December 2017 Ceremonies

December 3rd,  2017 Jukai Ceremony.

 Receiving Jukai back row from left to right: Zenho Eric Jonas, Kodo Mitch Eaton, Busshin Matthew Wagner and Seido David Sarpal and front center:  preceptor Rev. Inryu Bobbi Ponce-Barger, Sensei

Many of the December 2017 Sesshin Participants

All Beings Zen Sangha Fall 2017 Shuso Myoshin Carlos Moura following his final ceremony

 

 

May All Beings Be Happy!

The All Beings Zen Sangha welcomes and affirms all who come here to seek the Way, and who will work toward respectful acceptance of others across our many differences, harmonizing the one and the many.

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All Beings Zen Sangha
27290 Woodburn Hill Road
Mechanicsville, MD 20659

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All Beings Zen Sangha
C/O  Rev. Inryū Ponce-Barger,
2801 Adams Mill Road NW 402
Washington DC 20009

Author: hidden dragon

  • Evening Practice for November 16, 2023

    Here is the Zoom link to join in the cloud zendo, password if needed: 955165

    Tonight we will have a short service followed by one period of Zazen with an interval of Kinhin (5 minutes of slow walking in between). Then Shõku Cristina Benavides will offer a Way Seeking Mind Talk. We will conclude by chanting the refuges in Pali. Please feel welcome to stay on zoom if you are able to share greetings with the sangha.

    Please put your zoom in gallery mode, and keep your video link on while muting your mic until the end of the service – Feel welcome to face away from your device camera while keeping your presence visible in the frame for others in attendance to see and know you are there. Please refrain from moving your device around while others are sitting zazen with you.

    Please put your zoom in gallery mode, and keep your video link on while muting your mic until the end of the service – Feel welcome to face away from your device camera while keeping your presence visible in the frame for others in attendance to see and know you are there. Please refrain from moving your device around while others are sitting zazen with you.

    Order of Service (text available at highlighted links)

    Greeting by the Kokyo

    Enmei

    Heart Sutra in English

    26 Minute Zazen Period

    5 minutes of Kinhin (slow walking)

    Way Seeking Mind Talk by Shõku

    Refuges in Pali

    Brief Check in and announcements

  • Morning Practice for November 15, 2023 6:30am Eastern

    To join us via zoom use this link. If asked for a password use 792230

    Morning zazen and service order can be found here and the Frequently Used Chants page also has the chants used in the service.

    Please put your zoom in gallery mode, and keep your video link on while muting your mic until the end of the service – Feel welcome to face away from your device camera while keeping your presence visible in the frame for others in attendance to see and know you are there. Please refrain from moving your device around while others are sitting zazen with you.

    *ABZS does keep attendance for events to support programing and the welfare of the sangha.*

  • Dharma Tea at Two on Tuesdays for November 14, 2023 2-2:45pm Eastern

    Tuesday November 14, 2023 – Tuesday Dharma Tea “Enjoy Your Life” by Shōku Cristina Benavides. Come join our Tuesday Dharma Tea talk as we learn about Shunryu Suzuki Roshi’s talk about “Enjoying your Life”. Online only. Join by using this link. If asked for a password use 842721.

    We start with 5 minutes of silent tea drinking. Shōku Cristina will offer information on the topic.

    The dharma tea concludes at 2:45pm Eastern. All are welcome.

    For the All Beings Zen Sangha Tuesday Teas at Two, a topic is introduced and then a few questions are proposed for discussion by those present. The Teas are online only.

    We start with 5 minutes of silent tea drinking. Shōku Cristina will offer information on the topic.

    The dharma tea concludes at 2:45pm Eastern. All are welcome.

    *** Please support the sangha financially if you can*** See sidebar for methods to donate.

  • November 12, 2023 One Day Retreat (Zazenkai) 6:30am to 4pm Eastern

    Sunday November 12, 2023 – Full Day Sit Starting at 6:30am for early-birds (includes breakfast and lunch) or 9:00am for late-joiners (includes lunch) ending at 4:30pm at Urban Zendo in person and online – Zazen, kinhin, oryoki breakfast and lunch. Use this link to join.  If asked for a password use 566800 .  In person and onlline only. 

