🌸 Join Us Online | Sunday, April 4th | Buddha's Birthday Celebration 🌸

 

Join Us Online | Sunday, April 4th | Buddha's Birthday Celebration

Buddha's Birthday 3-Day Sesshin Online       March 31, 2021 at 7:30 pm to April 3, 2021 at 12:00 pm PST   Please feel free to join as you can. However, please refrain from joining in the middle of a period. The sesshin is open to all by donation ($20/day suggested).   Sesshin Schedule

48th Flower Festival Celebration/Buddha's Birthday       April 4, 2021 at 1:00–2:00 pm PST   This special and joyous event will be held at the zendo and attended by Roshi, Shinko, Nyoze, Kashin and SMZC residents while being Zoomed live.   By Donation ($10 suggested)   Sunday Zoom Link

The life of a Zen student is not all super models and speed boats. But finally, in Genjokoan, Dogen arrives to take us on a ride in his boat. If we watch the world from the shore, we might miss the boat. Speed boats do not necessarily know they are speed boats. If we practice with a confused mind, we might think that all things are speedboats. But if we practice clearly and return to where we are, we will find that nothing at all has an unchanging self. Please join us for the adventure of a lifetime. We are reading Genjo Koan Tuesday evenings 7:30–9:00pm. Everyone is welcome. —Matt Haug, El Cerrito, CA

Morning Zazen Reflection Across the World At first online zazen was distracting to me. Technology is so much fun, I rationalized —

how can I sit still?   I light a candle and offer incense. I bow to the altar. And then to my cushion. I sit down.   I turn to the wall, listen for the bonsho and the bell, and breathe in the silence.   With all of us present and hushed, holding the stillness for each other, I settle, with gratitude, for the space that we create together.   —Barbara Tanko (旦光) Médaille, Healdsburg, CA, Received Jukai (Dawn Light) from Kwong-roshi in 2004 and SMZC Sangha Member since 2001

SMZC Sangha Treasure   Thank you, Megan Backus, Santa Rosa, CA for video editing Saturday Community Dharma talks since this year. Megan has been a member since 2019.   Membership Info

Online Programs Are Open to All. Thank you for your support! Our temple gates are always open to those who wish to practice Zen.

In order to continue to offer these programs and ensure the future of SMZC, we are asking for your support. Your donation is tax deductible. Sonoma Mountain Zen Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Tax ID #23-7304793   DONATE ONLINE

We welcome submissions of your zazen reflections, Zen-related poetry, prose, photo, and art. Please sponsor this weekly newsletter for one year. Contact us for details.

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