THIS SATURDAY: Sangha Gathering & Potluck - Join Us On Site or Online

 

THIS SATURDAY: Join Us for Spring Sangha Gathering

We are hosting an informal get together for Sonoma Mountain Zen Center's sangha members, their families and friends. This is an opportunity to connect, give feedback and hear about SMZC's direction and plans for the future. More details on the upcoming Shinsanshiki (Mountain Seat Ceremony) for new abbot Nyoze Kwong will be revealed. We would love to see and hear from you. Please bring your favorite dish to share!

Open to the Public | ON SITE or ONLINE

THIS WEEK: Nyoho-e Sewing Gathering (Finishing Touch)

Buddha’s Robe for Shinsanshiki (Mountain Seat Ceremony)   Week 2: Completing with Outer Edges   Thursday, April 27 & Friday, April 28 View Schedule   The Buddhadharma connects us through the thread. In honor of our incoming abbot Nyoze Kwong, our sangha is getting together to sew his okesa by hand. Sewing Buddha’s Robe stitch by stitch is a way for our sangha to connect with each other, to learn from and to encourage each other’s practice. This special sangha gathering explores the Self through the traditional practice of sewing called nyoho-e. Taking the backwards step with each stitch, we manifest the mind-to-mind transmission of our ancestors going back to Shakyamuni Buddha.

About the Fabric The special fabric was hand-picked by Hoitsu Suzuki-roshi—the son of Shunryu Suzuki-roshi and abbot of Rinso-in, Shunryu Suzuki-roshi’s temple in Japan. He has recently held Tanto (Head of Practice) at Eiheiji, the main Soto Zen temple in Japan. He will be visiting SMZC as an honored guest to officiate the Shinsanshiki on September 2.

Nyoho-e Lineage Learn the traditional way of sewing Buddha’s robe in the lineage of Eishun Yoshida-roshi, Tomoe Katagiri-sensei’s teacher. In 1994, Katagiri-sensei led a sewing sesshin, transmitting the lineage of sewing to Shinko Kwong at Sonoma Mountain Zen Center (SMZC). We will learn to hand-sew panels of cloth together stitch by stitch to create the Buddhist Okesa in support of Nyoze Kwong who will become the 2nd abbot of SMZC this fall.

Schedule Participants will learn in the group sewing of okesa for our incoming abbot Nyoze Kwong. Two periods of instructions from the sewing teacher and hands-on sewing will be scheduled in the morning and afternoon blocks. Our whole sangha is encouraged to participate in this sewing practice in various ways: come for morning zazen, sign up for morning and/or afternoon sewing practice, join us in the evening after work, or however this practice fits your daily schedule.

Instructor Kashin Kwong has been leading SMZC’s sewing practice for many years and will be giving instructions and guiding us throughout this gathering.   Everyone is welcome: No sewing experience is necessary. Materials and sewing instructions will be provided.   Daylong or Overnight Practice (View PDF Schedule)   Morning sewing (9:00–12 noon) Afternoon sewing (2:00–5:00 pm) Evening sewing (7:30–9:00 pm)   Join for lunch and/or dinner before/after the sewing block(s). Overnight lodging provided by donation also. RSVP to attend each day.

RVSP by Day: Thursday, April 27 | Friday, April 28 | By Donation

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