Martin Luther King, Jr. was the chief spokesman for nonviolent activism in the civil rights movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law. The campaign for a federal holiday in King’s honor began soon after his assassination in 1968. It was signed into law in 1983 as a national holiday and it was first observed three years later.
14 January – Guest Speaker Shosan Victoria Austin
Please join us for Guest Speaker Shosan Victoria Austin. Shosan began practicing both Zen and yoga in 1971. In the Soto Zen tradition, she is entrusted as a Dharma heir in the lineage of Shunryu Suzuki, an international priest of the Soto School, and a Dharma teacher at San Francisco Zen Center. She trained in the U.S., in India, and in Japan. In the Iyengar tradition, she is certified as an Intermediate teacher.
In addition to working with the yogic needs of meditation students around the country, in diverse settings including workplaces, institutions, and homes, Victoria teaches public yoga classes at San Francisco Zen Center and the Abode of Iyengar Yoga, ethics and teacher training at the Iyengar Yoga Institute of San Francisco’s Teacher Training Program, and serves as an assessor of the next generation of Iyengar yoga teachers.
She trains regularly with senior yoga and Zen teachers, including Sojun Mel Weitsman, Manouso Manos, and the Iyengar family. Victoria’s practice goal is to wake up in a way that benefits beings. Her teaching goals include transmitting Zen Buddhism as a yogic path and Yoga as a path of awareness. Keeping faith with each tradition, she offers classes and workshops accessible to a wide variety of abilities and circumstances.
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 tea and cookies.
Please join us this Saturday and we hope to see you often!
11 January, Full (Wolf) Moon Ceremony 11am
We’ll have the monthly Full-Moon Ceremony renewal of our Bodhisattva vows Saturday morning after the Dharma talk. According to the Farmer’s Almanac the Wolf, Old or After Yule Full Moon.
The ceremony takes about a half-hour and involves some thirty full prostrations, but simple standing bows are also all right if prostrations are too strenuous. All are welcome to join in this ceremony/celebration.
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. We wrap up with a dharma talk at 10:15 am followed by tea and cookies.
Welcome all to 2014
A deep bow of gratitude
Unfortunately as 2013 came to an end a fellow dharma brother, Zen Center Abbot and Bodhisattva as his son beautifully wrote yesterday: “…has passed on (Myogen Steve Stücky) early this morning. He was in some pain throughout the night but had beautiful periods of calm and translucence. As I left him about 3 hours before he finally let go he had the most beautiful smile on his face. His pain had stopped and he seemed to be communicating something – a “yes” is what it felt like to me. His smile was truly peaceful and it looked to me almost a secret smile as if he had confirmed something he had long suspected and it filled him with happiness and love and peace. I know all of you cared for him so much. Know that he is most certainly in peace and in your hearts. – James Stücky”
Our hearts and minds of loving support to Abbot Steve’s family, friends and our Dharma Family at SFZC and beyond! To all we wish you a great & prosperous 2014 and the opportunity to be there with those you love and to share our limited existence in love and support in 2014 and beyond. Thank you Abbot Steve.
New Years Eve – Dec 31 at 7:30pm
Join us for an evening event kicking off at 7:30pm and taking us into 12am Jan 1 2014! There’ll be some soji or traditional New Year’s temple cleaning, a light snack , zazen (seated meditation), striking our large bell 108 times, and finally a toast to the new year. Please note: There won’t be the regularly scheduled zendo events on the 31st.
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