Calendar

2024 BZC Calendar of Events

Weekly Schedule

Events in January 2023

  • New Year’s Eve Sitting and Party

    New Year’s Eve Sitting and Party


    Sat, Dec 31, 2022 Sun, Jan 1, 2023

    Join us for our New Year's Eve celebration in person or online. All attending in person would follow our health and safety protocol, showing proof of Covid-19 vaccination and booster if not on existing list for this.

    Zoom participation is open to all. Come and go or stay for the duration as we sit and walk (zazen and kinhin) and listen as a ceremonial bell is rung 108 times.

    NEW YEAR’S EVE SCHEDULE

    8:00 Zazen
    8:35 Kinhin
    8:45 Zazen
    9:20 Kinhin
    9:30 Zazen
    10:00 Kinhin
    10:10 Zazen

    (10:14 - 108 BELLS begin)

    10:40 Kinhin
    10:50 Zazen
    11:20 Kinhin
    11:30 Zazen
    12:05 Chant Heart Sutra
    Ending bells, Exit Zendo

    Refreshments and Bonfire in Courtyard

  • Zendo Holiday

    Zendo Holiday

    All day
    Mon, Jan 2, 2023

    No talk or service - informal zazen schedule to be determined.

  • Way Seeking Mind Talk: Gensan Kristopher Thompson

    Way Seeking Mind Talk: Gensan Kristopher Thompson


    Fri, Jan 6, 2023

    There will be a student talk in the online zendo after 5 minutes of  zazen:

    5:40 pm: zazen
    5:45 pm: way-seeking mind talk

    What is a "way-seeking mind" talk?  See below.

    Way-Seeking Mind at Berkeley Zen Center

    “Way-Seeking Mind” talks by practitioners at Berkeley Zen Center have been a regular event on Monday mornings for more than thirty years. Each of us came to Zen practice as a seeker, with a spirit of inquiry. Each of us arrives at BZC from our own diverse backgrounds—social, familial, educational, religious, and so on. The idea of our way-seeking mind talks is for students to share how it is that they came to practice. Each person tells his or her own story in a unique way that often blends autobiography, spiritual biography, and the practice questions that each of us is engaged with.

    The talks are by invitation, and last about twenty-five minutes, including time for presentation and short question & answer period. For newer students, this is a chance to meet and hear those we are sitting with. Those invited to talk have been sitting steadily at BZC; for them it is an opportunity to tell their story and be seen and heard. One of the teachers or senior students is available for advice in shaping one's talk, should that be useful.

  • Lecture: Abbot Hozan

    Lecture: Abbot Hozan


    Sat, Jan 7, 2023

    Saturday Morning Schedule:

    • Zendo opens:       8:30 am
    • Zazen:                      8:40 – 9:20
    • Service:                   9:20 – 9:30
    • Kinhin/break       9:30  – 9:40
    • Zazen:                      9:40 – 10:10
    • Lecture:                  10:15 – 11:15
    Sojun Roshi Interment POSTPONED

    Sojun Roshi Interment POSTPONED


    Sat, Jan 7, 2023

    This event postponed until January 21.

    A portion of Sojun’s ashes will be interred beneath his memorial stone in the Memorial Garden on Saturday, January 21, at 11:15 a.m., following Hozan’s talk that morning. This ceremony will include placement of the ashes, chanting, and purifying the space with sangha offerings of fresh water.

  • Lay Entrustment for Mary Duryee

    Lay Entrustment for Mary Duryee


    Mon, Jan 9, 2023

    On Monday, January 9, at 7:30 a.m., Hozan will confer lay entrustment and offer a green rakusu to Mary Duryee/Honkyo Josu (Original Home‒Calm Center), acknowledging her grounded practice and her ability to share her understanding and teach others. The ceremony will be simultaneously live in the zendo and online, and will be followed by a brief opportu­nity to raise dharma questions with Mary. All are invited to take part and celebrate.

  • Introduction to Zen Class with Abbot Hozan

    Introduction to Zen Class with Abbot Hozan


    Thu, Jan 12, 2023

    Introduction to Zen

    Hozan will offer a five-week Introduction to Zen class on Thursday evenings at 7:15, from January 12 to February 9. This class will explore the history of Zen by way of five pivotal figures in our tradition: Bodhidharma, Huineng, Tungshan, Dogen, and Suzuki Roshi. Each of these figures has left us a living legacy of Zen practice.

    Class materials will be available online and will be sent to the BZC listserve weekly. The main text will be Nelson Foster's classic book, "The Roaring Stream." A pdf of the entire book is  available by downloading from this link: https://terebess.hu/zen/roar.pdf

    Up to 30 people can be seated in person in the zendo,. The class will also be video conferenced and is available through the "Enter Zendo Here" button on the BZC home page.

