Calendar

2024 BZC Calendar of Events

Weekly Schedule

Events in October 2021

  • Way-Seeking Mind Talk: Ryushin Andrea Thach

    Way-Seeking Mind Talk: Ryushin Andrea Thach


    Fri, Oct 1, 2021

    There will be a way-seeking mind talk in the online zendo at the time of the usual Friday afternoon zazen:

    5:40 pm: zazen
    5:45: talk

    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: Laurie Senauke

    Lecture: Laurie Senauke


    Sat, Oct 2, 2021

    Saturday Program Link (ie, Online Zendo)
        • 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

    Meeting ID: 657 798 2914
    Passcode: bzc

    Buddhist Action to Feed the Hungry

    Buddhist Action to Feed the Hungry


    Sat, Oct 2, 2021

    On Saturday, October 2, at 1:00 p.m., BZC will join with other Bay Area sanghas to support Buddhist Global Relief’s “Buddhist Action to Feed the Hungry.” For more informa­tion, see www.buddhistglobalrelief.org.

    Taking precautions against the Covid virus, this year’s event will again be online. This is our third year as a local sponsor of BGR’s event, raising funds to provide food aid and education to thousands of the poorest people around the world, and also to those in need here in the Bay Area.

  • One-Day Sesshin - Open Aspects

    One-Day Sesshin - Open Aspects


    Sun, Oct 3, 2021

    A BZC Practice Leader TBA will lead a one-day online sesshin on Sunday, October 3, 7:50 a.m.‒5:00 p.m. Please sign up by September 29 (the Wednesday before the sesshin). If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the sesshin director, Mary Beth Lamb, at sesshin@berkeleyzencenter.org.

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

    You may sign up here: [Coming Soon]

    Lecture: Gerry Oliva

    Lecture: Gerry Oliva


    Sun, Oct 3, 2021

    Saturday Program Link (ie, Online Zendo)
        • 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

    Meeting ID: 657 798 2914
    Passcode: bzc

  • Open Discussion

    Open Discussion


    Mon, Oct 4, 2021

  • Wednesday Night Drop In Sitting and Study

    Wednesday Night Drop In Sitting and Study


    Wed, Oct 6, 2021

  • Aspects of Practice Weekly Class

    Aspects of Practice Weekly Class


    Thu, Oct 7, 2021

    Tonight's Presenters:  Carol Paul and Susan Marvin

    Text: Dogen Zenji's Gakudo Yojinshu - Guidelines for Practicing the Way: Once you hear the true teaching, you should study without fail.

  • Lecture: Peter Overton

    Lecture: Peter Overton


    Sat, Oct 9, 2021

    Saturday Program Link (ie, Online Zendo)
        • 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

    Meeting ID: 657 798 2914
    Passcode: bzc

  • Women’s Sesshin

    Women’s Sesshin


    Sun, Oct 10, 2021

    There will be a women’s sesshin on Sunday, October 10, 8:00 a.m.–12:15 p.m. This will be a study sesshin, co-led by several BZC senior students, based on Dogen’s Guidelines for Practice as viewed through the lens of women’s experiences. (The Guidelines for Practice are the focus of this year’s Aspects of Practice, during which the women’s sesshin falls.) It will follow the usual format for women’s sesshins, including meditation periods, discussion of Dharma, and service. It will be on Zoom rather than in person.
    For further information, please contact Karen Sundheim (ksundheim@gmail.com).

  • Way-Seeking Mind Talk: Ross Blum

    Way-Seeking Mind Talk: Ross Blum


    Mon, Oct 11, 2021

    There will be a Zoom 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.

  • Wednesday Night Drop In Sitting and Study

    Wednesday Night Drop In Sitting and Study


    Wed, Oct 13, 2021

  • Home Rituals and Home Altars - Presentation and Discussion

    Home Rituals and Home Altars - Presentation and Discussion


    Thu, Oct 14, 2021

    Tonight's Presenters:  Hannah Meara and Penelope Thompson

  • Lecture: Ellen Webb

    Lecture: Ellen Webb


    Sat, Oct 16, 2021

    Saturday Program Link (ie, Online Zendo)
        • 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

    Meeting ID: 657 798 2914
    Passcode: bzc

  • Way-Seeking Mind Talk: Susan Marvin

    Way-Seeking Mind Talk: Susan Marvin


    Mon, Oct 18, 2021

    There will be a Zoom 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.

  • Wednesday Night Drop In Sitting and Study

    Wednesday Night Drop In Sitting and Study


    Wed, Oct 20, 2021

  • Aspects of Practice Weekly Class

    Aspects of Practice Weekly Class


    Thu, Oct 21, 2021

    Tonight's Presenters:  Ron Nestor and Karen Sundheim

    Text: Dogen Zenji's Gakudo Yojinshu - Guidelines for Practicing the Way: You should seek a true teacher to practice Zen and study the way.

  • Lecture: Carol Paul

    Lecture: Carol Paul


    Sat, Oct 23, 2021

    Saturday Program Link (ie, Online Zendo)
        • 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

    Meeting ID: 657 798 2914
    Passcode: bzc

  • Way-Seeking Mind Talk: Mary Duryee

    Way-Seeking Mind Talk: Mary Duryee


    Mon, Oct 25, 2021

    There will be a Zoom 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.

  • Wednesday Night Drop In Sitting and Study

    Wednesday Night Drop In Sitting and Study


    Wed, Oct 27, 2021

  • Aspects of Practice Weekly Class

    Aspects of Practice Weekly Class


    Thu, Oct 28, 2021

    Tonight's facilitator:  Ellen Webb, Hannah Meara, and Penelope Thompson will lead some small group discussions about our Aspects study.

    Text: Dogen Zenji's Gakudo Yojinshu - Guidelines for Practicing the Way

    Details to follow.

  • Lecture: Ross Blum

    Lecture: Ross Blum


    Sat, Oct 30, 2021

    Saturday Program Link (ie, Online Zendo)
        • 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

    Meeting ID: 657 798 2914
    Passcode: bzc