Friday July 18th, 2025 7pm in person in the urban zendo. “Hector and the Search for Happiness”

5 people enjoyed viewing this 2013 film which takes the protagonist around the globe with the question “What makes you happy”. Friendships with an African Bush Medics, an International Banker, a Tibetan Lama and an illicit drug smuggler and others brings him to turn back to his past and present to answer the question for himself. Lively discussion followed the viewing.

 Online only.

July 14,2025 6pm — Tokyo Ueno Station by Yu Miri, translated by Morgan Giles Use this link to join. If asked for a password use 043056

Born in Fukushima in 1933, the same year as the Emperor, Kazu’s life is tied by a series of coincidences to Japan’s Imperial family and to one particular spot in Tokyo; the park near Ueno Station – the same place his unquiet spirit now haunts in death. It is here that Kazu’s life in Tokyo began, as a labourer in the run up to the 1964 Olympics, and later where he ended his days, living in the park’s vast homeless ‘villages’, traumatised by the destruction of the 2011 tsunami and enraged by the announcement of the 2020 Olympics. Akutagawa-award-winning author Yū Miri uses her outsider’s perspective as a Zainichi (Korean-Japanese) writer to craft a novel of utmost importance to this moment, a powerful rebuke to the Imperial system and a sensitive, deeply felt depiction of the lives of Japan’s most vulnerable people.

Know someone who would like to join this dharma focused book club. This is a Monthly Dharma Book Club – contact Shoku @ cristinamariabenavides@gmail.com to be included in reminder emails and notices about future selections

Ten members of All Beings Zen Sangha enjoyed a 5 day sangha week retreat that included a visit to Sokoji Temple, Diaryú Michael Wenger’s art show at Enso Village and a hike along Coyote Ridge.

Use this link to join. If asked use this password 480731

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 Morning Practice

Robe Chant

40 minute period of Zazen

Four Great Vows

Full Moon Service

Evening Greetings

Historically, July’s full moon is called the buck moon because it aligns with the time of year where the antlers of male deer, or bucks, are quickly growing, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Other monikers for July’s full moon from Indigenous tribes are indicative of the summer season. The Cree, located primarily in Canada, know it as the molting moon to indicate the time of year when birds are shedding their feathers, while the Tlingit tribe in the Pacific Northwest Coast call it the salmon moon to signify the seasonal salmon migrations. information from…CNN news service

Here is the Zoom link to join in the cloud zendo, password if needed: 522050

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) and then a Dharma Talk by Inryū Sensei. 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.

Order of Service

Greeting by the Kokyo

Evening Bell Chant

Enmei Jukko Kannon Gyo

Heart Sutra in Japanese

25 Minute Zazen Period

5 minutes of Kinhin (slow walking)

Dharma Talk

Refuges in Pali

A green, joyful Memorial Day weekend for All Beings Zen Sangha. On Saturday, we had a half-day retreat at Woodburn Hill Farm — feeling the breeze through open windows during zazen, engaging in work practice on the land, and concluding with black bean soup and more around the old wooden farm table. Then, on Sunday mid-morning, many of us spent a couple of peaceful hours forest bathing together in Washington, D.C.

Here is the Zoom link to join in the cloud zendo, password if needed: 522050

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 conclude with 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.

Order of Service (text available at highlighted links)

Greeting by the Kokyo

Enmei Jukko Kannon Gyo

Heart Sutra in Chinese

25 Minute Zazen Period

5 minutes of Kinhin (slow walking)

25 Minute Zazen Period

Four Great Vows

Refuges in Pali