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THIS SATURDAY: Join Us ON SITE for Saturday Community

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

Join Us on Next Tuesday Evening for Week 5 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.

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   NOVEMBER 1 (Week 9) The Spirit of Practice. The Nature of Ritual. Touching the Water.  Poul Discoe’s Teahouse and Wabi-Sabi Page 101–115   Download Study Group Syllabus   Register to Attend Week 5

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.

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.

Rev. Wasai Fukushima Visiting from Japan Please welcome and come practice with Rev. Wasai—a 36-year old priest from Center for Soto Zen Studies. He is staying at SMZC for a little over a month until October 31.   About the Priest, Rev. Wasai He was born in a temple in Usa City, Oita Prefecture and has been studying to become the abbot of this temple.

After graduating from Komazawa University in Tokyo, he trained at Eiheiji for one and a half years from 2008. He then studied and worked for two years in Shanghai and also worked at a temple in Hokkaido Prefecture in northern Japan. He now resides in a student dormitory in Sojiji in Kanagawa Prefecture. He enjoys collecting sneakers, fashion, and eating and is looking forward to trying some American food. During his visit, he is interested in learning the difference between the U.S. and Japan and also how people practice Zen in the States. He is grateful for this opportunity and looking forward to meeting our sangha.

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.

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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