Calendar

2025 BZC Calendar of Events

Weekly Schedule

Events in February 2025

  • Dharma Talk: Greg Fain

    Dharma Talk: Greg Fain


    Sat, Feb 1, 2025

    Full Saturday Program Schedule
    • 6:00-6:40 Zazen
    • 6:40-6:50 Kinhin
    • 6:50-7:20 Zazen
    • 7:20-7:40 Service
    • 7:40-8:30 Breakfast
    • 8:30-8:50 Break
    • 8:50-9:30 Work Practice
    • 9:30-10:05 Zazen
    • 10:05-10:15 Kinhin
    • 10:15-11:15 Dharma Talk
    • Followed By Informal Tea
  • February Zazenkei

    February Zazenkei


    Sun, Feb 2, 2025

    There will be a Zazenkai (a day of just
    sitting) on Sunday, February 2, 8:00 a.m. to
    4:00 p.m. There will be eight periods of zazen
    plus kinhin, bowing, and eating. We will
    maintain silence throughout except for bells to
    mark meditation periods and chanting the
    refuges aloud at the closing. A mid-day break
    will allow time for sack lunches to be eaten
    outdoors. The fee is $15 or what you can
    afford.

    Registration details coming soon.

  • Open Discussion

    Open Discussion


    Mon, Feb 3, 2025

  • Way Seeking Mind Talk: hax Baker

    Way Seeking Mind Talk: hax Baker


    Fri, Feb 7, 2025

    BZC schedules a Way-Seeking Mind Talk on the First Friday afternoon of each month. The talk, followed by Q&A, begins at 5:45pm after five minutes of zazen and runs until 6:25pm. Please note, our First Friday afternoon WSM Talks are online only. The zendo is closed for in person Zazen on the First Friday of the month.

     

  • Dharma Talk: Carol Paul

    Dharma Talk: Carol Paul


    Sat, Feb 8, 2025

    Full Saturday Program Schedule
    • 6:00-6:40 Zazen
    • 6:40-6:50 Kinhin
    • 6:50-7:20 Zazen
    • 7:20-7:40 Service
    • 7:40-8:30 Breakfast
    • 8:30-8:50 Break
    • 8:50-9:30 Work Practice
    • 9:30-10:05 Zazen
    • 10:05-10:15 Kinhin
    • 10:15-11:15 Dharma Talk
    • Followed By Informal Tea
  • Way Seeking Mind Talk: Debra Callahan

    Way Seeking Mind Talk: Debra Callahan


    Mon, Feb 10, 2025

    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.

    Call Me By My True Names with Peter Overton

    Call Me By My True Names with Peter Overton


    Mon, Feb 10, 2025

    Join us for three Monday evenings in an exploration of Thich Nhat Hahn’s timeless poem “Call Me By My True Names.”
    Peter Overton will lead our conversation on Thich Nhat Hanh’s beloved poem. The class will be offered on three Monday evenings (1/13, 1/27, 2/10) from 7:15-8:45. We will explore Thich Nhat Hanh’s invitation to deeply meet ourselves and each other as a doorway to practice.
    This hybrid class will meet in the zendo. Class fee is $30.
    To register and receive any additional class materials: https://forms.gle/tF29cVqvYyEsXSQb8.
    Contact class coordinator Ryushin Andrea Thach at andrea.thach@gmail.com for questions.
  • February One-Day Sitting

    February One-Day Sitting


    Sat, Feb 15, 2025

    Berkeley Zen Center will host a one day sitting on Saturday February 15. The schedule begins at 5:00am and ends at 5:30pm. The dharma talk will be given by Linda Galijan. Linda and Greg will offer dokusan.
    To register, click on this link: https://forms.gle/6HSUZ83P9yAWf5ND7
    I will be the director for the day and I can answer questions you may have.
    Berkeley Zen Center suggests a $35 donation for the day. A sliding scale is accepted. Online attendance is also possible.
    Dharma Talk: Linda Galijan

    Dharma Talk: Linda Galijan


    Sat, Feb 15, 2025

    During One-Day Sitting

    Those not participating in the sitting, please join us in the online zendo for the public program starting at 9:30 am.

    Buddha’s Annual Parinirvana Ceremony

    Buddha’s Annual Parinirvana Ceremony


    Sat, Feb 15, 2025

    According to the Mahaparinibbana Sutta in the Pali canon, at the age of 80 the Buddha announced that he would soon reach Parinirvana, or the final deathless state, and abandon his earthly body. After this, he ate his last meal, fell ill, and died. Each year we celebrate Buddha’s transition with a ceremony where we all can make offerings and chant in honor of this occasion.
    This year the ceremony will take place on Saturday, February 15, at 5:00 p.m. (closing our one-day sitting on that day).

  • Zendo Holiday - Informal Zazen Only

    Zendo Holiday - Informal Zazen Only


    Mon, Feb 17, 2025

    Times for informal zazen to be announced.

  • Dharma Talk: Laurie Senauke

    Dharma Talk: Laurie Senauke


    Sat, Feb 22, 2025

    Full Saturday Program Schedule
    • 6:00-6:40 Zazen
    • 6:40-6:50 Kinhin
    • 6:50-7:20 Zazen
    • 7:20-7:40 Service
    • 7:40-8:30 Breakfast
    • 8:30-8:50 Break
    • 8:50-9:30 Work Practice
    • 9:30-10:05 Zazen
    • 10:05-10:15 Kinhin
    • 10:15-11:15 Dharma Talk
    • Followed By Informal Tea
  • Way Seeking Mind Talk: Peter Carpentieri

    Way Seeking Mind Talk: Peter Carpentieri


    Mon, Feb 24, 2025

    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.