Do one thing at a time. This rule (and some of the others that follow) will be familiar. Each meditation session and dharma talk at the Zen Center continually cultivates living and breathing in each moment. This practice which is rooted in Zen Buddhism has been instrumental in cultivating my patient care mantra: place the patient at the center of the healing process. The Tassajara Zen Mountain Center in the Ventana Wilderness area of the Los Padres National Forest, southeast of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, is the oldest Japanese Buddhist Sōtō Zen monastery in the United States. The Center is very isolated, more than 16 miles (26 km) from the nearest paved road, and only accessible via a narrow, steep. On Zen Practice is a masterpiece of experience. Hakuyu Taizan Maezmi is an accomplished master and presents concepts and lessons for the zen student and meditator to enable them to develop a personal practice in the Three Treasures of Zen Buddhism. Master Maezumi, together with Roshi Bernie Glassman have written a timeless guide. Dec 13, 2017 While Zen practice can be done without benefit of a teacher, having a teacher is important, and, in the end, crucial if one is to realize the depth of Zen practice and make it completely one’s own. Although the Zen teacher must embody Zen and express it in all their words and deeds, a Zen teacher is not exactly a guru, a Buddha archetype at.
What is Zen? It’s both something we are—our true nature expressing itself moment by moment—and something we do—a disciplined practice through which we can realize the joy of being. It is not a belief system to which one converts. There is no dogma or doctrine. Zen is the direct experience of what we might call ultimate reality, or the absolute, yet it is not separate from the ordinary, the relative. This direct experience is our birthright. The practice of zazen—meditation—is a way of realizing the non-dualistic, vibrant, subtle, and interconnected nature of all life.
It was this path toward realization that was shown some 2,500 years ago by the Indian prince Siddhartha Gautama, who came to be known as Shakyamuni Buddha. “Buddha” simply means “awakened one.” His great teaching was that we can all awaken; that fundamentally, we are all buddhas— Jewish buddhas, Christian buddhas, Hindu buddhas, Islamic buddhas, Ashanti buddhas, Haudenasaunee buddhas, secular buddhas.
With this flexible and accommodating attitude toward the various cultures and beliefs it encountered, Buddhism was embraced throughout Asia. In China, it merged with Taoism and evolved into Ch’an, the Chinese word for meditation, which became “Zen” in Japan. Over the past few decades, it has become very much a part of Western culture. Indeed, the historian Arnold Toynbee said that one of the most significant events of the twentieth century was the movement of Buddhism from East to West.
Through a dedicated and consistent meditation practice, we can realize that self and other are One, that the conditioned and unconditioned are simultaneous, that absolute and relative are identical. Out of this realization flows a natural compassion and wisdom, a peaceful and intuitively appropriate response toward whatever circumstances may arise. We don’t make a big deal about it; we don’t even call it religion. When the Dalai Lama was asked about Buddhism, he simply said, “My religion is kindness.”
So, again, what is Zen? Stop now. Stop trying to get an intellectual lock on something that is vast and boundless, far more than the rational mind can grasp. Just breathe in with full awareness. Taste the breath. Appreciate it fully. Now breathe out, slowly, with equal appreciation. Give it all away; hold onto nothing. Breathe in with gratitude; breathe out with love. Receiving and offering—this is what we are doing each time we inhale and exhale. To do so with conscious awareness, on a regular basis, is the transformative practice we call Zen.
This simple yet profound practice can release us from the shackles of past and future, as well as from the self-imposed and imprisoning barriers we erect around what we erroneously consider our separate and unchanging identities. Linux print server for mac.
Who do we think we are, anyway? When we really look deeply, it becomes the koan “Who am I?” We find that the conditioned views and compulsive traits we have come to call “self” have no fixed substance. We can, through consistent zazen, free ourselves from that imposter self and discover the true self—the being that is open, confident, and unhindered, flowing with all that exists in this very moment. Thus quite naturally we care for the environment, starting with our own actions: not wasting the earth’s precious resources, realizing that every act has consequences. And quite naturally we extend This Mind; we vow to live with attention, integrity, and authenticity; we vow to free all beings from suffering.
Join us for an Introduction To Zen weekend at our mountain monastery, or attend Zazen Intro at our New York City temple.
