Sejiki is a popular Buddhist festival that highlights the connection between our world and the worlds of spirits. At BZC, we offer it as a sort of Buddhist Halloween. The ceremony is a mixture of spooky and solemn—there will be costumes and noisemakers, but we will also recite the names of departed friends and family and make offerings to appease our own hungry ghosts. This year’s Sejiki ceremony will be held on Saturday, October 29. To allow preparation time for the ceremony, we will not be having early morning zazen or breakfast. Instead, we will begin with a work period at 8:30 am to prepare our temple for the ceremony. The formal program will start with zazen at 9:40, followed by a short lecture and the ceremony at 10:15. We will also be offering a special children’s program beginning with a kids’ activity at 9:30 am at 1933 Russell. Everyone is encouraged to come in costume and bring noisemakers for the ceremony. For more information about the program, please contact Sue at soehser@earthlink.net. You can also give Sue names of departed ones to be recited during the ceremony if you will not be able to attend. If you are planning to attend the 9:30 kids’ activity, please RSVP to Laurie at lauries@kushiki.org or Ryk at ryk@groetchen.com.
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7:15 pm – 8:45 pm, Thu, Mar 28, 2024 - Dharma Talk: Peter Overton
10:15 am – 11:15 am, Sat, Mar 30, 2024 - Women's Sesshin
All day, Sun, Mar 31, 2024 - Open Discussion
8:00 am – 8:30 am, Mon, Apr 1, 2024 - Drop-in Sitting and Study
7:10 pm – 9:00 pm, Wed, Apr 3, 2024 - Founders’ Ceremony
7:00 am – 8:00 am, Fri, Apr 5, 2024 - Way Seeking Mind Talk: Charlotte Shoemaker
5:40 pm – 6:25 pm, Fri, Apr 5, 2024 - Buddha’s Birthday Ceremony
10:15 am – 11:15 am, Sat, Apr 6, 2024 - Dharma Talk: Hannah Meara
10:15 am – 11:15 am, Sat, Apr 6, 2024 - Way Seeking Mind Talk: Joel Feigen
8:00 am – 8:30 am, Mon, Apr 8, 2024 - Dharma Talk: Karen Sundheim
10:15 am – 11:15 am, Sat, Apr 13, 2024 - Way Seeking Mind Talk: Jonathan Koltz
8:00 am – 8:30 am, Mon, Apr 15, 2024 - Bodhisattva Ceremony
9:10 am – 10:10 am, Sat, Apr 20, 2024
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A Soto Zen practice place led by Hozan Alan Senauke and founded by Shunryu Suzuki and Sojun Mel Weitsman
Affirmation of Welcome
Walking the path of liberation, we express our intimate connection with all beings. Berkeley Zen Center is a sangha of Buddhist practitioners drawing from the Bay Area’s many spiritual and cultural communities. Just as Shakyamuni Buddha welcomed people of all backgrounds to practice, here at BZC our activities embrace diversity, and are available to people of every color, every way of life and ethnic background, class, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, and ability. May all beings practice in safety and equality, realizing our true nature.