In keeping with custom, we’ll observe the national holiday this Friday, 11 November, and not open the zendo (meditation hall) that day. Please join us again on Saturday morning for our regular program, beginning with zazen (seated meditation) at 6:30 a.m.
Early Sitting and Founder’s Memorial: Sat. 5 Nov.
We’ll start sitting earlier than usual this coming Saturday. There will be two periods of zazen (seated meditation) beginning at 5:30 a.m., with a period of kinhin (walking meditation) in between at 6:10 a.m., and morning chanting following at 7:00. You may think, “Oh, that’s too early for me”, but you should give it a try, and you can always nap later. Also, we’ll serve a simple breakfast to participants, but you MUST sign up ahead-of-time, either via email at hszc108@yahoo.com, or by phone at (415) 863-2507.The rest of the Saturday schedule will be according to custom, with another period of sitting at 9:25 and the Dharma talk at 10:15 a.m., followed by a brief ceremony of commemoration of the death of our founder, Rev. Issan Dorsey. Afterwards, there will be fistfuls of cookies for your enjoyment! Everyone is welcome…
No Early A.M. Zazen – Tues. 1 November
Guest Speaker: Rev. Tanzen David Bullock – Saturday, 29 Oct.
Please join us this week for a special guest talk by Rev. David. He was ordained by Rev. Issan Dorsey, the founder of our temple, in 1990, and is one of the original members of the Hartford Street Sangha. He was also deeply involved in Issan’s establishment of the Maitri AIDS Hospice, and has for years been one of our treasured gardeners. We’ll have zazen as usual at 9:25 a.m., with the talk following at 10:15, and tea-and-cookies afterwards. Everyone is welcome.
Sejiki Ceremony – Feeding the Hungry Ghosts
This Saturday, 22 October, following a short Dharma talk by Rev. Myo, we’ll celebrate the ancient ceremony known in Japanese as Sejiki, or “Feeding the Jiki (wandering spirits)”. This ceremony addresses our connection to the “unseen world”, typically overlooked in the West. All aspects of our life that have been disowned, disrespected and denied are invited to come forth from exile and be nourished, a gesture that may have particular significance for members of the LGBTiQQ community, whose own place in the social order has been undermined by fear, prejudice and violence. Costumes and sundry noisemaking devices are encouraged, and everyone is invited to participate. (Time approximate after the Dharma talk, but about 11:00 a.m.)
Guest Speaker, Sat. 15 Oct.: Rev. Tova Green
Please come and join us this Saturday for a Dharma talk at 10:15 a.m. by Tova Green. Tova was priest-ordained by San Francisco Zen Center Abiding Dharma Teacher Jiko Linda-Ruth Cutts, is a former Director of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship and presently serves as Director of the S.F. Zen Center city temple. Zazen will precede as always at 9:25, and the ever-popular tea and cookies will follow. All are welcome.
Full-Moon Bodhisattva Ceremony: Tues. 11 Oct., 6:40 p.m.
We’ll have the monthly Full-Moon Ceremony renewal of our Bodhisattva vows right after the 6:00 p.m. period of evening zazen, on the above date. 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. Everyone is welcome to take part in this celebration of the Bodhisattva Way.
