Calendar

2024 BZC Calendar of Events

Weekly Schedule

Week of Apr 5th

  • Open Discussion

    Open Discussion


    Mon, Apr 1, 2024

    7:30 am: zazen
    8:00 am: open discussion

  • Drop-in Sitting and Study

    Drop-in Sitting and Study


    Wed, Apr 3, 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.

  • Class on the Heart Sutra taught by Karen Sundheim

    Class on the Heart Sutra taught by Karen Sundheim


    Thu, Apr 4, 2024

    Upcoming Class on the Heart Sutra taught by Karen Sundheim

    The Heart Sutra is the most chanted sutra in Mahayana Buddhist temples throughout the world. We chant it at BZC twice daily on weekdays, and on Saturday and Sesshins. Sojun often said all of Buddhism and zen is expressed in this Perfection of Wisdom in 25 lines. Karen Sundheim will be teaching a class to explore this important Mahayana text on Thursday evenings 7:15 - 8:45 pm March 14, 21, 28 and April 4. It will be offered in hybrid format.

    Please register by using this link so that you can receive any study materials: 

    https://forms.gle/yGrxtGLHU6dTboaf6

    Class fee is $40. Questions can be directed to the class coordinator, Ryushin Andrea andrea.thach@gmail.com.

     

  • Founders’ Ceremony

    Founders’ Ceremony


    Fri, Apr 5, 2024

    Way Seeking Mind Talk: Charlotte Shoemaker

    Way Seeking Mind Talk: Charlotte Shoemaker


    Fri, Apr 5, 2024

    BZC 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.

     

  • Buddha’s Birthday Ceremony

    Buddha’s Birthday Ceremony


    Sat, Apr 6, 2024

    On Saturday, April 6, 10:15‒11:15 a.m., BZC will join Buddhist centers around the world in celebrating the birth of the baby Buddha Page 4 March‒April 2024 BZC Newsletter (traditionally considered to have been in early April). Following a short service and an introductory talk by Hannah Meara in the zendo, we will proceed to the courtyard for a kid-friendly ceremony. After Hannah makes an initial offering of flowers and bathes the baby Buddha with sweet tea, we will chant the Heart Sutra and all adults and children will have a chance to use a ladle to bathe the baby Buddha. Children will also be offered small containers of bubble solution.

    We welcome children and others to come for work period at 7:35 a.m. to help decorate the bower in which the baby Buddha stands.

    Dharma Talk: Hannah Meara

    Dharma Talk: Hannah Meara


    Sat, Apr 6, 2024

    Saturday Morning Schedule

    • Temple cleaning:  7:35 – 8:10 (in person)
    • Zazen:                        8:30 – 9:10
    • Service:                      9:10 – 9:30
    • Kinhin:                       9:30  – 9:40
    • Zazen:                        9:40 – 10:05
    • Kinhin/break         10:05 – 10:15
    • Lecture:                   10:15 – 11:15