The Hartford Street Zen Center currently has availability for one practice resident. We are looking for individuals interested in and committed to experiencing residential practice at a small, urban temple. Applicants should have prior experience with Soto Zen practice, and prior residential practice experience is not a requirement, but is preferred. While participation and assistance in the daily events of the sangha are expected of any potential practice resident, it is our expectation that most residents are employed outside of the center, and we are accommodating toward one’s professional schedule.
Locating Yourself in Practice (Rev. Myo Lahey)
Sangha Council Meeting – 12 May, 3PM
The Hartford Street Zen Center sangha is starting a Council group. We’re forming it with the intention and hope of building a forum to talk of and discuss with each other – and with the sangha at large – issues, concerns, questions and conflicts which have been challanging – 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.
Our first meeting will be on Saturday afternoon, May 12 at 3pm. We’ll be meeting for 90 minutes.
We’re working towards building a format that will be flexible enough for a diversity of needs. The group will be facilitated by Beata Chapman, a long time member and Board president of the Santa Cruz Zen Center. She is knowledgable 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. 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
Early Zazen, Saturday 5 May
We’ll start sitting earlier than usual this coming Saturday. There will be two periods of zazen (seated meditation) beginning at 6:00 a.m., with a period of kinhin (walking meditation) in between at 6:40 a.m., and morning chanting following at 7:20. 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 the monthly 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…
Stop Poking Your Eyes (Rev. Myo Lahey)
Good-bye, Little Guy…
Today at about 4:15 p.m. our dear friend Buckley left this world behind. This morning he suddenly developed acute symptoms of heart failure, and the very kind vet who came to visit believed that given his age and general weakness there was no way he could recover. Poor Buckley had been suffering uncontrolled diarrhea and vomiting for several hours, was exhausted, dehydrated, and mostly unable to stand. Additionally, the heart problem was affecting his breathing as well. Together with the vet, Jennifer, Sheryl and I determined that this was the “turn” we’d been expecting, and that it represented a fall from which our feline companion would be unable to come back. We thus gave the doctor the go-ahead, and he first administered a sedative so that Buckley went fast asleep. Once that was achieved, another quick injection gently ended the life principle. We all cried as we put his still-warm, frail little body into the carrier for his last journey. He will be cremated and his ashes returned to us for interment in our garden, to be with others who’ve ended their earthly passage here at Issan-ji. We’ll have an event of some sort to say good-bye to our friend before too long, so please stay tuned…
Fishing With A Straight Hook (Rev. Myo Lahey)
Full-Moon Bodhisattva Ceremony: Fri. 6 April, 6:25 p.m.
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.