Keeping the Precepts can be challenging when decisions need to be made and disagreements arise, whether in the world of work or here in the temple. As the temple has grown, more and more of the needed work is done in meetings in committees. How do we apply Right Speech to our work? To what… Read more »
We approach Big Mind with our small minds; we find our greater selves through the vehicle of the small self. But much of the time, we live and experience the world within that small self. How do we keep going when it seems like nothing changes? What is the meaning of “still” and “here” when… Read more »
This last Sunday the Daoren met in Uji, and were grateful not only for the electric lights but also for the heat! We still have some warm days ahead of us, but are beginning to experience colder days when we can enjoy a heated space. In addition, now the street lights are on at night,… Read more »
Lotus Blooming – our fundraising campaign for Planting Zen in Siskiyou Square – has received a major boost! An anonymous donor has given us a $200,000 matching gift to help us wrap-up fundraising for Phase 1 by December 31st. Successfully finishing Phase 1 will enable us to complete our new meditation hall (“Sodo”). To get… Read more »
Good news! The Sodo will be getting a big makeover (on the inside) for four weeks right after Kyogen’s Memorial. And so we will move Sunday Services back to Jason Lee beginning September 27 until Segaki Festival on October 25. During that time, a number of essential interior work projects will be done, including walls… Read more »
Plans are shaping up for an anniversary commemoration of Kyogen’s death on Saturday, September 19. We will have a brief ceremony at 3pm, followed by music, and then break for barbecue and softball practice (no actual diamond, but playing catch, etc.). It will probably go to around 7pm or whenever it gets dark. You would… Read more »
“Decisions are the junctures where our lives meet the world. They define the trail we leave behind.” While the source of this quote is unclear, it is worth investigation at the beginning of Ango. With inspiration from Dainin Katagiri to Dr. Seuss, Bukkai will follow several threads concerning how we decide. This talk was given… Read more »
It’s true! We have electricity on the property. Uji is wired up, and turning on electric lights never felt so wonderful. The Sodo is wired, but has no light fixtures yet. The street lights aren’t quite there, but we expect them to be functional very soon. Now that we are going into a darker time… Read more »
Lotus Blooming – our fundraising campaign for Planting Zen in Siskiyou Square – has received a major boost! An anonymous donor has given us a $200,000 matching gift to help us wrap-up fundraising for Phase 1 by December 31st. Successfully finishing Phase 1 will enable us to complete our new meditation hall (“Sodo”). To get… Read more »
In this student talk, Yoan focused on concrete practice steps for releasing clinging and aversion with a fabricated sense of self and cultivating that which gives rise to equanimity and joy. This talk was given Sunday, August 30.
When Cecil the lion was killed recently, there was an outcry around the world. Why are we sometimes able to feel compassion for a creature so distant from our daily lives? Why are we sometimes unable to summon up compassion for our next-door neighbor? This talk will explore how a widening circle of compassion grows… Read more »
A Theravadin teaching talks of four stages in the path to Nirvana: stream-enterer, once-returner, non-returner, and arhat. Even though we don’t usually talk about the path this way in Zen, there is some value in looking at this very old teaching as it relates to our practice. What sign posts can we find on the… Read more »
Lotus Blooming – our fundraising campaign for Planting Zen in Siskiyou Square – just received a major boost! An anonymous donor has given us a $200,000 matching gift to help us wrap-up fundraising for Phase 1 by December 31st. Successfully finishing Phase 1 will enable us to complete our Sodo and Workshop. To get all… Read more »
This Saturday, August 15th, is the enrollment deadline for the 2015-2016 Dharma School program. Dharma School is for children and young people ages 3-18 who are interested in Buddhism or who come from Buddhist homes. It meets roughly every other Sunday from September to June. Registration information can be found online. E-mail the steering committee… Read more »
At long last, the work to widen Siskiyou Street between 84th and NE Fremont has begun. Plans were submitted over two years ago, and we’re just now finally, fully checked off and cleared for takeoff. Yesterday the fence and vegetation along the street was removed, and it looks very different now. That stretch of Siskiyou… Read more »
Buddha saw that attachment led to suffering, and taught equanimity as an antidote. He was deeply committed to this effort. It’s easy to lose the deep commitment when we’re trying to lose the attachment. On Sunday we’ll look at how we relate to and practice equanimity, and how the likely mistakes and appropriate corrections look… Read more »