Socially Engaged Buddhism
by Upaya Zen Center Sometimes you hear that Buddhism is apolitical. We at Upaya feel otherwise, and Roshi has written about this in several of her blogs, including Are We In a Global Rite of Passage?. From Upaya’s perspective, we have a deep responsibility to meet the world of social and political engagement, not only with teachings but also with service toward ending suffering. Roshi makes the point that Buddhism is not an apolitical religious tradition, though it is often seen as apolitical or at least espousing neutrality by modern Western practitioners and scholars of Buddhism. She suggests that this might be the result of the privilege that is present in the white Western world of practice and scholarship, where perspectives of neutrality and apoliticality makes it possible to avoid the presence of social suffering and the necessity of social responsibility through by-passing and moral disengagement. Thus Upaya’s Socially Engaged Buddhist Training and much of what we do at Upaya reflects our commitment to social and environmental responsibility.
Dharma Talk The Wonder of Chocolate In this Dharma Talk, Natalie Goldberg speaks to the incredible power small acts of kindness can have on individual lives. She speaks to the story of Jimmy Lai and the act which catalyzed his life. Furthermore, Natalie speaks to the radicality inherent in community life and zazen’s strength in making everything anew.
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Zoom Link for Wednesday Meditation 7:30PM Every Wednesday Night
The Lincoln Zen Center remains temporarily closed in light of current health concerns surrounding COVID-19.
In the meantime, join us for meditation online on Zoom at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. Meditation will include one 25-minute sit followed by a five-minute walking meditation. Join us on Wednesdays by clicking the Zoom link.
Meeting ID: 769 1318 3993
Passcode: 5PmyBu
Monday Evening Online Meditation
Meditation on Zoom every Monday at 6 pm in the same format as the Wednesday evening online meditation. The Zoom link will be announced prior to the meditation.
CHANTS
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
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