2024 BZC Calendar of Events (Updated 4.17.24 )
Events in October 2024
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Drop-in Sitting and Study Group Drop-in Sitting and Study Group
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Wed, Oct 2, 2024The Drop-in Sitting and Study Group meets weekly from 7:10 to 9:30 PM on Wednesdays. It
includes a 35-minute period of zazen meditation in the Zendo, followed by an hour of reading and
discussion, tea and refreshments in the Community Room. The group particularly
welcomes newcomers to Zen Buddhist practice or folks new to the Berkeley Zen Center. It also provides an
opportunity for practitioners to sit and study together on an ongoing basis. We meet every Wednesday
except for the five-day Spring Practice Period sesshin (retreat) in June, the annual seven-day Buddha’s
Enlightenment sesshin in December and during the two-week interim period during the December
holidays. We also maintain a Google group to share reading materials we are studying, announce other
BZC events and issues related to logistics.The group is facilitated by a BZC Priest, Ikushin Gerry Oliva.
Gerry can be contacted at gryoliva@gmail.com for further information. -
Way Seeking Mind Talk: Jean Selkirk Way Seeking Mind Talk: Jean Selkirk
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Fri, Oct 4, 2024BZC 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.
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Dharma Talk: Abbot Hozan Dharma Talk: Abbot Hozan
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Sat, Oct 5, 2024Jukai (Lay Ordination) Ceremony Jukai (Lay Ordination) Ceremony
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Sat, Oct 5, 2024Please join our sangha members who will be receiving precepts at the annual Jukai ceremony on Saturday, October 5, at 3:00 p.m. On this joyous occasion, after six months of sewing and study, the ordinees will receive their inscribed rakusus, dharma name, and lineage papers from their preceptor. In our attendance we, too, renew our vows as we support our sangha friends. The ordinees this year are Debra Callahan and Margaux Winter, who are receiving precepts from Abbot Hozan; Juliayn Coleman from Hozan and Ellen Webb; Peter Enyeart and Hax Baker from Ikushin Gerry Olivia; and Preston Evers from Ryushin Andrea Thach.
This will be a hybrid event. There will be limited attendance in the zendo and community room, but all are invited to join the reception, which will take place at about 4:30 in the courtyard. -
Open Discussion Open Discussion
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Mon, Oct 7, 2024 -
Drop-in Sitting and Study Group Drop-in Sitting and Study Group
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Wed, Oct 9, 2024The Drop-in Sitting and Study Group meets weekly from 7:10 to 9:30 PM on Wednesdays. It
includes a 35-minute period of zazen meditation in the Zendo, followed by an hour of reading and
discussion, tea and refreshments in the Community Room. The group particularly
welcomes newcomers to Zen Buddhist practice or folks new to the Berkeley Zen Center. It also provides an
opportunity for practitioners to sit and study together on an ongoing basis. We meet every Wednesday
except for the five-day Spring Practice Period sesshin (retreat) in June, the annual seven-day Buddha’s
Enlightenment sesshin in December and during the two-week interim period during the December
holidays. We also maintain a Google group to share reading materials we are studying, announce other
BZC events and issues related to logistics.The group is facilitated by a BZC Priest, Ikushin Gerry Oliva.
Gerry can be contacted at gryoliva@gmail.com for further information. -
One-Day Sitting/Open Aspects One-Day Sitting/Open Aspects
All day
Sat, Oct 12, 2024There will be a one-day sitting to open the Aspect of Practice Period, on Saturday, October 12. The sitting will start at 5:00 a.m. and end at 5:30 p.m. For more information, contact the sesshin director, Mark Copithorne (copithorne@hotmail.com).
Dharma Talk: Greg Fain Dharma Talk: Greg Fain
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Sat, Oct 12, 2024 -
Zendo Holiday - Informal Zazen Only Zendo Holiday - Informal Zazen Only
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Mon, Oct 14, 2024Times for informal zazen to be announced.
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Drop-in Sitting and Study Group Drop-in Sitting and Study Group
–
Wed, Oct 16, 2024The Drop-in Sitting and Study Group meets weekly from 7:10 to 9:30 PM on Wednesdays. It
includes a 35-minute period of zazen meditation in the Zendo, followed by an hour of reading and
discussion, tea and refreshments in the Community Room. The group particularly
welcomes newcomers to Zen Buddhist practice or folks new to the Berkeley Zen Center. It also provides an
opportunity for practitioners to sit and study together on an ongoing basis. We meet every Wednesday
except for the five-day Spring Practice Period sesshin (retreat) in June, the annual seven-day Buddha’s
Enlightenment sesshin in December and during the two-week interim period during the December
holidays. We also maintain a Google group to share reading materials we are studying, announce other
BZC events and issues related to logistics.The group is facilitated by a BZC Priest, Ikushin Gerry Oliva.
Gerry can be contacted at gryoliva@gmail.com for further information. -
Aspects Class: Ordinary Bodhisattvas Aspects Class: Ordinary Bodhisattvas
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Thu, Oct 17, 2024This fall the Berkeley Zen Center sangha is so happy to welcome Visiting-Teachers-In-Residence Greg Fain and Linda Galijan. They will lead our Aspects of Practice period with the theme “Ordinary Bodhisattvas: The Brahmaviharas in Action.” This theme will be studied at 4 Thursday evening classes as well as in Saturday dharma talks and Way-Seeking Mind talks.
