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Library News

The library has recently acquired the following books: Ed Brown, No Recipe: Cooking as a Spiritual Practice. Kazuaki Tanahashi, Painting Peace: Art in a Time of Global Crisis. David R. Loy, Money, Sex, War, Karma: Notes for a Buddhist Revolution. Joan Halifax, Standing at the Edge: Finding Freedom Where Fear and Courage Meet. Susan Murphy, Red Thread Zen: Humanly Entangled in Emptiness. Bhikkhu Bodhi, Fostering Social Harmony. Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, Dhammic Socialism. Maha Ghosa­nanda, The Buddha of the Battlefield.
They can all be found in the “New Books” section on the top shelf of the bookcase directly to the right of the card catalog.
If you have suggestions for litera­ture for our library, please email the BZC Librarian, Greg Smith: gregorysmith2@gmail.com.

Position Changes

Mahin Mahdavi has assumed the role of Head Gardener. Thanks to Mira Queen and Sue Marvin, for overseeing our flora these past years.
Judy Fleischman has concluded her term as Co-Saturday Director. Please welcome Tom Painter to that position who will co-direct with Dean Bradley.
Mark Copithorne has succeeded Alexandra Frappier as Head Chiden. (He also continues to be our Candlemaker.)
Heiko John Lake, who is our Sesshin and Work-Day Work Leader will add Saturday Work Leading from Ken Powelson.
Andrea Henderson will assume the Saturday Head Dishwasher role from Heiko.
Jed Appelman and Mark Copithorne have passed on their roles as Co-Zendo Managers to Carol Paul and Hannah Meara. Hannah will be responsible for scheduling well-being and memorial services. Please contact her at hmeara@gmail.com if you wish to have one.
Zosie Calame and Hosei-Kelsey Hermann, who have coordinated Mountains & Rivers and Hills & Streams sesshins, will pass the camp stove on to a yet TBA person for 2019.
Thanks to you all for your dedication! 🙏

New Residents

We would like to welcome our two new residents to BZC. Ten Bartholemew will be sharing the apartment at 1933½ Russell with Greg Smith, and Mahin Mahdavi will be sharing the apartment at 1929 Russell with Hannah Meara.

Sejiki Ceremony

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 27. 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 a.m. to prepare our temple for the cere­mony. The formal program will start with zazen at 9:40, followed by a short lecture, and then the ceremony at 10:15.
Both children and adults are encouraged to participate, to wear costumes and bring noise-makers. If you bring your children, please come directly to the zendo at 10:15, as there is no childrens’ program before that time. Please direct any questions about children’s participa­tion to Hannah Meara: hmeara@gmail.com.
For more information about the program, please contact Carol Paul at 510-206-5051 or caroljpaul@yahoo.com. You can also give Carol names of departed ones to be recited during the ceremony of whom we might not be aware or if you will not be able to attend.

Jizo Ceremony for Those Who Have Died

The loss of a loved one often opens a well of profound grief. No matter how the loved one dies, suddenly or slowly, whether through illness, accident, violence, miscarriage, abortion, or suicide, our sorrow is deep and may be long-lasting. To help families and friends in their process of grief, we will honor our lost loved ones in a ceremony in our Jizo garden on Saturday, October 13, 1:00‒3:00 p.m. Jizo, the Earth Store Bodhisattva, one of the four great bodhisattvas in the Mahayana school, is viewed as a wise and compassionate guide and protector for those who are endur­ing the loss of loved one, particularly the loss of a child. Jizo’s vow is to remain in the world until all beings are free from suffering. S/he accompanies children when they pass out of this world.
Before the ceremony we will spend time in the community room making a personal memorial token for a lost one, by writing a message or by making a simple necklace, a robe for our garden Jizo statue, or other offering. Attendees are also invited to bring a picture of their loved one or other personal tokens of remembrance for our altar.
The ceremony will be led by two BZC priests, Gerry Oliva and Judy Fleischman. All BZC members, members of other Zen groups, and neighborhood residents are invited to attend. A more detailed description will be posted on the BZC courtyard bulletin board. There is no fee, but offerings of dana are welcome. We will not have a sign-up sheet but request that those attending let us know in advance so that we can have adequate supplies and refreshments. For more information or to let us know that you’re coming, contact Gerry Oliva: gryoliva@gmail.com or 520-652-7217.

Women’s Retreat

There will be a half-day women’s retreat on Sunday, October 21, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. It will include periods of zazen and kinhin as well as a talk and follow-up discussion. Lunch will be served at the end of the morning.
A sign-up sheet will be posted on the bul­letin board two weeks prior to the retreat. You can also sign up via email.
If you have any questions, please contact the retreat director, Penelope Thompson (penelopethompson9@gmail.com), or Leslie Bartholic (lbartholic@comcast.net).

Aspects of Practice

We invite you to join the 2018 Aspects of Practice period—four weeks of practice, renewal, study, and discussion led by Hozan Alan Senauke and BZC practice leaders. Aspects of Practice has traditionally encour­aged newer students to root their Zen practice. It also includes the wider BZC community who wish to refresh themselves and make a sustain­able commitment to practice and support our senior practice leaders.
      This year we will draw from
The Hidden Lamp: Stories from Twenty-Five Centuries of Awakened Women. Practice leaders will lecture on Saturdays, lead Monday morning dis­cussions, and offer a class on four successive Thursdays. All of these events are open to everyone. In addition, there will be informal teas and regular practice discussion. Each sangha participant is strongly encouraged to meet with Hozan Sensei or a practice leader at least once during Aspects. Your interest, support, and encouragement can be of help to the whole sangha. For further details, please look carefully at the enclosed calendar and the zendo events bulletin board.
      Aspects of Practice will begin with a one-day sesshin on Saturday, October 6, led by Gerry Oliva, and end with a one-day sesshin on Saturday, November 3, led by Hozan. For more information on either sesshin, please contact the sesshin directors, Peter Overton (for October 6) or Gary Artim (for November 3): sesshindirectorbzc@gmail.com. Peter can also be reached at 510-325-2342 and Gary at 510-676-9756.

Potluck and Sangha Meeting

All BZC members and friends are invited to attend our semi-annual potluck and sangha meeting on Tuesday, September 25, 6:30 p.m. In addition to celebrating fellowship, the Board will present the nominees for the three members-at-large Board positions which begin January 2019.
We will also entertain additional nomina­tions during the meeting. If you would like to nominate someone, please do two things: obtain their permission prior to the meeting, and let Stan Dewey (chair of the Nominations and Elections Committee) know in advance.
A great deal of care, time, and commitment have been put into the nominating process to make it as fair and unbiased as possible. The Board extends much gratitude to Stan Dewey, Ed Herzog, and Stephanie Solar for all their work.

Zen in the Age of Anxiety: A Talk by Tim Burkett

Tim Zentetsu Burkett, guiding teacher of Minnesota Zen Meditation Center, will offer a dharma talk and reading from his latest book, Zen in the Age of Anxiety: Wisdom for Navigating Our Modern World (Shambhala Publications), on Friday afternoon, September 14, from 5:45 to 6:30 p.m. at Berkeley Zen Center.

Tim began practicing with Suzuki Roshi in 1964, and in the early 1970s was a student of Katagiri Roshi in Minneapolis. Written in the style of an owner’s manual for human beings, this new book focuses on areas of pain and anxiety as they tend to manifest in our lives: feelings of unworthiness and issues around sex, money, failure, and death. Tim’s extensive background in Zen and his experience as a psychotherapist bring wisdom to our fears and anxieties, turning them into building blocks of a fulfilling life.
Please join us for this unique opportunity. Books will be available for purchase following the talk.