All Beings Zen Sangha Covid Protocol Effective December 22, 2021

In the spirit of our recent Ango, and for the time being All Beings Zen Sangha Board of Directors is updating our COVID protocol amidst the myriad concerns of the Omicron variant. 

Over the next three weeks, the zendo will be closed for in-person/group practice. We will continue to offer our normal services over Zoom in our cloud zendo during this period. We will reassess this closure in early January and communicate a path forward to the sangha at that time.

We are aware that returning to all-online services may be difficult for some of you. If you need help navigating or have any issues with Zoom, please reach out and we will do our best to assist you. Inryu-Sensei will continue to be available for dokusan. If you would like to have a 1-on-1 meeting with Sensei please send an email to:  inryu@allbeingszen.org. 

In an effort to be proactive in our care for you and the space we practice in, the following changes are effective starting on Wednesday, December 22^nd:

1. To attend in-person events, you will need to have received a booster shot in addition to the two-vaccines. A revised signature sheet will be provided for you to initial to this effect. 
2. In-person events will require a KN95 or N95 mask.  We have a small number of these available for distribution in the zendo but it would be helpful if you are able to get and bring your own KN95/N95 mask..

These decisions were not made lightly. We feel that ensuring your health and safety in our practice space is important, especially during this season of increased travel and exposure. We will continue to support your practice however we are able, and we will continue to post a link to our online practice events at  www.allbeingszen.org. We hope to see you there.

In gassho,

The Board of Directors of All Beings Zen Sangha

Tuesday, December 21, 2021:  7pm – 8:15pm Solstice Service closing the Fall 2021 Practice Period.

 Join ABZS in our cloud zendo for the end of the Ango closing ceremony.  The ceremony will include the reciting of the Enmei Jukko Kannon Gyo chant 108 times, the recitation of the male and female Soto Zen Ancestors and the 2021 Benji Poem by our All Beings Zen Sangha Fall 2021 Practice Period Benji Kōryū Naomi Knoble.    Use this link to join.  If asked use the password 173700

Tuesday, December 21, 2021: Tuesday Tea at Two pm lead by EiShin Mike Barreda on the Topic of “Play as Practice?  2-2;45pm  The first five minutes we will share together silently having tea.  Use this link to join.  If asked for a password use 784873 

EiShin will use this poem in his presentation

Ryōkan Taigu (良寛大愚) (1758–1831) was a quiet and unconventional Sōtō Zen Buddhist monk who lived much of his life as a hermit.

First Days Of Spring – The sky
First days of Spring-the sky
is bright blue, the sun huge and warm.
Everything’s turning green.
Carrying my monk’s bowl, I walk to the village
to beg for my daily meal.
The children spot me at the temple gate
and happily crowd around,
dragging to my arms till I stop.
I put my bowl on a white rock,
hang my bag on a branch.
First we braid grasses and play tug-of-war,
then we take turns singing and keeping a kick-ball in the air:
I kick the ball and they sing, they kick and I sing.
Time is forgotten, the hours fly.
People passing by point at me and laugh:
“Why are you acting like such a fool?”
I nod my head and don’t answer.
I could say something, but why?
Do you want to know what’s in my heart?
From the beginning of time: just this! just this!

The calendars have arrived!! Work practice Saturday is happening!

Join us for an All Beings Zen Sangha calendar mailing party, otherwise known as work practice, in-person tomorrow, Saturday December 18, at our urban zendo!!

Can’t make it in-person, but want to be a part of the fun? Pop by on Zoom and say hi! Here is the link. If you need a password use  263968

Dharma tea at 2pm led by Kōryū Naomi Knoble on the topic “The Paramita of Patience”. We will start with 5 minutes of silent tea drinking and conclude the discussion with the four great vows. Use this link to join. If asked for a password use  784873.

Fun Photo from our in-person (limited capacity due to Covid-19) final Rohatsu Day December 4th, 2021.  Fourteen  additional people joined us via our streaming cloud zendo during the 7 days and six additional people dropped in for in-person practice to support those pictured.  It was a great Rohatsu!  Zen practice will find a way….

Way Seeking Mind talk by EiShin Mike Barreda following a short period of Zazen. Use this link to join. If you are asked for a password use  471305

Dharma tea at 2pm led by Rui Sun on the topic “Right livelihood – incorporating practice into work”. We will start with 5 minutes of silent tea drinking and conclude the discussion with the four great vows. Use this link to join. If asked for a password use  784873.

Way Seeking Mind talk by Suzanne Ehrenhalt following a short period of Zazen. Use this link to join. If you are asked for a password use  628996

Join All Beings Zen Sangha Sunday November 29, 2021 for the Monday Full Day Schedule in observance of Rohatsu (Buddha’s enlightenment). You are welcome to join as little or as much as your schedule permits. In-person participation is limited so check with Inryū if you plan to participate in-person

Monday through Friday Rohatsu Schedule Use this link to join via zoom. If asked for a password use 395693

6:30 – 7:10 Zazen

7:10- 7:30 Morning Service

7:30-8:45 Breakfast Morning Break/Dharma Study

8:45- 9:45 Morning Walk or indoor exercise

9:45- 10:15 Zazen

10:15- 11:00 Dharma Talk

11:00-11:30 Zazen

11:30-11:40 Kinhin

11:40- 12:15 Zazen

12:15-1:15 Lunch

1:15-1:45 Outdoor Kinhin/or Dharma Study

1:45-2:00 Break

2:00-2:30 Work Practice

2:30-3:15 Tea with Discussion

3:15-3:30 Break

3:30- 3:45 Kinhin

3:45-4:15 Zazen

4:15-4:25 Kinhin

4:25-4:50 Zazen

4:50 – 5:00 Service

5:00 – 6:30 Dinner Evening Break

6:30 – 7:00 Zazen

7:00 – 7: 10 Kinhin

7:10-7:40 Zazen

7:40-7:45 Kinhin

7:45-8:15 Zazen

8:15 Purification Chant /Refuges in Pali

Saturday Final Day of Rohatsu Sesshin. Use Monday-Friday link to sign in.

6:30 – 7:10 Zazen

7:10- 7:30 Morning Service

7:30-8:45 Breakfast Morning Break/Dharma Study

8:45- 9:45 Morning Walk or indoor exercise

9:45- 10:15 Zazen

10:15- 11:00 Dharma Talk

11:00-11:30 Zazen

11:30-11:40 Kinhin

11:40- 12:15 Zazen

12:15-1:15 Lunch

1:15-1:45 Outdoor Kinhin/or Dharma Study

1:45-2:00 Break

2:00-2:30 Work Practice

2:30-3:15 Tea with Discussion

3:15-3:30 Break

3:30- 3:45 Kinhin

3:45-4:15 Zazen

4:15-5:00 Shosan Ceremony, Chanting Heart Sutra in Pali 108 times, Refuges in Pali

End of Rohatsu Sesshin