“The Buddha began his first teaching by telling his listeners to take the middle way, the middle path between extreme asceticism on one hand and sensual indulgence on the other. This exhortation to moderation underlies much of Buddhist thought through the centuries and across traditions
As Buddhist thought and practice developed, the concept was applied to any dualism, or diametrically opposed pair (subject/object, samsara/nirvana, part/whole). The Madhyamaka school, founded several hundred years after the historical Buddha’s lifetime, takes its name from the Sanskrit term for middle path, madhyama-pratipad. The school’s exemplar, the philosopher-monk Nagarjuna (c. 2nd-3rd centuries CE), applied the middle path to existence and nonexistence: In between any two opposites lies emptiness, or sunyata, which is not nothingness but a vast creative potential, he argued. The middle way is similarly fluid and full of possibilities, for Buddhist thought and for our lives.
Movie Night followed by Sangha/Board Meeting
On Wednesday 11/30 at 6 pm at the zendo we will watch a short documentary about the life of Vietnamese Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. You are welcome to bring friends and snacks/drinks.
At 6:35 pm we will hold a board/sangha meeting and everyone is invited to attend. At this meeting we will elect officers for the next year. We welcome anyone's ideas about how the center can extend our service to the community as well as grow together as a sangha.
In-person + Zoom Practice
The center has re-opened for in-person group practice (masks are optional). Zoom access will continue to be provided for most sessions (see below). All sessions are donation based; your generosity keeps our door open.
Monday:
5:30 PM Beginner's Instruction (no need to register, just show up by 5:30 PM)
6 PM zazen (sit) and kinhin (walk). Zoom Link Here
Dharma Relief 2 (DR2): “Healing Racial Trauma Through Buddhist Communities"
This DR2 project is the first of its kind, providing support for Black dharma teachers so they can better serve their communities, bringing the benefits of Buddhadharma to heal suffering. We’re doing something that no dharma centers or communities are doing as a collective project. after two years of meetings and discussions, we’re finally at a good place with mutual understanding and trust. I invite you all to be part of this meaningful effort.
It is in the final stretch of its 2022 fundraising goals so that it can begin to make fellowships to Black Dharma teachers at the beginning of 2023.
Thanks to an anonymous donor, gifts to DR2 will be matched up to $10,000. That means $10,000 in gifts will provide $20,000 towards our fundraising goal. We can achieve our goals by year-end with your support.
As a reminder, please note that meditation at the Zen Center will now involve reciting the Verse Of Atonement before the first seated meditation:
Verse of Atonement Before the first meditation session
(recited three times, hands in Gassho)
ALL MY ANCIENT TWISTED KARMA
FROM BEGININNGLESS GREED, HATE AND DELUSION
BORN OF BODY, SPEECH, AND MIND,
I NOW FULLY ATONE.
Verse Before The Dharma Talk Following meditation and before the Dharma reading
(recited three times, hands in Gassho)
THE DHARMA IS VAST AND SUBTLE
WE NOW HAVE A CHANCE TO HEAR IT,
STUDY IT, AND PRACTICE IT.
WE VOW TO REALIZE ITS TRUE MEANING.
The Four Bodhisattva Vows After meditations and the Dharma reading
(recited three times, hands in Gassho)
CREATIONS ARE NUMBERLESS,
I VOW TO FREE THEM.
DELUSIONS ARE INEXHAUSTIBLE,
I VOW TO TRANSFORM THEM.
REALITY IS BOUNDLESS,
I VOW TO PERCEIVE IT.
THE AWAKENED WAY IS UNSURPASSABLE,
I VOW TO EMBODY IT.
The Evening Verse (recited once only by the doan)
LET ME RESPECTFULLY REMIND YOU:
LIFE AND DEATH ARE OF SUPREME IMPORTANCE.
TIME PASSES SWIFTLY BY AND OPPORTUNITY IS LOST
LET US AWAKEN, AWAKEN - TAKE HEED
DO NOT SQUANDER YOUR LIFE
Your donation of $5~$10 each time keeps the Zen Center open. We appreciate your donation. You can make a donation here.
