My Calendar

Events in September 2024

  • Drop-in Sitting and Study Group

    Drop-in Sitting and Study Group


    Wed, Sep 4, 2024

    The Drop-in Sitting and Study Group meets weekly from 7:10 to 9:30 PM on Wednesdays. It
    includes a 35-minute period of zazen meditation in the Zendo, followed by an hour of reading and
    discussion, tea and refreshments in the Community Room. The group particularly
    welcomes newcomers to Zen Buddhist practice or folks new to the 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 group is facilitated by a BZC Priest, Ikushin Gerry Oliva.
    Gerry can be contacted at gryoliva@gmail.com for further information.

  • Way Seeking Mind Talk: Mira Queen

    Way Seeking Mind Talk: Mira Queen


    Fri, Sep 6, 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.

     

  • Dharma Talk: Karen Sundheim

    Dharma Talk: Karen Sundheim


    Sat, Sep 7, 2024

  • Half-day Sitting

    Half-day Sitting


    Sun, Sep 8, 2024

    There will be a half-day sitting at BZC’s zendo on Sunday, September 8, from 8:00 a.m. to noon. We will have five periods of sitting and three of  kinhin, with a water break in the middle. This is a nice, quiet way to begin the day, and all are welcome.
    Zazen will be physically distanced, with a capacity of 30 people sitting in the zendo. Windows will be open, so dress warmly, according to the weather.
    Suggested donation is $10. You can sign up by emailing the Director Pete Carpentieri at petercmft@gmail.com . He will also be happy to answer any questions you may have.
    Half-day sittings are offered every other month at BZC. The one more 2024 date left:
    Nov 24
  • Way-Seeking Mind Talk: Greg Fain

    Way-Seeking Mind Talk: Greg Fain


    Mon, Sep 9, 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 Group

    Drop-in Sitting and Study Group


    Wed, Sep 11, 2024

    The Drop-in Sitting and Study Group meets weekly from 7:10 to 9:30 PM on Wednesdays. It
    includes a 35-minute period of zazen meditation in the Zendo, followed by an hour of reading and
    discussion, tea and refreshments in the Community Room. The group particularly
    welcomes newcomers to Zen Buddhist practice or folks new to the 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 group is facilitated by a BZC Priest, Ikushin Gerry Oliva.
    Gerry can be contacted at gryoliva@gmail.com for further information.

  • New Member Entering Ceremony

    New Member Entering Ceremony


    Sat, Sep 14, 2024

    Our annual New Member Entering Ceremony will be in person in the zendo and online at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 14. If you have become a new BZC member during the last year, we will be sending you further information. If you are a member who joined over a year ago, have never participated in this ceremony, and would now like to, please contact Gerry Oliva at gryoliva@gmail.com or      415-290-6015.

    Dharma Talk: Greg Fain

    Dharma Talk: Greg Fain


    Sat, Sep 14, 2024

  • All Sangha Meeting and Board Nominations

    All Sangha Meeting and Board Nominations


    Sun, Sep 15, 2024

    Each year we hold an all-sangha meeting in September to introduce new Board nominees. This year there are two openings, and two current Board members are willing to serve a second two-year term: Heather Sarantis and Rob Walker. Heather and Rob have both made significant contributions to the Board, includ­ing long-term projects regarding succession planning (Heather) and leadership retirement planning (Rob).
    If you wish to nominate an additional candidate, first ask the potential candidate if they would be willing to serve. If they are, please contact Nominations Committee chair Ellen Webb (elweb@sbcglobal.net) by Sep­tember 1. In that case that candidate will be added to the ballot on an equal footing with Rob and Heather, and the two nominees with the most votes in the October election will be elected.
    Our meeting will then focus on a discussion of the results of the Sangha Leadership Survey which many members responded to in early summer. Summary materials will be sent to sangha members in advance, enabling us to reflect together on various possible leadership structures for BZC’s future.
    Please join us on Zoom (using the “Enter the zendo now” button on the website) on Sunday, September 15, at 7:00 p.m., so we can hear one another’s ideas, concerns, hopes, and visions.

