Calendar

2024 BZC Calendar of Events

Weekly Schedule

Week of Feb 12th

  • Way Seeking Mind Talk: Jake Van Akkeren

    Way Seeking Mind Talk: Jake Van Akkeren


    Mon, Feb 12, 2024

    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.

  • Drop-in Sitting and Study

    Drop-in Sitting and Study


    Wed, Feb 14, 2024

    The 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.

  • One-day Sesshin

    One-day Sesshin


    Sat, Feb 17, 2024

    A one-day sesshin on Saturday, February
    17, 6:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
    This sessin will be led by  Gerry Oliva. Breakfast and lunch
    will served oryoki style in the zendo. The
    requested donation is $35. Look to sign up on
    the website beginning three weeks ahead of
    time, as space may be limited. If you have any
    questions, please contact sesshin co-director
    Mark Copithorne (copithorne@hotmail.com).

    Sign up here: https://forms.gle/GiCPHDdcxTYQdAtx9

    Dharma Talk: Gerry Oliva

    Dharma Talk: Gerry Oliva


    Sat, Feb 17, 2024

    Saturday Morning Schedule

    To be announced

     

    Buddha’s Parinirvana Ceremony

    Buddha’s Parinirvana Ceremony


    Sat, Feb 17, 2024

    According to the Mahaparinibbana Sutta of 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
    Saturday, February 17, at 5:00 p.m., as the
    closing of our sesshin on that day.