    Please register here: https://forms.gle/TZb6iCSL7o47J2VY7 (paste into browser)

    For further information, contact class coordinator Ryushin Andrea Thach at andrea.thach@gmail.com. Suggested donation for the class is $50, or whatever you can afford. (She is away 1/11-1/15)

  • One-Day Sesshin

    One-Day Sesshin


    Sat, Jan 14, 2023

    Registration: https://forms.gle/upztrAip28Hga6eF7

    This sesshin will follow a modified winter schedule similar to that used at our recent Rohatsu sesshin, with three periods of zazen in the morning followed by a dharma talk, and then three periods of zazen in the afternoon. There will be a midday break for bag lunch, rest, and work period. This streamlined schedule is intended to minimize possible transmission of Covid or other seasonal viruses.

    For all in-person participants, Covid protocols will apply. We require that you be fully vaccinated and boostered, and that you wear an KN94, N95, or KN95 mask indoors. We also ask that you get tested within 48 hours of the start of sesshin (an antigen rapid test will
    suffice), and also that if you have any Covid symptoms such as fever, cough, etc., that you shift to online participation.

    When paying for sesshin, please indicate  on your check or in the PayPal note field that your donation is for the sesshin or sesshins
    that you will attend. The suggested donation is $15 per day (or whatever you can afford). Mail a check to the BZC Office Manager at 1931 Russell St., Berkeley 94703, or pay through the website using the “Sits/Classes” tab on the “Donate” page. Please also consider an additional donation to Berkeley Zen Center above the suggested fee, to help us maintain our practice.

    If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the sesshin director, Rob Lyons, at dharmawork@yahoo.com.

    General Sesshin Information: https://berkeleyzencenter.org/sesshin-info/

    Lecture: Abbot Hozan

    Lecture: Abbot Hozan


    Sat, Jan 14, 2023

    During sesshins, in person attendance is limited to those registered for sesshin.  All are welcome to join the following in the online zendo:

    9:40: zazen
    10:15: lecture

  • Special schedule - no 6 am zazen

    Special schedule - no 6 am zazen


    Mon, Jan 16, 2023

    No usual zendo program at 6:00 am.  See special Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Day Schedule, which begins at 8:30 am:

    Martin Luther King, Jr Neighborhood Engagement

    MLK Day Neighborhood Engagement

    MLK Day Neighborhood Engagement


    Mon, Jan 16, 2023

    On Monday, January 16, BZC will commemo­rate the MLK holiday with an 8:30‒11:00 a.m. program of zazen, reflection, and neighbor­hood service.

    After a short period of zazen (8:30‒8:45), Hozan will give a brief talk on the legacy and dharma of Dr. King. This will be followed by a period of discussion in which we will have an opportunity to discuss these themes and to explore ways BZC can engage with our neigh­bors on issues of diver­sity and inclusion.

    At 10:00 a.m. sangha mem­bers are invited to serve our neighborhood, particularly focusing on the often-neglected east end of our block. We’ll let our neighbors know of our plans, and they will be welcome to join in if they wish. Details of this day’s activities will be shared on the BZC website and listserv.

  • Introduction to Zen Class with Abbot Hozan

    Introduction to Zen Class with Abbot Hozan


    Thu, Jan 19, 2023

    Introduction to Zen

    Hozan will offer a five-week Introduction to Zen class on Thursday evenings at 7:15, from January 12 to February 9. This class will explore the history of Zen by way of five pivotal figures in our tradition: Bodhidharma, Huineng, Tungshan, Dogen, and Suzuki Roshi. Each of these figures has left us a living legacy of Zen practice.

    Class materials will be available online and will be sent to the BZC listserve weekly. The main text will be Nelson Foster's classic book, "The Roaring Stream." A pdf of the entire book is  available by downloading from this link: https://terebess.hu/zen/roar.pdf

    Up to 30 people can be seated in person in the zendo,. The class will also be video conferenced and is available through the "Enter Zendo Here" button on the BZC home page.

    Please register here: https://forms.gle/TZb6iCSL7o47J2VY7 (paste into browser)

    For further information, contact class coordinator Ryushin Andrea Thach at andrea.thach@gmail.com. Suggested donation for the class is $50, or whatever you can afford. (She is away 1/11-1/15)

  • Lecture: Abbot Hozan

    Lecture: Abbot Hozan


    Sat, Jan 21, 2023

    Saturday Morning Schedule

    • Zendo opens:       8:30 am
    • Zazen:                      8:40 – 9:20
    • Service:                   9:20 – 9:30
    • Kinhin/break       9:30  – 9:40
    • Zazen:                      9:40 – 10:10
    • Lecture:                  10:15 – 11:15

     

    Sojun Roshi Interment Ceremony

    Sojun Roshi Interment Ceremony


    Sat, Jan 21, 2023

    A portion of Sojun’s ashes will be interred beneath his memorial stone in the Memorial Garden on Saturday, January 21, at 11:15 a.m., following Hozan’s talk that morning. This ceremony will include placement of the ashes, chanting, and purifying the space with attendee offerings of fresh water.  In person attendance only.

