Mountain Wind: New Year's "Entering the Gate" One-Day Sitting (online) | Study Group

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

New Year's "Entering the Gate" One-Day Sitting (online) | Study Group | Dharma Talk Videos

Join Us This Week | New Year's "Entering the Gate" One-Day Sitting

Saturday, January 2, 6:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

New Year’s “Entering the Gate” One-Day Sitting

Welcoming 2021 Year of the Ox. Deepen your practice and join us this Saturday morning. A wonderful chance to renew our commitment to practice for the New Year. An opportunity for beginners as well as experienced sitters to plunge into the heart of Zen practice.

6:00 a.m. Wake up

6:23 a.m. Bonsho

6:30 a.m. Zazen

7:10 a.m. Break

7:20 a.m. Zazen

8:00 a.m. Soji (cleaning at home)

8:20 a.m. Zazen

8:30 a.m. Break (silent meal at home)

9:20 a.m. Zazen

10:00 a.m. Break

10:10 a.m. Zazen

10:50 a.m. Break

11:00 a.m. Zazen

11:50 a.m. Recite Four Vows

12:00 p.m. Closing Circle Ceremony

BY DONATION ($20 suggested)

Zoom Link - 1-Day Sitting

Online Zazen Reflections Across the World

The corona virus has changed our daily life in Israel as it has done in the rest of the world. To my delight, zazen practice can continue almost anywhere and under any circumstances. My daily routine has changed with the corona virus restrictions, and I was happy to take advantage of the free time to practice zazen, read books and listen to Dharma talks. One day I came across Jakusho Kwong-roshi’s Dharma talk in a YouTube channel.

I really appreciated his authenticity and humanity that is so simple yet full of compassion and wisdom. I was happy to see that I can order books and even participate in online zazen through Sonoma Mountain Zen Center’s website. Despite the time differences, I found the opportunity to join a morning zazen online. (It’s is in the evening in Israel.)

I admire how the online practice is organized. It allows everyone to sit in their home and feel the power of togetherness! In the morning practice, it's wonderful to see the sunlight at Sonoma Mountain Zen Center; and at the same time here in Israel, the sun is setting. At Sonoma Mountain a new day begins, and I wish a wonderful day. At my place we are almost at the end of the day. Everything changes and renews—coming and going, but there is one thing that is always here, exists and is present in each of us. It brings us together and motivate us to practice Zen.

—Itay Sharf, Israel

(Zen practitioner of 20 years)

No Online Zazen During Winter Break
Resuming on Monday, January 4

Join Us Online Next Week

Our fall/winter study group ended earlier this month. Stay tuned for the next one in spring!

Tuesday Study Group Reflections

It started to rain. Everything became bright! Like the people in Dogen's book club. Nyoze has given me so much with his comments, and now I feel freer than I have in a long time. What he said moved me so much. I took refuge in my breath; and I took refuge in this sangha. In Birth and Death: East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet.

— Ilene Wolff,

Thubten Kunga

(old student of Trungpa Rinpoche)

San Francisco, CA

December 8, 2020

Discovering SMZC was a blessing in the middle of all the turmoil of 2020. As a recent high school graduate seeking to understand myself and the world around me, joining Zoom zazen, Saturday Community, and Tuesday Study Group with SMZC has been an illuminating experience. During Tuesday Study Group, we read Dogen’s Genjokoan and commentaries from various Zen teachers and shared our insight into the text. The ideas within transcend that which can be described through language, truly verifying the importance of returning to our original nature through direct experiences with reality, through the practice of zazen in all aspects of life.

— Halden Levin, Chapel Hill, NC

December 15, 2020

Saturday Community Dharma talk replays are available on our Facebook and YouTube. Please like us, write us your comment and share with your friends and family!

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

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