Author: TetsuGen KeiDo

With special intentions of love, peace and harmony for all beings on this planet in a time still where globally LGBTQ+ peoples are not still yet equal citizens and are treated with negativity. At times the hatred due to misguided societies who often misquote or add intolerance to their religious teachings, to minimize or hurt healthy fully perfected individuals out of lack of education and exposure to the beauty of diverse people.

Wishes hopes and action for a day where we have a fully enlightened world where we all respect and care for one another as part of our same human family.

Issan-ji temple was founded to support and still primary attended and funded by the LGBTQ+ community and supports and invites all beings, but we as always and as founded for, will always exist to ensure this community has access and invitation to the Buddha Way through Soto Zen’s path; in a neighborhood that formed and still stands for love in an equal and legitimate way.

For Issan-ji temple, Hartford Street Zen Center this is a very special time of year.

Hello from Issan-ji…

This evening we wish to reignite the weekly study hour, and as before, we ask that you please opt-in by replying to this note if you wish to attend; the timing, as of old, will be 1930hrs to 2030hrs, making it a literal hour.

We’ll aim to send a functional zoom link around 1900hrs this evening to everyone who has replied, if there is a “quorum”, or a postponement, if not. 🤷🏻‍♂️

We’ll pick up where we left off by looking into Shō Bō Gen Zō “Koku“, or “Space”, which is essay #77 in vol. 2 of Kaz Tanahashi’s masterful translation.

We have an opening for a short-term Guest or longer term, Resident Student and invite you to apply if of interest. Having lived in community (even more so Soto or other schools of Zen or other meditation/Buddhist) is a big plus as it has its own rhythm and unique attributes that are good for practice but different than solitary or living with a family or romantic partner.

What’s involved? You’re a student and engaging in a full life practice with a room to occupy as a student under the HSZC clergy warm guiding support. Soto Zen ordained clergy also very welcome to apply! The details of student minimal requirements (more focused on long-term stay) and asks is outlined in our temple roles document voted in by our board of directors found here (second to last page of document). Additionally there is a tuition expense you can discuss with inquiry.

After you reviewed the requirements or for short-term guest please come by and meet the Abbot, Rev. Myo Lahey (join Saturday program and maybe meet during tea & cookies are a good time) and best to send an email before as well to info@hszc.org

We wanted to take a moment to join in the celebration and honoring of this month’s heritage for:

Asian Americans
Native Hawaiian &
Pacific Islanders

And as such we recognize these rich and in many areas ancient culture and those who have come to the Unites States to build the fabric of our rich varied history. There are many interesting statements and history being published and events occurring throughout the country and one of interest is here at the Smithsonian: Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month | Smithsonian Institution

Please join our community of support for a one day Sōtō Zen retreat on Siddhārtha Gautama, Shakyamuni Buddha’s 2587th birthday!   One day silent retreat zazen, kinhin, service, dharma talk, and ceremony   May 4, 2024@ 5:30am to 12:30pm We’re starting a bit early compared to years past to take advantage of what the Chinese emphasized as the dynamics of fire, earth, air, water & space by engaging the early hours when in both microcosm and macrocosm, an ideal balance of energy and stillness, yin and yang that supports practice. Breakfast served for those who sign up and offer dāna for the event “I am chief of the world, Eldest am I in the world, Foremost am I in the world. This is the last birth. There is now no more coming to be.”  to  inquire further write to info@hszc.org  remember the sangha (community) jewel is a vital part of our Zen practice and best way to celebrate the buddha’s birth!   $20.00 suggested dāna for the day’s event (no one turned away due to lack of funds)   This post will be updated soon with Zoom link for those who want to join via the internet connection.

Rev Steven Tierney (Kai Po Koshin) is a Dharma transmitted teacher in the lineage of Suzuki Roshi. Steven practices with: Meditation in Recovery, Great Spirit, SFLGBTQA, and Dragons Leap Sanghas in addition to the Harford Street Zen Center. Steven believes that we can find wisdom, compassion and awakening wherever good people come together for practice, healing, service and joy. Tierney is a psychotherapist in private practice and Professor Emeritus in Counseling Psychology at CIIS.

