All Beings Zen Sangha Dharma Book study for summer 2021   “American Sutra” by Duncan Ryukan Williams.   This is our second meeting to discuss this historical text focusing on the incarceration of Buddhist Americans of Japanese Ancestry who were rounded up and sent to detention camps during the early years of WWII.  A fascinating account using: interviews from survivors, dairies, government documents and media accounts of that time, Rev. Williams creates a rich delve into the religious bias and racism that plagued the US 80 years ago.  This book is an encouraging account of how people found ways to continue to take refuge in Buddha, Dharma and Sangha while far away from home in uncomfortable and uncertain conditions of incarceration.

With the backdrop of “camps” housing unaccompanied undocumented minors  along our southern border currently and the undefined terms of incarceration for men housed at the US Guantanamo Naval Base on the island of Cuba the text is a timely reminder for those of us who vow to “save all beings” to keep our hearts open and minds awake to the realities we face and responsibilities we share.

Use this link.  If asked for a password use this 012494

We will resume our regular All Beings Zen Sangha schedule on Tuesday July 6th, 2021 with the 2pm Dharma Tea.  Inryū Sensei will lead the tea using the topic of “Freedom – what is it?  What is it good for”?   First 5 minutes are silent tea drinking together.   All are welcome!  Use this link to join.  If asked for a password use 012494

 

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• Tuesday Tea and discussion June 29th , 2021 2pm EDT — Tea and Dharma discussion  lead by our ABZS Guiding Teacher Rev. Inryū Ponce-Barger on “Keeping a journal as a form of spiritual practice”.  45 minutes

Use this link to join.

If asked for a password use this 826408

 

Photography by Yosan

Here is the link to join us via the cloud zendo at 7PM on Thursday  for the All Beings Zen Sangha evening program.  Tonight we will have a period of zazen followed by a Talk by our Ino (head of the zendo)  Seido David Sarpal.     We will close by  chanting the Refuges.

If you are asked for a password please use this  118879

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 in Spanish and English

30 Minute Zazen Period

Four Great Vows

Talk offered by Ino Seido David Sarpal on the topic of “Eight things I’ve learned during Covid”

Refuges in Pali

THE FOUR GREAT VOWS

Beings are numberless; I vow to save them.

Delusions are inexhaustible; I vow to end them.

Dharma Gates are boundless; I vow to enter them.

Buddha’s way is unsurpassable; I vow to become it.

Refuges in Pali (Call and Response)

Accapella, inflections as follows:

➞Buddham Saranam Ga➚cha➘mi➞iii

BUDDHAM SARANAM GACCHAMI

DHAMMAM SARANAM GACCHAMI

SANGHAM SARANAM GACCHAMI

DUTIYAMPI BUDDHAM SARANAM GACCHAMI

DUTIYAMPI DHAMMAM SARANAM GACCHAMI

DUTIYAMPI SANGHAM SARANAM GACCHAMI

TATIYAMPI BUDDHAM SARANAM GACCHAMI

TATIYAMPI DHAMMAM SARANAM GACCHAMI

TATIYAMPI SANGHAM SARANAM GACCHAMI

 

• Tea and discussion June 22nd 2pm EDT — Tea and Dharma discussion lead by Cristina Leifson and Lucy Turner on the topic of  “Reflections on Pride Month and Practice”.   Use this link to join.  If asked for a password use this 826408.  This event goes from 2pm to 2:45pm EDT.  The first five minutes are silent and an opportunity for individuals to settle into the online room and drink tea together.    We look forward to having you join us for this afternoon refreshment!
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• Tuesday June 15th, 2021 2pm EDT  Tea and discussion lead by  Kōryū (Bright Dragon) Naomi Knoble on the topic of“  We’re all in this together: Reflections on practice in action.  Use this link to join  .  If asked for a password use this 826408.

Photo taken by Sensei Inryū

In light of the recent availability of vaccinations and increasingly relaxed public health restrictions, this document is intended to offer guidance for how to safely transition the Sangha to indoor in person zazen at our urban Zendo and our un-urban indoor sitting spaces at Woodburn Hill Farm.

General thoughts on the risks of in person zazen for our Sangha:
A strain could spread that some of currently available vaccines only have limited ability to prevent illness from.

The sangha will have to monitor the situation and be prepared (if necessary) to re-close the zendo in the event that the vaccines lose efficacy against new strains of the virus. As such, this document should be updated and re-circulated to the board to review the decision to open to in person zazen as new CDC guidance becomes available.

Answers to logistical questions
How will we verify that zendo visitors are vaccinated?
Inryu will ask visitors to affirm in writing that they have been fully vaccinated, symptom free for at least two weeks, and indicate they have not knowingly been in contact with people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19. There will be a chart at the front entry for people to initial this affirmation.

Should practitioners. be asked to wear masks?
We recommend mask use for the first month of zendo reopening, and re-evaluating this policy every 6 weeks.

How far apart should Zafus be spaced?
Six feet apart to minimize risk of transmission.

What number of people can attend?
No more than 10 people total indoor zendo spaces at any time, as currently stipulated by DC/MD regulations for indoor gatherings in condominiums or cooperatives.

