Next Saturday is the annual observance of Mahapajapati‘s life as well as a great opportunity to celebrate women in Buddhism through the first female nun. It is also shortly after international Women’s day. Mahapajapati Gotami, the first woman to be ordained from the Buddha and to join the Sangha. She was the Buddha’s maternal aunt and adopted mother after her sister, Queen Maya (Mahāmāyā), the Buddha’s birth mother, died.
Every Saturday we offer early morning zazen (seated meditation), morning service, a brief drop-in meditation instruction at 8:30 am. And again zazen at 9:25 am. Dharma talk at 10:15 am followed by ceremony (when we have one) and then tea and cookies. We also have a regular schedule 6 days each week.
Please join us this Saturday for this celebration and we hope to see you often!