December 28, 2020

 

The Buddha said, 

"Learning and thinking are like being outside the door; sitting in meditation is returning home to sit in peace."  

How true this is!  While learning and thinking, views have not stopped and the mind is still stuck -- that is why it is like being outside the door.  

But in this sitting meditation, zazen, everything is at rest and you penetrate everywhere -- thus it is like returning home to sit in peace.

 

Excerpted from Timeless Spring A Soto Zen Anthology by Thomas Cleary,

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Our ZHS on-line schedule

• Mondays: 7-8:30pm - zazen, short service, lecture/discussion
• Tuesdays-Fridays: 5:30-6:10pm - zazen, offering of merit/bows
• M-F: 7-7:30am - zazen
• Saturdays: 8:00-10:15am - zazen, short service, tea, discussion/study
• For more information:  www.zenheartsangha.org) 

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Special bows for today: 

• Please offer bows for:
• Shannon's husband, Gil, who has had a seizure and is in ICU
• Misha's uncle, Jack Colegrove, who has contracted COVID
• Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
• Nora Hayes-Roth, a dear friend of Misha's, who died on 11/25/20
• Dan Pomeroy, a friend of dharma brother, Dainuri Rott, who died on 11/20/20
• Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
• Misha's brother, Duane, who is receiving radiation for cancer 
• Roshi Sojun (Mel) Weitsman) who entered hospice 12/14/20
• Flip Dibner, who is undergoing chemotherapy while at home 
• David Shaw, who suffered a stroke; he is home now with his wife, Nancy, and beginning the long slow process of rehabilitation
• Rev. Les Kaye, Misha’s Zen teacher, who is in the final month of chemotherapy

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Wonderful links shared by sangha members and friends:

• From MIsha: The Hallelujah Chorus like you've never seen/heard before (From Barcelona)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=NXFhkmyVRgM
• From Randy:  a video about the CZU fire of Summer, 2020: https://vimeo.com/475244405/109d3f90d3  
• From Kathleen: a link to Sojun Mel Weitsman's stepping down ceremony:  https://youtu.be/BVKMrXXffRg
• From Diane Comey: This is a wonderful story of  atonement and making peace: https://www.pbshawaii.org/unearthing-ogawa/
• Zen Heart Sangha website: resources about COVID-19: www.zenheartsangha.org
• If you would like to leave a comment on this blog: Here is a quick video on how to--it's from 2017, but should work:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T4RflO5Wgg