Please join us for this monthly ceremonial renewal of our Bodhisattva vows, which will take place following a shorter-than-usual period of evening sitting, that nevertheless begins at its usual time of 6 p.m. All are invited to participate in the ceremony, either with full prostrations, standing bows, or simply sitting or standing respectfully, as one’s condition permits.
Early Sitting and Buddha’s Birthday Celebration: Sat., 6 April
Come help us celebrate Buddha’s Birthday! We’ll start sitting at 6 a.m. in order to have a bit more time to practice together, including sharing a simple breakfast. Everyone is welcome, but you must sign up ahead of time in order to participate in the meal, either by email to hszc108@yahoo.com or leaving us a message at (415) 863-2507. 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!
Ceremonies: Tsunami Commemoration, and Full-Moon Ceremony
This Saturday morning, 10 March, we’ll have two ceremonies in which we invite all our Sangha members and friends to participate. Just at the end of the usual 9:25 a.m. period of zazen (silent sitting), we’ll have a brief ceremony in commemoration of the one-year anniversary of the devastating tsunami that struck Japan on 11 March, 2011. Then, after our 10:15 a.m. Dharma talk, we’ll celebrate the monthly Full-Moon Bodhisattva Ceremony wherein we renew our commitment to the path of the Bodhisattva Vows. Everyone is invited to join in, to whatever degree is possible. For instance, the Bodhisattva Ceremony involves some thirty-six full prostrations, but one can always do standing bows instead.
Retreat Morning: Saturday 3 March
We’ll be sitting together during the morning hours, beginning at 6:00 and ending by noon, when we’ll have cookies and tea together in the living room. The day will feature periods of sitting (zazen) and walking (kinhin), a Dharma talk at 10:15, and morning and noontime chanting services as well as some brief temple cleaning (soji). Our style is quite mild, so no one needs to fear that the day will be too difficult. In fact, retreats such as we have at Hartford Street provide an ideal opportunity just to settle more deeply and quietly into our practice of Buddha’s Way. A simple breakfast will be served, but to join the meal you must sign-up ahead-of-time, either by sending email to hszc108@yahoo.com, or leaving a phone message at (415) 863-3507. We are asking for a donation of $15 from non-members, and $10 from members, but no one will be turned away because of lack of funds. Everyone is welcome!
Guest Speaker, Sat. 25 Feb.: Rev. Tova Green
Please come and join us this Saturday for a Dharma talk by Tova Green. Priest-ordained by Green Gulch Farm Abbess Jiko Linda-Ruth Cutts, Tova is presently Director of Beginner’s Mind Temple at 300 Page St. and is a former director of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship. Zazen will precede as always at 9:25, and the ever-popular tea and cookies will follow. All are welcome.
Parinirvana of Shakyamuni Buddha: Sat. 18 Feb.
Monday, 20 Feb., Presidents’ Day: Zendo CLOSED
Monday 13 Feb.: No A.M. Zendo Schedule
Due to the special GBS/HSZC event with Ven. Robina Courtin this Sunday evening, we’ll have a work period Monday morning in place of our usual periods of zazen (seated meditation) and chanting, beginning at 7 a.m., to restore the meditation hall to its traditional configuration. We’ll resume the standard schedule Monday evening with the 6 p.m. period of zazen. Our thanks to everyone who has been contributing in any way to this event!