  • Board Meeting

    Board Meeting


    Sun, Jan 22, 2023

    All BZC Members are welcome to attend Board meetings. They happen monthly on a Sunday morning. You'll need to let the president, Karen Sundheim (ksundheim@gmail.com) know ahead of time if you’d like to attend (or find out the agenda). Meetings are currently on the zoom platform but that may change at some point.

    Monthly meeting minutes are printed out and posted on the patio bulletin board (lower right side). Please feel free to read them so you know what happens in Board meetings, including what topics we are discussing and making decisions on. At the moment it’s just the 2022 minutes. Older minutes can be obtained by request.

  • Way Seeking Mind Talk: Nathan Britton

    Way Seeking Mind Talk: Nathan Britton


    Mon, Jan 23, 2023

    There will be a student talk in the online zendo right after a shorter period of zazen:

    7:30 am: zazen
    8:00 am: way-seeking mind talk

    What is a "way-seeking mind" talk?  See below.

    Way-Seeking Mind at Berkeley Zen Center

    “Way-Seeking Mind” talks by practitioners at Berkeley Zen Center have been a regular event on Monday mornings for more than thirty years. Each of us came to Zen practice as a seeker, with a spirit of inquiry. Each of us arrives at BZC from our own diverse backgrounds—social, familial, educational, religious, and so on. The idea of our way-seeking mind talks is for students to share how it is that they came to practice. Each person tells his or her own story in a unique way that often blends autobiography, spiritual biography, and the practice questions that each of us is engaged with.

    The talks are by invitation, and last about twenty-five minutes, including time for presentation and short question & answer period. For newer students, this is a chance to meet and hear those we are sitting with. Those invited to talk have been sitting steadily at BZC; for them it is an opportunity to tell their story and be seen and heard. One of the teachers or senior students is available for advice in shaping one's talk, should that be useful.

  • Introduction to Zen Class with Abbot Hozan

    Introduction to Zen Class with Abbot Hozan


    Thu, Jan 26, 2023

    Introduction to Zen

    Hozan will offer a five-week Introduction to Zen class on Thursday evenings at 7:15, from January 12 to February 9. This class will explore the history of Zen by way of five pivotal figures in our tradition: Bodhidharma, Huineng, Tungshan, Dogen, and Suzuki Roshi. Each of these figures has left us a living legacy of Zen practice.

    Class materials will be available online and will be sent to the BZC listserve weekly. The main text will be Nelson Foster's classic book, "The Roaring Stream." A pdf of the entire book is  available by downloading from this link: https://terebess.hu/zen/roar.pdf

    Up to 30 people can be seated in person in the zendo,. The class will also be video conferenced and is available through the "Enter Zendo Here" button on the BZC home page.

    Please register here: https://forms.gle/TZb6iCSL7o47J2VY7 (paste into browser)

    For further information, contact class coordinator Ryushin Andrea Thach at andrea.thach@gmail.com. Suggested donation for the class is $50, or whatever you can afford. (She is away 1/11-1/15)

  • Lecture: Ellen Webb

    Lecture: Ellen Webb


    Sat, Jan 28, 2023

    Saturday Morning Schedule

    • Zendo opens:       8:30 am
    • Zazen:                      8:40 – 9:20
    • Service:                   9:20 – 9:30
    • Kinhin/break       9:30  – 9:40
    • Zazen:                      9:40 – 10:10
    • Lecture:                  10:15 – 11:15

     

  • Half-Day Sitting

    Half-Day Sitting

    All day
    Sun, Jan 29, 2023

    Half-day sittings are in-person from 8:00 a.m. to noon. For further information, or to sign up, please contact Mark Copithorne (510-703-5465 or copithorne@hotmail.com).

  • Way Seeking Mind Talk: Myosui Erna Andre

    Way Seeking Mind Talk: Myosui Erna Andre


    Mon, Jan 30, 2023

    There will be a student talk in the online zendo right after a shorter period of zazen:

    7:30 am: zazen
    8:00 am: way-seeking mind talk

    What is a "way-seeking mind" talk?  See below.

    Way-Seeking Mind at Berkeley Zen Center

    “Way-Seeking Mind” talks by practitioners at Berkeley Zen Center have been a regular event on Monday mornings for more than thirty years. Each of us came to Zen practice as a seeker, with a spirit of inquiry. Each of us arrives at BZC from our own diverse backgrounds—social, familial, educational, religious, and so on. The idea of our way-seeking mind talks is for students to share how it is that they came to practice. Each person tells his or her own story in a unique way that often blends autobiography, spiritual biography, and the practice questions that each of us is engaged with.

    The talks are by invitation, and last about twenty-five minutes, including time for presentation and short question & answer period. For newer students, this is a chance to meet and hear those we are sitting with. Those invited to talk have been sitting steadily at BZC; for them it is an opportunity to tell their story and be seen and heard. One of the teachers or senior students is available for advice in shaping one's talk, should that be useful.