The class will be both in person and online and are open to anyone who would like to attend; we especially encourage those who participate in Aspects of Practice to sign up. Attend on line by clicking on the “Enter Zendo” link on the BZC homepage.
The class series begins on Thursday, October 17 and runs through November 7 (7:15—8:45).
Class fee is $40, or whatever you can afford. Registration form coming soon.
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Dharma Talk: Gary Artim Dharma Talk: Gary Artim
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Sat, Oct 19, 2024 -
Way Seeking Mind Talk: Susan Marvin Way Seeking Mind Talk: Susan Marvin
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Mon, Oct 21, 2024There 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 talkWhat 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.
-
Drop-in Sitting and Study Group Drop-in Sitting and Study Group
–
Wed, Oct 23, 2024The Drop-in Sitting and Study Group meets weekly from 7:10 to 9:30 PM on Wednesdays. It
includes a 35-minute period of zazen meditation in the Zendo, followed by an hour of reading and
discussion, tea and refreshments in the Community Room. The group particularly
welcomes newcomers to Zen Buddhist practice or folks new to the Berkeley Zen Center. It also provides an
opportunity for practitioners to sit and study together on an ongoing basis. We meet every Wednesday
except for the five-day Spring Practice Period sesshin (retreat) in June, the annual seven-day Buddha’s
Enlightenment sesshin in December and during the two-week interim period during the December
holidays. We also maintain a Google group to share reading materials we are studying, announce other
BZC events and issues related to logistics.The group is facilitated by a BZC Priest, Ikushin Gerry Oliva.
Gerry can be contacted at gryoliva@gmail.com for further information. -
Aspects Class: Ordinary Bodhisattvas Aspects Class: Ordinary Bodhisattvas
–
Thu, Oct 24, 2024This fall the Berkeley Zen Center sangha is so happy to welcome Visiting-Teachers-In-Residence Greg Fain and Linda Galijan. They will lead our Aspects of Practice period with the theme “Ordinary Bodhisattvas: The Brahmaviharas in Action.” This theme will be studied at 4 Thursday evening classes as well as in Saturday dharma talks and Way-Seeking Mind talks.
The class will be both in person and online and are open to anyone who would like to attend; we especially encourage those who participate in Aspects of Practice to sign up. Attend on line by clicking on the “Enter Zendo” link on the BZC homepage.
The class series begins on Thursday, October 17 and runs through November 7 (7:15—8:45).
Class fee is $40, or whatever you can afford. Registration form coming soon.
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Dharma Talk: Linda and Greg Dharma Talk: Linda and Greg
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Sat, Oct 26, 2024Sejiki Ceremony - Feeding the Hungry Ghosts Sejiki Ceremony - Feeding the Hungry Ghosts
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Sat, Oct 26, 2024On Saturday, October 28th, BZC will celebrate Sejiki, an annual ceremony from our Soto Zen tradition that we have missed during the pandemic. The morning program will include a short zendo talk by Hozan, followed by a joyous ceremony in the courtyard. The outdoors altar is filled with fruit, cakes, and other food offerings. Raucous noise-making by children and adults call forth hungry ghosts feel and the spirits of the departed. After offerings and chanting the “Sutra of Opening the Gate of Sweet Dew,” we will read the names and honor all those who have died this year.
Families and children are encouraged to participate. Since we have adapted the tradition to dovetail with the western tradition of Halloween, members and children are welcome to come Halloween costumes. The talk and ceremony will start in the zendo at 10:15. All are welcome to join the work circle at 7:35 to help set up the altar and decorate the grounds.
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Way Seeking Mind Talk: Gerry Oliva Way Seeking Mind Talk: Gerry Oliva
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Mon, Oct 28, 2024There 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 talkWhat 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.
-
Drop-in Sitting and Study Group Drop-in Sitting and Study Group
–
Wed, Oct 30, 2024The Drop-in Sitting and Study Group meets weekly from 7:10 to 9:30 PM on Wednesdays. It
includes a 35-minute period of zazen meditation in the Zendo, followed by an hour of reading and
discussion, tea and refreshments in the Community Room. The group particularly
welcomes newcomers to Zen Buddhist practice or folks new to the Berkeley Zen Center. It also provides an
opportunity for practitioners to sit and study together on an ongoing basis. We meet every Wednesday
except for the five-day Spring Practice Period sesshin (retreat) in June, the annual seven-day Buddha’s
Enlightenment sesshin in December and during the two-week interim period during the December
holidays. We also maintain a Google group to share reading materials we are studying, announce other
BZC events and issues related to logistics.The group is facilitated by a BZC Priest, Ikushin Gerry Oliva.
Gerry can be contacted at gryoliva@gmail.com for further information. -
Aspects Class: Ordinary Bodhisattvas Aspects Class: Ordinary Bodhisattvas
–
Thu, Oct 31, 2024This fall the Berkeley Zen Center sangha is so happy to welcome Visiting-Teachers-In-Residence Greg Fain and Linda Galijan. They will lead our Aspects of Practice period with the theme “Ordinary Bodhisattvas: The Brahmaviharas in Action.” This theme will be studied at 4 Thursday evening classes as well as in Saturday dharma talks and Way-Seeking Mind talks.
The class will be both in person and online and are open to anyone who would like to attend; we especially encourage those who participate in Aspects of Practice to sign up. Attend on line by clicking on the “Enter Zendo” link on the BZC homepage.
The class series begins on Thursday, October 17 and runs through November 7 (7:15—8:45).
Class fee is $40, or whatever you can afford. Registration form coming soon.