Updates

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Sangha Hour, Wednesdays 10:30am – 11:30am

Please join us for Sangha Hour (hosted by Jim S.) weekly each Wednesday between 10:30am – 11:30am in our temple’s living room.

This is an open house format to welcome anyone who has never been to Hartford Street Zen Center, past members, future members and our currently active Sangha members.

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.

Coffee and refreshments will be offered.

*This is a new program we’re trying out and so your thoughts, comments and participation are welcome and encouraged

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Early Sitting and Founder’s Memorial: Sat. 5 Nov.

We’ll start sitting earlier than usual this coming Saturday. There will be two periods of zazen (seated meditation) beginning at 5:30 a.m., with a period of kinhin (walking meditation) in between at 6:10 a.m., and morning chanting following at 7:00. 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 a brief 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…

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Meditation on Pain (Rev. Tanzen David Bullock)

Rev. David bullocks discusses his experience sitting with pain and the subsequent realization of the illusory nature of the self. He then talks about his experience with Hartford Street since the early days of its founding, his time studying under Issan Dorsey, and what led to his return to the temple.

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Guest Speaker: Rev. Tanzen David Bullock – Saturday, 29 Oct.

Please join us this week for a special guest talk by Rev. David. He was ordained by Rev. Issan Dorsey, the founder of our temple, in 1990, and is one of the original members of the Hartford Street Sangha. He was also deeply involved in Issan’s establishment of the Maitri AIDS Hospice, and has for years been one of our treasured gardeners. We’ll have zazen as usual at 9:25 a.m., with the talk following at 10:15, and tea-and-cookies afterwards. Everyone is welcome.

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Sejiki Ceremony – Feeding the Hungry Ghosts

This Saturday, 22 October, following a short Dharma talk by Rev. Myo, 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.)

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Meditation for Modern Life Mindfulness

skills from a well being expert by Robert Puff, Ph.D.
I’m sure you’ve noticed the thoughts that flow in and out of your mind throughout the day. I call this mind chatter. It’s the commentary we place on our experiences. Mind chatter is like thought bubbles in a comic strip. And the storyline comprises variations on two basic themes: events that took place in the past and ideas about the future. Sometimes we ignore the mind chatter, while other times it consumes all of our attention. In this blog post, I’ll explain the pitfalls of mind chatter and how to decrease its influence in our lives.

We’re Guests at Party and Don’t Even Know It

At any given point and time, there are countless phenomena where we can focus our attention. Unfortunately, we miss the calls to embrace the present moment because we’re so busy dwelling on the mind chatter. It’s as if we’re the honored guests at an event, but we’re so preoccupied with what happened before and what will take place after that we miss out on the actual celebration itself.

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Meditation Quiets the Mind

With a regular meditative practice we learn to turn the volume down on the mental commentary that drowns out present experience. It’s a technique for reducing the mind chatter. As we become more skilled, we can eventually lead a meditative life, one that is totally present to what is, 24 hours a day. When you’re able to do this, life will be more peaceful and cause less suffering because you’re not consumed with thoughts about the past and future.

All Techniques Lead to Stillness

The are countless ways to meditate. Whether it’s through counting breath, repeating a mantra or prayer word, or observing thoughts, the goal is the same: to quiet the mind. Thoughts may arise, but with practice, they will dissipate quickly because your attention is focused on the present moment.

As we develop our meditative practice, we transform both our spiritual and physical sides. We no longer miss out on the life that is unfolding before us that is ever changing and always new. Without the overlay of mental commentary over present experience, we lead fuller, richer lives. Consider making meditation a daily activity. Once it’s a regular part of your life, you’ll understand why it’s a practice nearly as old as human existence itself.