, or leaving a phone message at (415) 863-2507. We are asking for a donation of $15 from non-members, and $10 from members, but no one will be turned away because of lack of funds.

MLK Holiday: Mon. 16 Jan.

revmyo — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 01:00:12 +0000

Our zendo (meditation hall) will be closed in honor of the national holiday commemorating the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this coming Monday. The regular schedule resumes with 6 a.m. zazen (seated meditation) Tuesday morning, the 17th.

Movie Night Date to be announced soon!

joseph_sanfran — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:04:41 +0000

5:30pm – Hosted by Richard C. (our beloved President of the BODs and HSZC Member)

Board of Directors Meeting: January 11th 2012

joseph_sanfran — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 06:12:26 +0000

Our board of directors will meet this Wednesday, starting promptly at 7:30 p.m., and lasting until 9 p.m. Board meetings are open to visitors.

How can we better serve our community and grow our Sangha?

joseph_sanfran — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:02:21 +0000

Dear Sangha, Member, Guest, E-Sangha and anyone who would like to provide feedback:

We are looking for your anonymous feedback on how we can improve, attract more individuals, get you engaged and involved in the Hartford Street Zen Center (HSZC).

Please take a few quick moments to answer our 10 simple questions and provide any additional comments by visiting the link below:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/68HYCRT

We appreciate your feedback and hope to hear about what you like and where we can better serve the community through the Dharma and the practice of Soto Zen.

Thank you!

Sincerely,
The HSZC Outreach Committee

New Years – 2012

joseph_sanfran — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 19:43:09 +0000

Just so you can be sure your calendars are marked, remember that there won’t be the usual Saturday morning schedule this week (Sat. the 31st., 9:25 a.m. zazen (seated meditation), 10:15 Dharma talk etc.). Rather, we’ll begin our traditional New Year’s Eve observance at 7:30 p.m. with temple cleaning, followed by a light snack, and then repair to the zendo (meditation hall) for quiet sitting. The densho (large hanging bell) will begin to be struck as midnight approacheth, ending just at 12:00 a.m., when we’ll have the New Year’s toast with sake and/or apple juice, and the Fire Ceremony in the back yard. (Just think of all that good karma…) Everyone is welcome! Oh, but DO try to give us a heads-up if you think you’ll be here for the whole program, so we can keep enough food on hand: Send us email via the website, or to hszc108@yahoo.com, or leave us a phone message at (415) 863-2507, and please remember, we depend completely on donations. Thank you!

Thank you!

joseph_sanfran — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 21:30:06 +0000

We would like to thank all who came to and/or supported our Holiday, Art Auction, and Raffle event!

We are very appreciative of your donated funds and hope you left with some enjoyable new things.

It was wonderful to see you all and cant wait to see you and continue our practice together wrapping up 2011 and soon in 2012…

We would also like to make mention of a very special thank you to those who donated art, objects, time, skills and to those who organized, staffed and hosted this event.

A very sincere Thank You!

TODAY ~ 1pm to 5pm, please drop by!

joseph_sanfran — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 17:08:40 +0000

Art Auction - Prize Raffle -Small Bites - Holiday Season Cheer

Queer Buddhists, Buddhist interested and our Allies

Light Breaks Out: Retreat Ends 2011

revmyo — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 00:24:36 +0000

Our retreat vessel opened into the wide world last Sunday afternoon (11 Dec.), letting out the light we’d been gathering the previous four days. It was a wonderful time of quiet togetherness for all, including the one with four legs and a (short) tail. Our deep thanks to all participants and supporters, whether near or far. Please join us again as soon as you can.

ALERT! Revised Retreat Schedule…

revmyo — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 04:52:09 +0000

Ok, sorry, but… the Practice Leader is kind of a doofus, and posted last year’s schedule by mistake. However, all has been made right, and now this link will take you to the corrected schedule for the current retreat. Y’all come! (Except for meals… heh…)

Winter Holiday Event: December 18, 2011

joseph_sanfran — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 18:11:42 +0000

Art Auction – Prize Raffle -Small Bites – Holiday Season Cheer

Queer Buddhists, Buddhist interested and our Allies

Sangha Hour – Wednesdays, 10:30am – 11:30am

joseph_sanfran — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:21:39 +0000

Click here for details (scroll down page to see this and additional events)

Re-Post: Winter Light Retreat, 7-11 Dec.

revmyo — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 02:29:41 +0000

Hey, click on this link to see the prior posting about our retreat, which starts Weds. evening. Come by and sit with us!

Dec 3rd 2011: Trimming the Tree

joseph_sanfran — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 06:03:17 +0000

We would like to invite everyone to come by and help create ornaments and trim the HSZC winter holiday tree!

The ornament creation is folding origami ornaments painting, adding glitter, hooks and flair to small Buddhas, and other ornament crafts followed by trimming the tree and dedicating the winter holiday (including Buddha’s enlightenment) decor in the spirit of friends and family (chosen and biological) with intent and actions of compassion, love, charity, good will and spreading love to your fellow man or womyn this holiday season!

Where: 57 Hartford Street
When: 6 PM
What do I Bring? Elbow grease, an ornament if you want to loan it for the month, treats if you wish to offload some high calorie holiday treats and most importantly… Holiday Cheer!