Open Discussion
8:00 am – 8:30 am
Mon, Mar 1, 2021
8:00 am – 8:30 am
Mon, Mar 1, 2021
5:45 pm – 6:20 pm
Fri, Mar 5, 2021
There will be a way-seeking mind talk in the online zendo at the time of the usual Friday afternoon zazen:
5:40 pm: zazen
5:45: talk
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.
10:15 am – 11:30 am
Sat, Mar 6, 2021
Meeting ID: 657 798 2914
Passcode: bzc
8:00 am – 8:30 am
Mon, Mar 8, 2021
There will be a Zoom 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.
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Thu, Mar 11, 2021
Reflections from His Long-Time Students
Our series of gatherings ends with tonight's installment.
Begins at 7 pm in BZC’s ONLINE ZENDO
Presenters will be Gerry Oliva, Susan Moon, and Greg Fain and Linda Galijan (from Tassajara!). There will be some time for Q & A following the presentations.
10:15 am – 11:30 am
Sat, Mar 13, 2021
8:00 am – 8:30 am
Mon, Mar 15, 2021
There will be a Zoom 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.
7:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sat, Mar 20, 2021
BZC will offer this virtual one-day sesshin from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This day will include zazen, kinhin, service, lecture, work period at home, and dokusan. Hozan Sensei will lecture for the sesshin. Lunch will be on your own.
You can sign up for this sesshin here. For more information, please contact the sesshin director, Mary Beth Lamb, at sesshin@berkeleyzencenter.org. The last day to sign up will be Wednesday, March 17. The next day, the director will send you a schedule for the day, tips for sesshin, and the chants that will be used during service.
The suggested sesshin donation is $15, or whatever you can afford. Mail a check to the BZC Office Manager at 1931 Russell St., Berkeley 94703, or pay through the website using the “Sits/Classes” tab on the Donate page. Be sure to indicate on the payment that it is for sesshin.
Please consider a donation to Berkeley Zen Center above the suggested fee to help us maintain our practice through the current crisis.
10:15 am – 11:30 am
Sat, Mar 20, 2021
Meeting ID: 657 798 2914
Passcode: bzc
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Sun, Mar 21, 2021
All members and friends are warmly invited to bring a cup of tea to the online zendo and join this meeting. We will hear committee reports, review the 2020 financial report, discuss the Board-recommended 2021 Budget, and consider our 2021 fundraising goals.
The budget is our treasurer’s best effort to project the financial goals and realities for BZC’s current year. After discussion, the budget will be submitted for approval by those in attendance. We look forward to seeing you!
8:00 am – 8:30 am
Mon, Mar 22, 2021
There will be a Zoom 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.
10:15 am – 11:30 am
Sat, Mar 27, 2021
Meeting ID: 657 798 2914
Passcode: bzc
8:00 am – 8:30 am
Mon, Mar 29, 2021
There will be a Zoom 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.