COMING UP: Winter Ango Sesshin Talk by Shinei Brown - Join Us On Site or Online | Fusatsu Ceremony

 

COMING UP: Sesshin Talk by Shinei Brown

Join us for Winter Ango Sesshin Talk by Shuso Shinei (神英) Brown, following 3:00–3:30 pm zazen. Open to the public.   If you live within driving distance, please register to attend on site. Zen Dust Store will be closed this Saturday due to the sesshin.

Entry into the Realm of Reality Look to your childhood, for inviolate places, where we are born whole. . . not hapless nor helpless in the face of our own awkwardness, and the vagaries of the world. Sudhana, a young aspirant encouraged by Manjushri, Bodhisattva of Wisdom, sets out on pilgrimage to encounter fifty-three spiritual friends, guides on the Bodhisattva Path. “Noble one, it was Manjushri who inspired me to seek supreme perfect enlightenment and directed me to attend spiritual benefactors. Please tell me how a spiritual seeker can find great peace and true presence while carrying out the practice of the bodhisattva.” Sudhana’s journey is reflected in the thirty-ninth book of the Avatamsaka Sutra. It's an overflowing spaciousness with jewel-like imagery, poetry, and joy. —Koji Shin'ei Alison Brown

About Shuso Shinei began her zen practice in 1997, taking Jukai in 1998. She became a disciple of Abbot Kyogen Carlson in 2001, maintaining a close teacher-disciple relationship with him until his death in 2014. After moving to Eugene, Oregon in 2017, Shinei began practicing with Abbot Ejo McMullen, becoming his formal disciple in 2020 and then taking Koji ordination in 2023. She was given the dharma name Shinei which means “Sacred Flower.” Zen practice, zazen and the creative arts have been essential to her life. Her quest originally motivated and sustained through difficult early experiences and the integration of her painting and writing with formal zen practice.

Attend On Site (in Zendo) Attend Online (on Zoom)

$15 admission (10-20% Member Discount: Please log in first to receive the discount.)

Winter Ango Practice By Donation (Please support SMZC to sustain our practice.)

THIS MONTH: February Fusatsu Ceremony

Traditional Monthly Renewal of Vows Atonement Ceremony is a Buddhadharma training—blessing from the teacher and a ritual of chanting, bowing, purification, and renewal of vows/direction. Traditionally practiced on the full moon, Fusatsu is one of the most beautiful and profound ceremonies in the Zen tradition. Together, we acknowledge our karmic entanglements and hindrances, at-one for the beginningless greed, anger, and ignorance—restoring harmony and happiness.   7:30–8:00pm Zazen / 8:00–9:00pm Ceremony

Attend On Site (in Zendo) Attend Online (on Zoom)

Fusatsu Ceremony By Donation (Please support SMZC to sustain our practice.)

NEXT MONTH: 'Just This Moment' 1-Day Sitting

Introduction to Zen Training An opportunity for beginners and experienced sitters to plunge into the heart of Zen practice. Retreatants will experience a moderate schedule of zazen (eight periods of sitting meditation), kinhin (walking meditation), samu (work practice), oryoki (formal meals) and sutra chanting - good for both beginners and experienced sitters.   This one day retreat includes a 6pm Friday evening dinner and an overnight stay. Oryoki instructions will follow the evening dinner at 6:30pm. (View 1-day Sitting Schedule)

Attend On Site (in Zendo) Attend Online (on Zoom)

$85 & up on site / $40 online (10-20% Member Discount)

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