Join Us @ SMZC | Saturday, September 25 | Saturday Community

Join Us @ SMZC | Saturday, September 25 | Saturday Community

10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.   Zazen   |   11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.   Talk       Student talk will be given by Lizbeth Myoko (妙光) Hamlin, student of Kwong-roshi and Secretary of SMZC Board of Trustees. Myoko returned to Genjoji after attending the Groundbreaking Ceremony in Fall of 2012. She was pulled back into the fold of zazen that came from the longing for stillness, discipline and community. Kwong-roshi was her first meditation teacher in 1972 while attending graduate studies at Sonoma State University. She had come to SMZC in the early years, but family and professional life kept her focus. Myoko (Profound Light) received Jukai from Kwong-roshi in 2016.

She continues to practice in-depth and trauma-oriented psychotherapy. She also has a love of poetry, movement, haiku, photography and beauty.   Free pre-registration required to attend Saturday Community online or on-site.   On-Site Attendance Limited to 14 Registrations: We are open to the fully-vaccinated public with limited Zendo capacity. Sign our covid waiver and pre-register for each Saturday Community you plan to attend.   Donate to Saturday Community. To sustain SMZC and its program offerings, please donate for the Saturday Community program ($10 suggested minimum).   Photo: Kuan Yin ivory statue donated by Irvin White   Register Now

Fall Study Group (Week 4 of 12) Tuesday, September 28, 7:30-9:00 pm Fourth Talk: The Blue Jay Will Come Right into Your Heart (Page 61–71)   An opportunity to explore the fundamental teachings of Buddhism and build a foundation for daily practice through discussions on the book "Branching Streams Flow in the Darkness: Zen Talks on the Sandokai" by Shunryu Suzuki-roshi. This 12-week course occurs every Tuesday from 7:30 to 9:00 pm PST.   $12/week. Register to attend each week online or on-site. On-site attendance limited to 10 registrations.   View Syllabus   Register Now

Daily Meditation Schedule You are welcome to sit one period of zazen as your schedule permits.Participate in the daily schedule as much as you are able. Continuous daily practice helps strengthen your resolve. If attending partially, please leave or enter during kinhin (walking meditation). Download daily sutras to partake in the service.   Practice Online

5:15 a.m. Morning Zazen 5:50 a.m. Kinhin 6:00 a.m. Zazen 6:35 a.m. Sutra Chanting & Service 7:30 p.m. Evening Zazen 8:10 p.m. Kinhin 8:20 p.m. Zazen 8:55 p.m. Recite Bodhisattva Vows

Reflection on Online Zazen   Soft light, birds chirp, Each breath breathing.... I listen to all.....   Fern Gekko (月香) LaRocca has been a student of Kwong-roshi since 1984. She married in 1997 at Sonoma Mountain Zen Center. In 2003, she was in a serious car accident and used her time in recovery to study Mahayana and Vajrayana, as well as Vipassana. She leads a meditation group in the South Bay where she lives with her husband.   —Fern Gekko (月香) LaRocca Mountain View, CA Received Jukai (Moon Fragrance) from Kwong-roshi in 1991 SMZC Member since January 1990

Saturday Community Talk replays are available on YouTube. Please subscribe to our channel, add your comment, and share with your family and friends!

SMZC Sangha Treasure Thank you, Irvin White for donating antique zen objects: the "full moon illumines; pure wind blows away" scroll by the old Harada Roshi (left), the ivory statue of Kuan Yin (above), and the ceramic Bodhidharma (right).

Join SMZC Sangha Today   SMZC is a lay residential training practice center. We rely on membership dues, income from our programs, and contributions to support and maintain the Dharma on this ancient mountain. Please consider joining SMZC Wisteria Sangha. Your generosity makes it possible for us to survive and serve.    Become A SMZC Member

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