Hartford Street Zen Center | Issan-ji temple
A Sōtō Zen temple for the LGBTQ+ community, friends and allies in San Francisco's Castro neighborhood
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!
We would like to remind all that a Tibetan Lineage Nun Robina Courtinwill be giving a talk at HSZC tomorrow (Tuesday April 1) at 7pm. Because she usually has a significant interest or following we are having to cancel evening Zazen to rearrange our space and as a first come, first seated event we expect that people will show up when we would normally be in a period of Zazen or chanting. All are welcome to attend and keep in mind she usually draws a bit of a crowd so first come first seated and our space and capacity to seat is limited. We will see you again back to our regular schedule Wed., April 2nd. And “no” this isn’t an Aprils fool joke!
Also a reminder we are closed today, open tomorrow morning at 6am for morning schedule and closed again in the evening for this event.
The individuals hosting this event request dana (donation) of $10-$15 and all questions go to: Albert.Kaba@gmail.com
Once each month, we’ll be taking a Monday as a rest day for the residents here at Issan-ji. On months when there is a national holiday, the legal holiday will be the Monday we’re closed. Otherwise, please keep an eye out for an announcement letting you know on which Monday the usual zendo (meditation hall) schedule will be suspended; this month, we’ve chosen Cesar Chavez Day, Monday, 31 March. Please join us again for practice the following Tuesday morning, bright and early at 6 a.m. Blessings and peace to all!
In Japanese, there is a proverb that says “Hot and cold weather last until the equinox”.
Higan is the teaching that leads people from the world of delusion to the world of awakening. There are six components of this teaching: giving, precepts, perseverance, diligence, zazen, and wisdom. It is taught that if we carry out these practices we will be blessed with happiness and good fortune.
On the day before Higan, it is the custom in a Japanese home to clean the Buddha altar, to straighten up the various Buddha implements, and to change the flowers on the altar. It is also customary to make offerings of rice dumplings, rice cakes covered with bean jam called ohagi or botamochi. And once again on the final day of the week, dumplings made from rice flour are offered. During this time, offerings of food, special sweets, and fruit are also made. It is customary at this time to visit the temple to present offerings of pounded-rice cakes (mochi), sweets, fruit, and so on to the principal image of Buddha as well as the family ancestors.
It is also the custom at Higan to visit the family grave to express our gratitude to the family ancestors. In Japan the temple priest is then asked to chant a sutra at the grave, at this time, we join our hands in wholehearted prayer.
Following the visit to the gravesite, it is proper to remove the food offerings. No one likes to see spoiled offerings and they are also unsanitary. It is also good to clean up the special gravesite for graves that are no longer tended by family members and offer incense and flowers. In Japan, this is thought to express the beauty of one’s heart and mind.
Robina Courtin, is in the Bay Area for a brief visit and would like to connect with her students, friends and followers at Hartford Street Zen Center on Tuesday, April 1. You do not need to RSVP for this event, however, seating is limited and we will accommodate you on a first-come, first-served basis. Here are the details:
Tuesday, April 1, 2014, 7pm
“Unravelling our Negative Emotions“
57 Hartford St., San Francisco, CA
Seating Limited, No RSVP, First Come, First Served
Donation of $10-15 welcomed
Contact: Albert.Kaba@gmail.com
Please join us this Saturday for a Dharma talk by Shokan Jordan Thorn. Jordan has been at SF Zen Center for 30 years. Ordained in 1977, later received Dharma Transmission from Zoketsu Norman Fischer, he lives at SFZC’s City Center. He came to SF Zen Center as a result of the beat poetry movement that was of interest to several Zen students in it’s early years and met as he arrived his soon to be friend, Issan Dorsey upon his arrival. He has lived at all three SFZC practice centers, has served in a variety of roles on senior staff and as an Officer, and was susho (head student) at Tassajara. Recently he served as City Center Tanto (Head of Practice) and became SF Zen Center’s Treasurer/CFO in September 2011 (a role he held before) and he is the teacher of a few of the HSZC Sangha members.
Saturdays include the early morning sitting & service beginning at 6:30am, a brief drop-in meditation instruction at 8:30 am. And again zazen at 9:25 am. We are offered a Dharma talk at 10:15 am followed by tea and cookies and socializing.
Please join us this Saturday and we hope to see you often!
This Saturday is both the annual observance of Mahapajapati‘s life a great opportunity to celebrate women in Buddhism through the first female nun. And it’s our monthly full moon ceremony for the Worm, Crust (of snow), Lenton, Crow, or Sap Moon (Farmer’s Almanac full moon names) which is for us the ceremony to renew our Bodhisattva vows. Come and join us for double the fun this Saturday morning!
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!