2023 BZC Calendar of Events
(revised, 4/26/23; subject to change; see monthly calendar below to confirm. Also note details about whether an event is hybrid, in person only, or online only.)
2023 Spring Practice Period Calendar
Events in May 2023
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Special Open Discussion on MCOS
Special Open Discussion on MCOS
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Mon, May 1, 2023This morning's open discussion will be a conversation with many of the 33 Sangha members who have been participating in the Many Communities, One Sangha program for the last 8 months. This will take place in the online zendo right after a shorter period of zazen:
7:30 am: zazen
8:00 am: open discussion
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Wednesday Night Drop-in Sitting and Study
Wednesday Night Drop-in Sitting and Study
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Wed, May 3, 2023The Wednesday Drop-in group is a weekly event, now in person, that goes from 7:10 to 9:00 PM. It includes a 30-minute period of Zazen meditation and a brief service in the zendo, followed by tea and refreshments and an hour of reading and discussion in the Community Room. The group particularly welcomes newcomers to Zen Buddhist practice and/or new to 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 groups is facilitated by a BZC Priest, Ikushin Gerry Oliva. Gerry can be contacted at gryoliva@gmail.com for further information.
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Way Seeking Mind Talk: Sue Dunlap
Way Seeking Mind Talk: Sue Dunlap
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Fri, May 5, 2023BZC 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 Zazen on the First Friday of the month.
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Bodhisattva Ceremony
Bodhisattva Ceremony
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Sat, May 6, 2023Lecture: Ben ConnollyLecture: Ben Connolly
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Sat, May 6, 2023Today's Saturday lecture will be a book event with Buddhist Author Ben Connelly and his new book, Vasubandhu's “Three Natures”: A Practitioner's Guide for Liberation.
Saturday Morning Schedule
- Zendo opens: 8:20 am
- Zazen: 8:30 – 9:10
- Service: 9:10 – 9:30
- Kinhin/break 9:30 – 9:40
- Zazen: 9:40 – 10:10
- Lecture: 10:15 – 11:15
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Founders’ Ceremony
Founders’ Ceremony
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Mon, May 8, 2023Way Seeking Mind Talk: Simone BrumisWay Seeking Mind Talk: Simone Brumis
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Mon, May 8, 2023There 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.
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Wednesday Night Drop-in Sitting and Study
Wednesday Night Drop-in Sitting and Study
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Wed, May 10, 2023The Wednesday Drop-in group is a weekly event, now in person, that goes from 7:10 to 9:00 PM. It includes a 30-minute period of Zazen meditation and a brief service in the zendo, followed by tea and refreshments and an hour of reading and discussion in the Community Room. The group particularly welcomes newcomers to Zen Buddhist practice and/or new to 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 groups is facilitated by a BZC Priest, Ikushin Gerry Oliva. Gerry can be contacted at gryoliva@gmail.com for further information.
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One-Day Sesshin to Open Practice Period
One-Day Sesshin to Open Practice Period
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Sat, May 13, 2023We invite you to join us: Saturday May 13 from 7:50 AM to 5:30 PM. This sesshin will open the Spring Practice Period, and will be led by Hozan Alan Senauke.1. Deadline to sign up is Noon on Thursday, May 11. In-person attendance will be limited to 33 people. Those who sign up after we reach the 33-person limit will be placed on a waiting list.SIGN UP BY CLICKING HERE:2. The sesshin will also be offered online: (sign up with the same form as above).3. For in-person sesshin attendees, proof of vaccination and booster shots are required to participate. Social distancing protocols will be observed and all attendees will be required to wear an N94, KN94 or KN95 mask.4. Lunch will be served outdoors at tables in the courtyard, using a modified oryoki form. To purchase a set of oryoki bowls and/or to sign up for an oryoki training class, check our website for a link.5. We will have a short work period, so please bring work clothes you can change into.6. Hozan Alan Senauke will offer dokusan both for in-person and online participants. Practice discussion will also be offered by a senior student, both in-person and online.7. The sesshin fee is $25 for in-person attendees, and $15 for online participation. You may pay online, or you can send a check to BZC at:Berkeley Zen Center1931 Russell StreetBerkeley, CA 94703Attention: Office Manager, Helen ChengAdditional donations may be made at https://berkeleyzencenter.org/support-bzc/.If you have questions, please contact the Sesshin Director, Rob Lyons at robertlyons2305@gmail.comLecture: Abbot HozanLecture: Abbot Hozan
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Sat, May 13, 2023Saturday 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
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Way Seeking Mind Talk: Shuso - Sue Oehser
Way Seeking Mind Talk: Shuso - Sue Oehser
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Mon, May 15, 2023Our Practice Period Shuso will give her first 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.
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Wednesday Night Drop-in Sitting and Study
Wednesday Night Drop-in Sitting and Study
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Wed, May 17, 2023The Wednesday Drop-in group is a weekly event, now in person, that goes from 7:10 to 9:00 PM. It includes a 30-minute period of Zazen meditation and a brief service in the zendo, followed by tea and refreshments and an hour of reading and discussion in the Community Room. The group particularly welcomes newcomers to Zen Buddhist practice and/or new to 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 groups is facilitated by a BZC Priest, Ikushin Gerry Oliva. Gerry can be contacted at gryoliva@gmail.com for further information.