Here is the place; here the way unfolds. — Eihei Dōgen Zenji
Welcome to San Francisco Zen Center's Online Zendo. A variety of zendo-related events are hosted here. They are open to all and require no registration. See Online Zendo Schedule below.
- Zazen Meditation – Monday through Friday morning and evening; Saturday morning
- Dharma Talks – Wednesday evening, Saturday morning, and Sunday morning
- Ceremonies – daily service follows meditation; other ceremonies appear on the main calendar, usually follow morning or evening meditation, and are announced by the Zoom host
- Meditation Instruction – offered live Saturday morning, 8:10 – 9:10 am PT. Also, please see our archive of recorded instruction sessions.
- Daily Schedule Modifications – The daily schedule is modified during sesshins, particularly the morning portion. For upcoming sesshin dates, please check the website calendar, which you can sort by Event Type; choose 'Sitting Meditation and Sesshins.'
The schedule and details about the Online Zendo offerings are listed below.
Support SFZC Online Programs:
Please consider supporting our practice centers and our expanding online community.
We are grateful for your support!
The online zendo meets using Zoom video conference technology. You can enter the online zendo using Zoom video conferencing on desktop computer, ipad, mobile devices, and phone.
Join the Online Zendo using Zoom
With computer or mobile device:
Meeting ID: 264-616-8381
Passcode: 805991
By phone:
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
Find your local number
See Tips for Using Zoom
Please review these documents:
Online Zendo Forms
Online Zendo Guidelines & Etiquette
Online Zendo Schedule
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Zazen and Service
Zen Practice
Monday – Friday | |
5:35 - 5:50 am | Opening Zoom and settling into seat; three bells at 5:50 am open zazen |
5:50 - 6:50 am | Zazen (60-minute period with an interval as indicated below) |
5:50 - 6:15 am | Zazen |
6:15 - 6:20 am | Interval (indicated by a small bell at beginning and end; this is a time that can be used for stretching, standing, or adjusting one's zazen posture) |
6:20 - 6:50 am | Zazen |
At 6:50 am | Single bell followed by Robe Chant (shown in the Zoom chat window) |
6:50 - 7:05 | Short service including bowing & chanting* |
*Chants will be available in the Zoom chat window; please have that open so you can follow along | |
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday | |
5:15 - 5:30 pm | Opening Zoom and settling into seat; three bells at 5:30 pm open zazen |
5:30 - 6:10 pm | Zazen (40 min) |
No evening service | |
Thursday | |
5:15 - 5:30 pm | Opening Zoom and settling into seat; three bells at 5:30 pm open zazen |
5:30 - 6:30 pm | Practice Session with Abbot David Zimmerman & Guest Teachers |
These interactive practice sessions include 25 minutes of zazen, a dharma reflection or encouragement from the teacher, and an opportunity for group practice sharing and discussion. 2021: Not meeting 2/11, 3/18 | |
Saturday | |
6:15 - 6:30 am | Opening Zoom and settling into seat; three bells at 6:30 am open zazen |
6:30 - 7:00 am | Zazen (30 min) |
7:00 am | Single bell followed by the Well-Being Ceremony (chant and names will show in Zoom chat window) |
8:10 - 9:10 am | Zazen / meditation instruction; offered live most Saturdays — see our archive of recorded instruction sessions |
9:25 - 10:00 am | Zazen (35 min) |
Sunday | |
5 - 6 pm | Practice Session with Abbess Furyu Nancy Schroeder |
This session features 20 minutes of zazen, a brief Dharma reflection from the abbess, and an opportunity for group interactive discussion. |
Upcoming Ceremonies - Refer to the calendar
Hokyoji Zen Practice Community
Dharma Talks
Practicing Zen Buddhism
Wednesday | |
7:30 - 7:45 pm | Opening Zoom and settling into seat; three bells at 7:45 pm begin the talk |
7:45 - 8:30 pm | Dharma Talk |
Saturday | |
10 - 10:15 am | Opening Zoom and settling into seat; three bells at 10:15 am begin the talk |
10:15 - 11 am | Dharma Talk |
11 am | Q&A |
Sunday | |
10 - 10:15 am | Opening Zoom and settling into seat; three bells at 10:15 am begin the talk |
10:15 - 11 am | Dharma Talk |
11 am | Q&A |
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