We are currently reading The Book of Serenity compiled in China in the twelfth century and recently translated into English by Thomas Cleary.
There are books to share for anyone who wants to join in.
Wed, 7 November 2012 Board of Directors Meeting- 7:30PM
Tuesday: 6 November 2012 – Election Day!
Saturday 3 November: Council & Sewing
After the Saturday program we will have a continuation of the sewing of the HSZC Abbot Okesa at 11:30am followed by the Sangha Council at 12:30pm to 2:30pm with a break mid-way in council.
Bring your lunch (unless 2:30pm is your normal lunch time) and as always:
All are invited!
Guest Speaker, Sat. 27 Oct.: Rev. Cynthia Kear
Please join us this Saturday morning for a Dharma talk by Rev. Cynthia Kear. Cynthia received Jukai from SFZC Abbot Paul Haller in 2004. In 2008 she was given Shukke Tokudo (priest ordination) by Darlene Cohen, her heart and root teacher, and was shuso (head student) in 2009. In December, 2010 Darlene gave her Dharma Transmission. In 2009 Cynthia graduated from the Shokagu Zen Institute, a three year Zen seminary training program. She is the founding member of the Wild Geese Sangha, a group that has met for over 8 years. She leads the Upstairs Sangha, a study group (both of which meet at her home zendo), and co-leads the Women’s Meditation & Recovery Sangha which meets monthly at HSZC. Zazen (seated meditation) is at 9:25 as usual, with the talk at 10:15, and refreshments afterwards. Everyone is welcome.
Sangha Council Meeting – 3 November, 12:30PM to 2:30PM
The Hartford Street Zen Center Sangha Council: 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 – 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!
Our next meeting will be on Saturday 12:30pm to 2:30pm, November 3rd 2012 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
Zen Conferences and Western Practice (Rev. Myo Lahey)
Rev. Myo Lahey talks about the issues that came up at two Soto Zen conferences he attended in Oregon and discusses the current state of Zen in the West, comparing it to the transmission of Zen from China to Japan and how Zen has developed in Japan in modern times.
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Saturday 20 October – Sejiki Ceremony, feeding the hungry ghosts
Saturday 20 October – Sejiki Ceremony: Following a short Dharma talk, 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.)