Calendar

2024 BZC Calendar of Events

Weekly Schedule

Week of Jun 12th

  • Way Seeking Mind Talk: Ron Nestor

    Way Seeking Mind Talk: Ron Nestor


    Mon, Jun 12, 2023

    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.

  • Practice Period Class: Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind

    Practice Period Class: Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind


    Thu, Jun 15, 2023

    This 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.pdf
    Classes 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 up
     COVID restrictions will apply. If you have questions, you could reach out to the Class Coordinator Ryushin Andrea Thach at  andrea.thach@gmil.com.
  • In Person Shosan Ceremony with Abbot Hozan

    In Person Shosan Ceremony with Abbot Hozan


    Fri, Jun 16, 2023

    Traditional practice period event - formal question and answer ceremony - in person only.

  • Lecture: Abbot Hozan

    Lecture: Abbot Hozan


    Sat, Jun 17, 2023

    Saturday 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
    Practice Period Dinner

    Practice Period Dinner


    Sat, Jun 17, 2023

    The Practice Period dinner is on Saturday, June 17 at 4:00. Seating will be mostly outside, so dress warmly if cool. There will be limited seating in the community room for those who are comfortable eating indoors with others.

    Due to the popularity of this event, we have reached capacity; regrettably, we are not able to add more folks. If you did not sign up for the dinner and wish to be on a waiting list in the event of cancellations, contact Susan Marvin (lai_hang@yahoo.com). If you cannot remember if you signed up for the dinner, you can also check with Susan.

  • Board Meeting

    Board Meeting


    Sun, Jun 18, 2023