Welcome to BZC


Spring Practice Period Coming Soon! May 3 to June 15

In the Zen tradition, the word used for Practice Period – ango –  means “peaceful abiding.” We begin with the opening One-Day Sitting and Shuso Entering Ceremony on Saturday, May 3. Please sign up separately for all the activities you plan to attend.

We encourage everyone who is able to clear the time and energy to participate in the Practice Period as fully as possible. Non-participants are welcome to come to the zendo whenever they can. Together we support and are supported by the Practice Period; these weeks sitting together can deepen our practice and encourage others.

Other Practice Period events include a Thursday evening class on the Lotus Sutra, a community dinner and skit night, and a work day, culminating in a 5-day Sesshin from June 11-15. Details here on the 2025-PP-Calendar.

PP sign up: https://forms.gle/TUunSMsZzoDPfXMK9

May 3 opening One-Day Sitting sign up: Register here


Practice Period Class: The Lotus Sutra

lotus-sutra-awakening.jpg
Linda and Greg will be co-teaching a 5-week class on the Lotus Sutra during  practice period. This will be an introduction to the Sutra, emphasizing why it is important in the Dogen Zen tradition, and touching on some of the more important teachings and stories to be found therein. Their aim is to have it be lively, engaging, and enjoyable for all!
Classes will be on  Thursday evenings from 7:15 to 8:45 beginning May 8  and ending on June 5.The class will be hybrid. Class fee is $50.
To register, please complete this brief form, which allows us to share updates. Here’s the link:
You do not need to participate in practice period in order to attend.
If you have questions, please contact the Class Coordinator Ryushin at andrea.thach@gmail.com
lotus-sutra-jewel-robe-1024x653.jpg

Upcoming Sittings

(for details about these programs, check the Calendar Page)

May 3 One-Day Sitting / Practice Period Opening
Registration is now open for the May 3 one-day sit to launch our spring practice period. Please note that enrolling in the practice period does not automatically register you in the sitting.
Practice period participants will be given priority through April 16th, but you can still sign up and be placed on a waiting list.
The signup deadline is Monday April 28th.

You can pay for any of these events by mailing a check to the BZC Office Manager at 1931 Russell St., Berkeley 94703, or you can pay through the website using the “Sits/Classes” button on the “Generosity” tab. In either case, please indicate what you are paying for, so that your payment is not mixed up with dues or donations


In Memoriam – Hozan Kushiki Alan Senauke Daiosho

Our dear Abbot Hozan Roshi passed away on December 22 after a year’s illness.  Hozan served as Vice Abbot of BZC for 20 years before his Mountain Seat Ceremony in January of 2021. Earlier he served as the Executive Director of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, and later served as a teacher and advisor for Upaya Zen Center’s Chaplaincy Training Program.  You can access many of his lectures and teachings (and music) in various sections of the BZC website, YouTube, and elsewhere online; his full obituary is available on Legacy.com.

Read Hozan’s Obituary

BZC had a full round of traditional Soto Zen ceremonies in the days following Hozan Roshi’s death, ending with 49th day memorial service on February 8. There will be a larger, more eclectic funeral/memorial service on August 10, 2025, at the Freight and Salvage Coffee House in Berkeley.