Buddha is not a name, but a title. It is a Sanskrit word that means “a person who is awake.” What a buddha is awake to is the true nature of reality.
Simply put, Buddhism teaches that we all live in a fog of illusions created by mistaken perceptions and “impurities” — hate, greed, ignorance. A buddha is one who is freed from the fog. It is said that when a buddha dies he or she is not reborn but passes into the peace of Nirvana, which is not a “heaven” but a transformed state of existence.
Most of the time, when someone says the Buddha, it’s in reference to the historical person who founded Buddhism. This was a man originally named Siddhartha Gautama who lived in what is now northern India and Nepal about twenty-five centuries ago.
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.
