SMZC Upcoming Events - Join Us On Site or Online

THIS SATURDAY: Join Us ON SITE for Saturday Community

About the Speaker Kashin Julie Kwong has been a student of Jakusho Kwong-roshi since 2001. She was born in Korea and adopted at the age of 7 to Denmark, where she grew up. She worked in the fashion industry in New York and London. She served as Shuso (head student) for the Winter Ango in 2007. Kashin has been a tea student of Mouri-sensei in the Omotesenke tradition for more than 15 years. Kashin trained for five months under Shundo Aoyama-roshi at Aichi Senmon Nisodo Training Nunnery in Nagoya, Japan in 2018 and was formally recognized by Soto School of Zen in Japan the following year. Kashin has served as Geido (arts & aesthetics) for Sonoma Mountain Zen Center. She lives at Sonoma Mountain Zen Center with her husband Nyoze, her son Ejo, and their cat Myoji.

Thank you for your ongoing support. To sustain SMZC, please donate $10 (suggested minimum) for the Saturday Community program.

Join Us on Next Tuesday Evening for Week 4 of 12 Register by week. A rare opportunity to explore the fundamental teachings of Buddhism and build a foundation for daily practice through discussions on the book "Mind Sky: Zen Teaching on Living and Dying" with the author, Jakusho Kwong-roshi. Guided by Kwong-roshi himself, making comments and answering questions, we gain ground.

SEPTEMBER 27 (Week 4) Water is Wet: Moment by Moment. One Unbroken Moment. Page 43–50   OCTOBER 4 (Week 5) Bussho: The Buddha-Nature. Uji: The Quick of Time. Page 51–63   OCTOBER 11 (Week 6) Katto: Intertwining Vines. Ten Thousand Ripples. Page 65–71   OCTOBER 18 (Week 7) Sitting in the Dark. Fear. Sonoma Mountain Koan. Suffering and Pain. Page 73–86   OCTOBER 25 (Week 8) Form and Reflection: Zen Stitching. Jukai. Shiho: Transmission Ceremony. Page 89–99   Download Study Group Syllabus   Register to Attend Week 4

10-20% member discount. If you are a SMZC member, be sure to log in first to get the member discount. The book is available for purchase by emailing Janet, Zen Dust store volunteer at janet [at] smzc [dot] org for $18.95 (plus tax/shipping) or at Amazon.com.

Come Play with Clay on the Mountain! Come explore the tactile magic of playing with "mud" or clay. We will begin with a short sit, a mindful walk around the Zendo and spend the main activity in the Sangha House exploring clay sculpting.  Admission: $10/child, $20/parent & child

About the Host, Taylor Tessendore Taylor is a founder, therapist, retreat guide, and soul activist who has studied mindfulness meditation practices for almost two decades after being introduced to eastern spirituality at the age of fourteen. Taylor has trained with western teachers of several traditions, including Zen and Theravada. Bridging Eastern and Western practices, she integrates transpersonal psychology, Buddhist psychology, neuroscience, yoga, meditation, and deep ecology into her collaborative approach. Taylor hosts half-day retreats and private one-on-one sessions exploring our inner landscapes with nature as our mirror.

For the last fifteen years, Taylor has mentored, taught, and counseled culturally diverse children in school settings. She is deeply connected with her purpose to share the power mindfulness meditation has in transforming and positively impacting a person’s well-being.

Sign My Kid(s) Up

Sesshin, literally “to touch the Mind,” is a period of time set aside for an intensive meditation retreat to let go of the conditioned self and resume our original nature. This special time of practice will allow us to dive into the core of Zen training. A silent meditation intensive to still the mind from moment to moment, manifesting the realization of the Way; for beginners as well as experienced practitioners. A rigorous schedule that begins at 5:00 am includes 11 periods of meditation, chanting, mindful work, and a Dharma Talk. Days end at 9:00pm.   ON SITE: $85/night & up / ONLINE: $120 or $40/day / 10-20% discount for members

Sanzen 参禅 — San = Polite way or Visit and Zen = Universe. Yes, you are visiting the Universe! You will hear dharmas you have not heard before, and you will see things that you have never seen. I have now taught Zazen for 40 years. Now, at 87 years of age, I am very happy that I can actually explain and demonstrate what is the Zazen Mind. Sanzen is not meditation as you’ve been led to think, because the mind is already calm.   Admission: $25 or sliding scale

About the Teacher Jakusho Kwong-roshi is the founder of Sonoma Mountain Zen Center – Genjoji Temple, authorized by the Sotoshu in Japan. He is a successor of the late Shunryu Suzuki, roshi’s lineage. Kwong-roshi travelled and taught throughout America, Asia, as well as, Poland and Iceland where Zen Practice places have been established. Also he has deep connections with the Theravadin, Shambhala/Drala Mountain Center, Rinzaiji, Soen-Korean Zen with Christian Carmelite and Benedictine Traditions. He had the good karma to meet all the Great Asian Teachers who came West. Roshi continues to deepen his insight prior to the present to share with many international sincere people.

His publications include Breath Sweeps Mind and No Beginning, No End: The Intimate Heart of Zen, as well as his newest book, Mind Sky: Zen Teaching on Living and Dying. Your purchase at SMZC supports the authentic Practice of SANZEN.

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

Join SMZC Wisteria Wind Sangha Today SMZC is a lay residential training practice center, relying on membership dues, income from our programs, and your contributions to support and maintain the Dharma on this ancient mountain. Please consider joining SMZC Wisteria Wind Sangha today. Your generosity makes it possible for us to survive and serve. Visit our website for a detailed list of membership benefits.

JOIN NOW

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