We hope you can join us!

Join us for zazen (seated meditation) at 9:30am, with the Dharma talk to follow at 10:30. We offer in-person distanced attendance, and we also will continue to offer a Zoom web conferencing for video and/or audio presence for the scheduled events. There’s an earlier sitting at 6:30am, in addition to the later one at 9:30am (you can log into the conference starting at 9am to socialize). A period of zazen is typically 40 minutes, and it’s ok to adjust your sitting posture as needed. The Dharma talk includes time for questions and answers, occasionally followed by a particular ceremony such as the celebration of Buddha’s Birthday. We enjoy tea and cookies together afterwards. Please click here to be routed to our Zoom gathering  ****Please be patient if any issues three weekly resources who help offer Saturday morning every week, including the abbot will be out of town and not present****

And as always you can contact us to arrange an introductory session ~8:45am if you are a beginner.

As a reminder any week you do not see a speaker announced it is our Abbot, Rev. Myo Lahey.

Rev. Anshi Daigi Zachary Smith has been practicing Zen since 1993. He took jukai in 1995, was Shuso (Head Student) in 2007, ordained as a Zen priest in 2014 and received Dharma Transmission on April 17, 2019, all with former abbot and Senior Dharma Teacher Ryushin Paul Haller.

He currently directs North Mountain Zendo, a zazenkai (sitting) group in North Beach. In addition to his involvement with Zen, Zachary is a husband, a father of four, an engineer, a musician, a bike fanatic, and an avid but mediocre poet. He may be the only person in the history of Zen in the West to have interrupted a residential practice period to tour with a rock band.

Join us for zazen (seated meditation) at 9:30am, with the Dharma talk to follow at 10:30. We offer in-person distanced attendance, and we also will continue to offer a Zoom web conferencing for video and/or audio presence for the scheduled events. There’s an earlier sitting at 6:30am, in addition to the later one at 9:30am (you can log into the conference starting at 9am to socialize). A period of zazen is typically 40 minutes, and it’s ok to adjust your sitting posture as needed. The Dharma talk includes time for questions and answers, occasionally followed by a particular ceremony such as the celebration of Buddha’s Birthday. We enjoy tea and cookies together afterwards. Please click here to be routed to our Zoom gathering 

And as always you can contact us to arrange an introductory session ~8:45am if you are a beginner.

As a reminder any week you do not see a speaker announced it is our Abbot, Rev. Myo Lahey.

As we wrap up the month dedicated to womens’ history and an international day of recognition for the vitality and essentiallity of women and thier lives in history and present we wanted to honor one of our beloved and revered, the adoptive mother and maternal aunt of the person who was know about 2500 years ago to awake to buddhahood. After his awakening she became the first buddhist nun. 

Please join us as we conduct our Mahāprajāpatī-shiki on Saturday in great appreciation, adoration and thanks for helping wake us up to true reality.

The ceremony will follow the dharma talk.

Join us for zazen (seated meditation) at 9:30am, with the Dharma talk to follow at 10:30. We offer in-person distanced attendance, and we also will continue to offer a Zoom web conferencing for video and/or audio presence for the scheduled events. There’s an earlier sitting at 6:30am, in addition to the later one at 9:30am (you can log into the conference starting at 9am to socialize). A period of zazen is typically 40 minutes, and it’s ok to adjust your sitting posture as needed. The Dharma talk includes time for questions and answers, occasionally followed by a particular ceremony such as the celebration of Buddha’s Birthday. We enjoy tea and cookies together afterwards. Please click here to be routed to our Zoom gathering 

And as always you can contact us to arrange an introductory session ~8:45am if you are a beginner.

As a reminder any week you do not see a speaker announced it is our Abbot, Rev. Myo Lahey.