🎇 New Year's Eve Celebration at SMZC -- Ringing in the New Year: Welcoming 2025 Year of the Snake 🎇

 

COMING UP: Ringing in the New Year - ON SITE

A wonderful chance to get together and renew our commitment to practice for the New Year. Join the community for traditional informal noodles in the Sangha House. At exactly midnight following a short period of zazen to close the year, everyone will get a chance to ring SMZC's great bell 108 times to welcome in the Year of the Snake. Bring a small piece of paper inscribed with any Karmic hindrances you wish to burn away during the ceremony. Refreshments will be offered following the ceremony. View Schedule

Volunteer Needed! Please come help with temple cleaning and setting up for the event from 9:30 am to 12 noon on Tuesday, December 31. Tea and light snacks will be offered at noon. Please sign up on the registration form.

Free Overnight Stay For SMZC members only, we offer free overnight stay in a shared room (dormitory) to attend the NYE event (bring your own sleeping bag, towels, etc.). Check out by 10 am on New Years Day. Sign-up available on the registration form.

$25 admission (Member Discount: Please log in first to receive the discount.)

NEXT MONTH: 'New Year's Entering the Gate' 1-Day Sitting

Begin the new year with a day spent in silence to manifest your true nature, your original mind. This retreat is an introduction to Zen training and an opportunity for beginners and experienced sitters to plunge into the heart of Zen practice. Retreatants will experience a moderate schedule of zazen (eight periods of sitting meditation), kinhin (walking meditation), samu (work practice), oryoki (formal meals) and sutra chanting - good for both beginners and experienced sitters. Please wear warm, loose, and subdued clothing for zazen. Also, bring work clothes for outdoor work and an alarm clock.   Check-in between 5:00pm and 6:00pm on Friday. This one day retreat includes a 6pm Friday evening dinner and an overnight stay. Oryoki instructions will follow the evening dinner at 6:30pm. (View 1-day Sitting Schedule)

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$25 admission (Member Discount: Log in first to receive the discount.)

NEXT MONTH: January Fusatsu Ceremony

Be present for & experience the Fusatsu At-one-ment Ceremony Atonement Ceremony is a Buddhadharma training—blessing from the teacher and a ritual of chanting, bowing, purification, and renewal of vows/direction. Traditionally practiced on the full moon, Fusatsu is one of the most beautiful and profound ceremonies in the Zen tradition. Together, we acknowledge our karmic entanglements and hindrances, at-one for the beginningless greed, anger, and ignorance—restoring harmony and happiness.   7:30–8:00pm Zazen / 8:00–9:00pm Ceremony

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By Donation ($15 suggested)

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

6367 Sonoma Mountain Road, Santa Rosa, CA, 95404 (707) 545-8105 Share on social www.smzc.org