    Photo by Zen’etsu Clay Crowell
  • Morning Practice for November 10, 2023 6:30am Eastern

    To join us via zoom use this link. If asked for a password use 693631

    Way Seeking Mind Talk by Suzanne Ehrenhalt in the morning, following a brief period of zazen. in person and online.

    Please put your zoom in gallery mode, and keep your video link on while muting your mic until the end of the service – Feel welcome to face away from your device camera while keeping your presence visible in the frame for others in attendance to see and know you are there. Please refrain from moving your device around while others are sitting zazen with you.

    *ABZS does keep attendance for events to support programing and the welfare of the sangha.*

  • Support for a Cease Fire Grows

    American Buddhists Call on President Joe Biden for an Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza. See link below

    https://chng.it/qnSPzfZrSp

  • Dharma Tea at 2pm on Tuesdays – Life of Mahaprajapati part 2

    Tuesday November 7, 2023 – Tuesday Dharma Tea “The Life of Mahaprajapati pt 2” by Zen’Etsu Clay Crowell. Come join our Tuesday Dharma Tea talk as we unravel second-part of the life of Mahaprajapati, the Buddha’s Aunt/Mother. Online only. Join by using this link. If asked for a password use 842721.

    For the All Beings Zen Sangha Tuesday Teas at Two, a topic is introduced and then a few questions are proposed for discussion by those present. The Teas are online only.

    We start with 5 minutes of silent tea drinking. Zen’etsu Clay Crowell (our Fall 2023 Benji) will offer information on the second half of the life of “Mahaprajapati”.

    The dharma tea concludes at 2:45pm Eastern. All are welcome.

  • All Beings Zen Sejiki Ceremony 2023

    Take a peak into our annual Sejiki Ceremony, 2023!

    Sejiki is a traditional Soto Zen ceremony in which participants come to appease what are known as pretas, or “hungry ghosts” in Buddhist cosmology. These hungry ghosts are beings who have an abundance of cravings, yet are unable to get any satisfaction. This type of being can represent not only these ghosts, but also the inexhaustible desires that we may have in ourselves/society as well.

    In this ceremony, it is custom to invite various instruments to cling-clang-bang (bottom left photo), in order to invoke these hungry ghosts to come to our peaceful offering. From here, we recite well-wishing chants such as ‘Gate of Sweet Dew,’ have sweets and treats displayed as offerings, and finally send them off, hoping that they were nourished. At this time, we also say aloud and burn the name-cards from our Zendo altar of those who have departed within the year.

    Below are pictures from our All Beings Sejiki Ceremony, and if you would like to see the music video of our gathering, please go to our facebook page here: All Beings Zen Sejiki Ceremony 2023

  • Woodburn Hill Farm Half-Day Work Practice October 28th

    All Beings Zen Sangha gathered together at Woodburn Hill Farm on October 28th to enjoy a half-day work practice together. Starting the day off with zazen and our monthly full moon ceremony, we were ready to engage our heart-minds *and hands* with the various tasks on the farm. From stacking wood, trimming the bamboo off the barn, to setting up a nice space for us to gather around for our (delicious!) vegetarian potluck, we shared sweat and smiles with each other and the land on this beautiful autumn morning.

  • Evening Practice for November 2, 2023 7pm Eastern

    Here is the Zoom link to join in the cloud zendo, password if needed: 955165

    Tonight we will have a short service followed by two periods of Zazen with an interval of Kinhin (5 minutes of slow walking in between). We will have our monthly pass the feather sharing and conclude by chanting the refuges in Pali. Please feel welcome to stay on zoom if you are able to share greetings with the sangha.

    Please put your zoom in gallery mode, and keep your video link on while muting your mic until the end of the service – Feel welcome to face away from your device camera while keeping your presence visible in the frame for others in attendance to see and know you are there. Please refrain from moving your device around while others are sitting zazen with you.

    Please put your zoom in gallery mode, and keep your video link on while muting your mic until the end of the service – Feel welcome to face away from your device camera while keeping your presence visible in the frame for others in attendance to see and know you are there. Please refrain from moving your device around while others are sitting zazen with you.

    Order of Service (text available at highlighted links)

    Greeting by the Kokyo

    Enmei Jukko Kannon Gyo

    Heart Sutra in English

    25 Minute Zazen Period

    5 minutes of Kinhin (slow walking)

    25 Minute Zazen Period

    Four Great Vows

    Pass the Feather Check in

    Refuges in Pali

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