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Practice Period Class: Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind
Practice Period Class: Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind
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Thu, May 18, 2023This spring our practice period class will draw upon the riches of Suzuki Roshi’s Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind. Beneath the warm and inviting tone of Suzuki Roshi’s words are boundless depths that appear anew with each reading. Over nearly fifty years of teaching, Sojun Roshi never reached the limits of this book’s Zen wisdom. So, we begin again.We will share a selection of chapters, which will be announced. Practice period members, in fact all BZC practitioners ought to have a copy of this book. And a pdf of the whole text can be found at this link. https://terebess.hu/zen/mesterek/Zen-Mind.pdfClasses will be held in the zendo and online at 7:15pm, for five Thursday evenings from May 18 to June 15. Suggested class fee is $50 or whatever you can afford. See you in class.Please register for the class by clicking this ink: Class – Zen Mind Beginner’s Mind – Sign upCOVID restrictions will apply. If you have questions, you could reach out to the Class Coordinator Ryushin Andrea Thach at andrea.thach@gmil.com. -
Zazen Refresher with Abbot Hozan
Zazen Refresher with Abbot Hozan
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Fri, May 19, 2023Abbot Hozan will offer basic Zazen instruction, including time for Q & A.
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Lecture: Shuso Sue Oehser
Lecture: Shuso Sue Oehser
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Sat, May 20, 2023Saturday Morning Schedule
- Zendo opens: 8:20 am
- Zazen: 8:30 – 9:10
- Service: 9:10 – 9:30
- Kinhin/break 9:30 – 9:40
- Zazen: 9:40 – 10:10
- Lecture: 10:15 – 11:15
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Board Meeting
Board Meeting
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Sun, May 21, 2023 -
Way Seeking Mind Talk: Peter Overton
Way Seeking Mind Talk: Peter Overton
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Mon, May 22, 2023There 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.
-
Wednesday Night Drop-in Sitting and Study
Wednesday Night Drop-in Sitting and Study
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Wed, May 24, 2023The Wednesday Drop-in group is a weekly event, now in person, that goes from 7:10 to 9:00 PM. It includes a 30-minute period of Zazen meditation and a brief service in the zendo, followed by tea and refreshments and an hour of reading and discussion in the Community Room. The group particularly welcomes newcomers to Zen Buddhist practice and/or new to 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 groups is facilitated by a BZC Priest, Ikushin Gerry Oliva. Gerry can be contacted at gryoliva@gmail.com for further information.
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Practice Period Class: Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind
Practice Period Class: Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind
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Thu, May 25, 2023This spring our practice period class will draw upon the riches of Suzuki Roshi’s Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind. Beneath the warm and inviting tone of Suzuki Roshi’s words are boundless depths that appear anew with each reading. Over nearly fifty years of teaching, Sojun Roshi never reached the limits of this book’s Zen wisdom. So, we begin again.We will share a selection of chapters, which will be announced. Practice period members, in fact all BZC practitioners ought to have a copy of this book. And a pdf of the whole text can be found at this link. https://terebess.hu/zen/mesterek/Zen-Mind.pdfClasses will be held in the zendo and online at 7:15pm, for five Thursday evenings from May 18 to June 15. Suggested class fee is $50 or whatever you can afford. See you in class.Please register for the class by clicking this ink: Class – Zen Mind Beginner’s Mind – Sign upCOVID restrictions will apply. If you have questions, you could reach out to the Class Coordinator Ryushin Andrea Thach at andrea.thach@gmil.com. -
Lecture: Susan Marvin
Lecture: Susan Marvin
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Sat, May 27, 2023Saturday Morning Schedule
- Zendo opens: 8:20 am
- Zazen: 8:30 – 9:10
- Service: 9:10 – 9:30
- Kinhin/break 9:30 – 9:40
- Zazen: 9:40 – 10:10
- Lecture: 10:15 – 11:15
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Zendo Holiday - Informal Zazen Online Only at 7:30 am and 5:40 pm
Zendo Holiday - Informal Zazen Online Only at 7:30 am and 5:40 pm
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Mon, May 29, 2023There will be no formal program this morning, due to the Memorial Day Holiday.
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Wednesday Night Drop-in Sitting and Study
Wednesday Night Drop-in Sitting and Study
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Wed, May 31, 2023The Wednesday Drop-in group is a weekly event, now in person, that goes from 7:10 to 9:00 PM. It includes a 30-minute period of Zazen meditation and a brief service in the zendo, followed by tea and refreshments and an hour of reading and discussion in the Community Room. The group particularly welcomes newcomers to Zen Buddhist practice and/or new to 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 groups is facilitated by a BZC Priest, Ikushin Gerry Oliva. Gerry can be contacted at gryoliva@gmail.com for further information.