Category: Events

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8 June 2013: Guest Speaker, Fugan Eugene Bush

FuganEugeneBushFugan Eugene Bush, D.D., Practice Leader of Santa Cruz Zen Center will present a talk  “Collecting merit means there is no
residue.”

Eugene or ‘Gene’ began formal Zen practice in 1982, was ordained as a priest in 2005 and received Dharma Transmission from Katherine Thanas in 2010. Until recently Gene served for many years as the Administrator of Santa Cruz Zen Center. He is now Coordinator of the Sangha Support Net.

He also teaches the traditional practice of sewing Buddha’s Robe (rakusu and okesa). His paid work is as teacher in a public alternative high school in Santa Cruz. He is most interested in the ways in which formal practice trains us for everyday life.

Every Saturday we offer early morning zazen (seated meditation), 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.

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Thursdays – 7:30pm – Study Hour

e220b_buddha“When Xishi had a pain in her chest, she held her chest and grimaced. It made her even more beautiful. Homely girls imitating her only increased their ugliness. This is a criticism of study by mouth and ear, those who do not work for ineffable enlightenment.”

Join us this Thursday at 7:30 pm as we study the story of Shoushan’s “New Bride” in The Book of Serenity as an opportunity to practice together with the Sangha. We read the entirety of text we discuss together. Preparation is encouraged, and so are drop ins!

There are books to share for anyone who wants to join in.

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4 May 12:30pm – Sangha Council after Buddha’s Birthday

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The Hartford Street Zen Center Sangha Council will occur post Buddha’s Birthday event and a quick break for lunch:  We’ve formed council as a forum to continue to talk of and discuss with each other – and with the sangha at large –  issues, concerns, questions and conflicts which have been challenging –  downright hard  to talk about or never seem to have an appropriate time we are all together to discuss.  We’ll use a practice model of working with each other with the most skillful speech we can access. This is a great opportunity also for those who haven’t been around lately to reengage and be a part of the present and future Hartford Street!

Our next meeting will be on Saturday 12:30pm to 2:30pm, May 4, 2013 for 120 minutes (with a break included).

We’re  continuing this format that is flexible enough for a diversity of needs.  This session will be facilitated by Beata Chapman, a long time member and Board president of the Santa Cruz Zen Center.  She is knowledgeable about many aspects of zen communities.    The scaffold we’ll be working from is based on the Council process developed by the Ojai Foundation.

You do not need to have an ‘issue’ or overt concern to attend.  Council is sangha building, connection and healing.  All are welcome!

If you have questions regarding this, call Peter Goetz at 510.595.1281.  If you’d like a copy of the Ojai Foundation guidelines for Council process, email Peter at goetzpj@aol.com