Should kinhin take place?
Yes, with everybody making their best effort to remain six feet apart.

Should chanting take place?
We recommend that only the Kokyo (chant leader) or the Doshi (Inryu Sensei) chant on behalf of those present given the increased risk of transmission brought about by singing/chanting.

How can we ensure the space remains sanitized?
We recommend placing hand sanitizer at the entrance to the zendo and encouraging all who enter to make use of it.
In addition, to limit the number of hands making contact with zafus and zabutons, we recommend that they remain in place rather than being stacked and stored.   Only the Doanryo should handle instruments to ensure that they are in contact with as few hands as possible.

If more want to attend than the limit, how do we decide who gets to join?
We will encourage those interested in attending in person to contact the Tenken, and monitor the response rate to ensure that we do not reach a situation where a greater number is seeking to attend than the zendo can hold.

Should sangha members be allowed to eat or drink in the zendo?
Not for the time being as these activities require removing one’s mask.

What should a Sangha member do if they feel unwell or have knowingly had recent contact with someone who is symptomatic/has confirmed Covid?
That person should stay at home and join via Zoom (ABZS Cloud Zendo)..

When should we allow in person zazen to resume?:
Inryū Sensei had her second vaccine on Sunday May 24th, 2021. She recommends that we could allow in person zazen beginning on Monday June 7, 2021.

***guidelines are set up by the ABZS Board of Directors and will be reviewed every 6 weeks and updated***

• Tea and discussion— Tuesday 2:00 pm Tea and Dharma discussion lead by our Ino (head of the zendo/doanryo), Seido David Sarpal on the topic of“Finding Balance While Refraining from Evil: Learning from the Examples of Cicadas, Human Beings, and Mice”?

Use this link to join

If asked for password use this 826408

• Tea and discussion— Tuesday 2:00 pm Tea and Dharma discussion lead by our resident priest Inryū on the topic of “Remember through memorialization and ritual”  How does it help?  How does it support healing?

Use this link to join

If asked for password use this 826408

Here is the link to join us via the cloud zendo at 7PM , 2020   for the All Beings Zen Sangha evening program.  Tonight we will have a period of zazen followed by a wellbeing ceremony.    We will close by  chanting the Refuges.

If you are asked for a password please use this  118879

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 in  English

30 Minute Zazen Period

Four Great Vows

Enmei 9 times

The Loving Kindness Sutra 

Dedication of Merit

All Buddhas Chant

Refuges in Pali

THE FOUR GREAT VOWS

Beings are numberless; I vow to save them.

Delusions are inexhaustible; I vow to end them.

Dharma Gates are boundless; I vow to enter them.

Buddha’s way is unsurpassable; I vow to become it.

Enmei Jukko Kannon Gyo

KAN ZEON

NA MU BUTSU

YO BUTSU U IN

YO BUTSU U EN

BUP PO SO  EN

JO RAKU GA JO

CHO NEN KANZEON

BO NEN KANZEON

NEN NEN JU SHIN KI

NEN NEN FU RI SHIN

Loving Kindness Meditation

This is what should be accomplished by the one who is wise,

Who seeks the good and has obtained peace:

Let one be strenuous, upright and sincere,

WIthout pride, easily contented and joyous.

Let one not be submerged by the things of the world.

Let one not take upon one’s self the burden of riches.

Let one’s senses be controlled.

Let one be wise, but not puffed up: and

Let one not desire great possessions even for one’s family.

Let one do nothing that is mean or that the wise would reprove

May all beings be happy.

May they be joyous and live in safety.

All living beings, whether weak or strong,

In high or middle or low realms of existence,

Small or great, visible or invisible,

Near or far, born or to be born,

May all beings be happy.

Let no one deceive another, nor despise any being in any state;

Let none by anger or hatred wish harm to another.

Even as a mother at the risk of her life

Watches over and protects her only child,

So with a boundless mind should one cherish all living things,

Suffusing love over the entire world,

Above, below and all around without limit;

So let one cultivate an infinite good will toward the whole world.

Standing or walking, sitting or lying down,

During all one’s waking hours

Let one practice the way with gratitude.

Not holding to fixed views,

Endowed with insight,

Freed from sense appetites,

One who achieves the way

Will be freed from the duality of birth and death.

All Buddhas

All Buddhas, ten directions, Three times

All Honored Ones, Bodhisattvas-Mahasattvas

Wisdom beyond wisdom

Maha Prajna Paramita

 

Refuges in Pali (Call and Response)

Accapella, inflections as follows:

➞Buddham Saranam Ga➚cha➘mi➞iii

BUDDHAM SARANAM GACCHAMI

DHAMMAM SARANAM GACCHAMI

SANGHAM SARANAM GACCHAMI

DUTIYAMPI BUDDHAM SARANAM GACCHAMI

DUTIYAMPI DHAMMAM SARANAM GACCHAMI

DUTIYAMPI SANGHAM SARANAM GACCHAMI

TATIYAMPI BUDDHAM SARANAM GACCHAMI

TATIYAMPI DHAMMAM SARANAM GACCHAMI

TATIYAMPI SANGHAM SARANAM GACCHAMI