We’ll observe a holiday Monday in recognition of the disaster that befell the first Americans subsequent to the arrival of the European powers. Our usual schedule will resume with 6 a.m. zazen on Tuesday, 11 October.
8 October @10:15am – Guest Speaker Rev. Ryuei, Michael McCormick
Please join us this Saturday morning for a Dharma talk by Rev. Ryuei, Michael McCormick, who was ordained to the Nichiren-shū (Lotus Sutra School) ministry in 2001 by Rev. Ryusho Matsuda, of the San Jose Nichiren Temple.
Rev. McCormick is also a long-time practitioner of zazen (seated meditation) and a student of the writings of Dōgen-zenji.
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 ceremony if applicable) and then socializing, tea and cookies.
Queer Meditation – Beginning Tuesday, 27 September @6pm
Beginning Tuesday, 27 September, the Hartford Street Zen Center will host a weekly mindfulness and meditation get-together for our LGBTQI community, family, and friends. Continuing in the spirit of our founding Abbot, Rev. Issan Tommy Dorsey, our intention is to extend the special welcome for persons in sexual/gender minorities which Rev. Issan was among the first in the US to make a principle of Dharma study and practice.
This special hour from 6 to 7 p.m. will include mindful sitting, discussion, question & answer, helpful pointers for practice, and perhaps other features of importance to our community. There is no charge, but our temple, Issan-ji (One Mountain Temple), does depend upon donations from the Sangha (the community of practitioners) for its survival, so your generosity is deeply appreciated.
Please feel invited to participate in this Dharma practice event, at a place where LGBTQI students of Dharma have always been welcome.
To learn more of our history, see the excellent biography of Rev. Issan, “Street Zen”, written by his close friend Tensho David Schneider.
May all beings be happy, may they be joyous and live in safety.
our most recent newsletter
August 2016 Newsletter
Dharma Talk: Saturday 30 July
Come and hear a Dharma talk at 10:15 a.m. this Saturday by our friend Rev. Peter van der Sterre, a long-time Zen practitioner and business owner, and a Dharma heir of Rev. Zoketsu Norman Fischer. There will be seated meditation (J. zazen) as usual at 9:25 a.m., and tea-and-cookies in the living room following the talk. Everyone is welcome.
July 2016 News
12 July @ 7:30pm – Sangha Council
We’ve formed council with the intention and hope of building a forum to continue to talk of and discuss with each other – and with the sangha at large – for operations concerns, issues, questions and conflicts which have been challenging – or downright hard to talk about. 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!
You do not need to have an ‘issue’ or overt concern to attend. Council is sangha building and healing. All are welcome!