Sangha Hour – Wednesday, 23 November, 10:30am – 11:30am

Why meditate? Curious about Buddhism? Looking for a spiritual connection? Why not check out the Open House every Wednesday from 10:30-11:30am at Hartford Street Zen Center. Nice company, refreshments and a casual, informal setting.
Sangha Hour is ideal for questions, exploring Buddhism, connecting, reconnecting, or just an hour of time in a social setting for those who want to enrich their current Sangha life.
*This is a new program we’re trying out and so your thoughts, comments and participation are welcome and encouraged

Guest Speaker, Sat. 19 Nov.: Rev. Jana Drakka

Come to HSZC this Saturday for a talk by Jana, priest-ordained at San Francisco Zen Center. Jana has been very involved with Religious Witness for the Homeless and other outreach programs for the disenfranchised, and received Dharma Transmission from retired Abbess Blanche Hartman. We’ll have 9:25 a.m. zazen, of course, then the talk at 10:15, and tea-and-cookies after. All are welcome.

Annual Retreat: Winter Light – 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 December

Our annual retreat begins Wednesday evening, 7 Dec., and ends with the Enlightenment Day Ceremony by noon on Sunday the 11th. Please join us for this special time of concentrated practice. You may participate in any of the scheduled activities in the zendo (meditation hall), but only those who have signed up in advance will be able to partake of the semi-formal meals in the dining hall. The proposed schedule is available for view by clicking this link . You can sign up for all or part of the retreat by sending email to hszc108@yahoo.com, or leaving a phone message at (415) 863-2507.

HSZC Board Meeting – Weds. 9 Nov.

Our board of directors will meet this Wednesday, starting promptly at 7:30 p.m., and lasting until 9 p.m. Board meetings are open to visitors, unless an executive session is invoked (a rare occurrence!).

Full-Moon Bodhisattva Ceremony – Thurs. 10 Nov.

Please come to the temple for our monthly Bodhisattva Ceremony, where we renew our practice vows. The ceremony will begin right after the evening period of zazen, at 6:40 p.m., and take about a half-hour. Full prostrations are typically done during the ceremony, but standing bows are perfectly ok, too.

Veteran’s Day Holiday: no Zendo events

In keeping with recent 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.

Peter Coyote Speaks at GBS Meeting – Sunday, 6 Nov., 3PM

The Official Website of Peter Coyote

The accomplished actor, Emmy Award-winning narrator, writer, singer, songwriter, guitarist and recently ordained Soto Zen priest Peter Coyote will speak at the next weekly meeting of the Gay Buddhist Sangha at HSZC. Peter Coyote was ordained in the same lineage as our temple, that of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi and the San Francisco Zen Center, and we are honored to have him come and share the dharma with us. Everyone is welcome to attend.