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!
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!
Winter Holiday Event: December 18, 2011
Dec 3rd 2011: Trimming the Tree
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! 
HSZC & GBS Thanksgiving Meal photos
Sangha Hour, Wednesdays 10:30am – 11:30am
Please join us for Sangha Hour (hosted by Jim S.) weekly each Wednesday between 10:30am – 11:30am in our temple’s living room.
This is an open house format to welcome anyone who has never been to Hartford Street Zen Center, past members, future members and our currently active Sangha members.
Sangha Hour is ideal for questions, exploring Buddhism, connecting, reconnecting, or just an hour of time in a social setting for those who want to enrich their current Sangha life.
Coffee and refreshments will be offered.
*This is a new program we’re trying out and so your thoughts, comments and participation are welcome and encouraged
Meditation for Modern Life Mindfulness
skills from a well being expert by Robert Puff, Ph.D.
I’m sure you’ve noticed the thoughts that flow in and out of your mind throughout the day. I call this mind chatter. It’s the commentary we place on our experiences. Mind chatter is like thought bubbles in a comic strip. And the storyline comprises variations on two basic themes: events that took place in the past and ideas about the future. Sometimes we ignore the mind chatter, while other times it consumes all of our attention. In this blog post, I’ll explain the pitfalls of mind chatter and how to decrease its influence in our lives.
We’re Guests at Party and Don’t Even Know It
At any given point and time, there are countless phenomena where we can focus our attention. Unfortunately, we miss the calls to embrace the present moment because we’re so busy dwelling on the mind chatter. It’s as if we’re the honored guests at an event, but we’re so preoccupied with what happened before and what will take place after that we miss out on the actual celebration itself.
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Meditation Quiets the Mind
With a regular meditative practice we learn to turn the volume down on the mental commentary that drowns out present experience. It’s a technique for reducing the mind chatter. As we become more skilled, we can eventually lead a meditative life, one that is totally present to what is, 24 hours a day. When you’re able to do this, life will be more peaceful and cause less suffering because you’re not consumed with thoughts about the past and future.
All Techniques Lead to Stillness
The are countless ways to meditate. Whether it’s through counting breath, repeating a mantra or prayer word, or observing thoughts, the goal is the same: to quiet the mind. Thoughts may arise, but with practice, they will dissipate quickly because your attention is focused on the present moment.
As we develop our meditative practice, we transform both our spiritual and physical sides. We no longer miss out on the life that is unfolding before us that is ever changing and always new. Without the overlay of mental commentary over present experience, we lead fuller, richer lives. Consider making meditation a daily activity. Once it’s a regular part of your life, you’ll understand why it’s a practice nearly as old as human existence itself.