  • Way-Seeking Mind Talk: Linda Galijan

    Way-Seeking Mind Talk: Linda Galijan


    Mon, Sep 16, 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 Group

    Drop-in Sitting and Study Group


    Wed, Sep 18, 2024

    The Drop-in Sitting and Study Group meets weekly from 7:10 to 9:30 PM on Wednesdays. It
    includes a 35-minute period of zazen meditation in the Zendo, followed by an hour of reading and
    discussion, tea and refreshments in the Community Room. The group particularly
    welcomes newcomers to Zen Buddhist practice or folks new to the 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 group is facilitated by a BZC Priest, Ikushin Gerry Oliva.
    Gerry can be contacted at gryoliva@gmail.com for further information.

  • All-day Study Sitting

    All-day Study Sitting


    Sat, Sep 21, 2024

    Berkeley Zen Center will host a Study Sitting on Saturday September 21. The schedule begins at 5:00am and ends at 5:30pm. Work period will be shortened to provide an additional period of lecture and discussion in order to consider a text in our tradition more carefully.
    The day will be led by Linda Galijan and Greg Fain. We will be reading the opening paragraphs of Dogen's Gyoji Continuous Practice.
    To sign up, register here https://forms.gle/qNQZaG7iGZGRMu6a6.  The deadline for sign up is Thursday, September 19 at noon. When the registration form is completed, you will automatically receive a confirmation email.
    Berkeley Zen Center asks for a $35 donation. Online participation is also possible and we ask for $15. A sliding scale is accepted.
    Mark Copithorne will be the director for the day. If you have questions or need to change your plans, please contact him.
    Dharma Talk: Linda Galijan

    Dharma Talk: Linda Galijan


    Sat, Sep 21, 2024

  • Way-Seeking Mind Talk: Peter Carpentieri

    Way-Seeking Mind Talk: Peter Carpentieri


    Mon, Sep 23, 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 Group

    Drop-in Sitting and Study Group


    Wed, Sep 25, 2024

    The Drop-in Sitting and Study Group meets weekly from 7:10 to 9:30 PM on Wednesdays. It
    includes a 35-minute period of zazen meditation in the Zendo, followed by an hour of reading and
    discussion, tea and refreshments in the Community Room. The group particularly
    welcomes newcomers to Zen Buddhist practice or folks new to the 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 group is facilitated by a BZC Priest, Ikushin Gerry Oliva.
    Gerry can be contacted at gryoliva@gmail.com for further information.

  • Dharma Talk: Rhonda Magee

    Dharma Talk: Rhonda Magee


    Sat, Sep 28, 2024

  • Beginners Sitting

    Beginners Sitting


    Sun, Sep 29, 2024

    Sign up by September 26 by completing this form:     https://forms.gle/cJqkc8bfZ3wsVUCi9
    Please join us for a special sitting that comes around only twice a year. This is an opportunity for new and old practitioners alike to become intimate with Beginner's Mind.
    The sesshin will be led by Carol Paul and Gerry Oliva. The focus will be on the basics of Suzuki Roshi's practice: zazen, kinhin, and bowing. New students will receive clear explanations of our sometimes challenging forms, while more experienced students will have a chance to fine-tune their practice.  If you are brand new to BZC, please attend at least one weekday zazen or Saturday program prior to the 29th.
    The sesshin will run from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm on Sunday, September 29 at BZC.  Please plan to attend the entire day.  The rhythm of the day will be similar to our regular sesshins, with shorter periods of zazen and some on-the-spot instructions.  It will include a lecture, a short work period, and discussion.  Bring your own bag lunch (or you can purchase a lunch nearby).
    The fee is $15 or whatever you can afford.  You can pay on the BZC website under the Sits/Classes tab on the Generosity page.  You can also pay by placing a check or cash in the laundry slot.  (Envelopes are available on the bulletin board.)  Or by mailing in a check to Berkeley Zen Center at:
    Berkeley Zen Center
    1931 Russell Street
    Berkeley, CA 94703
     
    Please note "Beginners Sesshin" on your envelope, check, or online payment.
    ***Sign up by September 26 by completing this form:     https://forms.gle/cJqkc8bfZ3wsVUCi9***
    When the registration form is complete, you will receive a confirmation email.  Please be in touch with Helen Cheng if you have questions or you need to cancel.
    Helen Cheng
  • Way-Seeking Mind Talk: Dean Bradley

    Way-Seeking Mind Talk: Dean Bradley


    Mon, Sep 30, 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.