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

https://chng.it/qnSPzfZrSp

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.

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

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.

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

Here is the link to join us via the cloud zendo at 7PM  for the All Beings Zen Sangha evening program.  Tonight we will have short service with Heart Sutra in English followed by one period of Zazen and Inryu Sensei will talk a little about the Fall Ango and offer a poem.   We will close by chanting the Refuges in Pali.  If you would like stay after refuges and do a welcome and check-in please do.

If you are asked for a password please use this  955165

ABZS does keep an attendance of participation in sangha events*  this is done for the welfare of it’s members and for guidance in future programing

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

Enmei Jukko Kannon Gyo

Heart Sutra in English

Dedication of Merit

25 Minute Zazen Period

5 minute period of Kinhin (slow walking)

Four Great Vows

Inryu’s words about the Ango and a poem offering

Introduction of the Ango Benji

Refuges in Pali

Enmei Jukko Kannon Gyo X7

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    

Heart Sutra in English

Heart of Great Perfect Wisdom Sutra

Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva,

when deeply practicing prajña paramita,⨀

clearly saw that all five aggregates are empty

and thus relieved all suffering.

Shariputra,

form does not differ from emptiness,

emptiness does not differ from form.

Form itself is emptiness,

emptiness itself form.

Sensations, perceptions, formations,

and consciousness are also like this.

Shariputra,

all dharmas are marked by emptiness;

they neither arise nor cease,

are neither defiled nor pure,

neither increase nor decrease.

Therefore, given emptiness, there is

no form, no sensation, no perception,

no formation no consciousness;

no eyes, no ears, no nose, no tongue,

no body, no mind;

no sight, no sound, no smell, no taste,

no touch, no object of mind;

no realm of sight… no realm of mind consciousness

There is neither ignorance nor extinction of ignorance…

neither old age and death,

nor extinction of old age and death;

no suffering, no cause, no cessation, no path;

no knowledge and no attainment.

With nothing to attain,

a bodhisattva relies on prajña paramita,⨀

and thus the mind is without hindrance.

Without hindrance, there is no fear.

Far beyond all inverted views, one realizes nirvana.

All buddhas of past, present, and future

rely on prajña paramita ⨀ and thereby attain

unsurpassed, complete, perfect enlightenment.

Therefore, know the prajña paramita ⨀ as

the great miraculous mantra,

the great bright mantra,

the supreme mantra,

the incomparable mantra,

which removes all suffering

and is true, not false.

Therefore we proclaim the prajña paramita ⨀ mantra,

the mantra that says:

“Gate Gate ⨀ Paragate ⨀ Parasamgate Bodhi Svaha.” ∅

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.

Tuesday, October 24, 2023 7pm “Using Words to Go Beyond Words: Dōgen as Translator, Dōgen as Translated”
a talk by Dr. Sarah Horton (via zoom online)

Richmond Zen Zoom

Suggested Donation $10
Make donations via PayPal

Dōgen saw himself, at least in part, as a “translator” of the wisdom of the Chinese ancestors into the Japanese language. In the Shōbōgenzō, he directly quotes from Chinese texts in over 300 instances. Similarly, the goal of the Sōtō Zen Translation Project has been to render into English the words of Dōgen and his followers.

Here is the link to join us via the cloud zendo at 7PM  for the All Beings Zen Sangha evening program.  Tonight we will have a short service before one period of Zazen. We will then have our monthly Wellbeing Service and the chanting of the refuges.    If you would like stay after refuges and do a welcome and check-in please do

If you are asked for a password please use this  041285

ABZS does keep an attendance of participation in sangha events*  this is done for the welfare of it’s members and for guidance in future programing

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

Heart Sutra in English

30 minutes period of zazen

5 minute period of Kinhin (slow walking meditation)

Wellbeing Service

Enmei X 9

Loving Kindness Meditation

Dedication of merit.

Refuges in Pali

Heart of Great Perfect Wisdom Sutra

Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva,

when deeply practicing prajña paramita,⨀

clearly saw that all five aggregates are empty

and thus relieved all suffering.

Shariputra,

form does not differ from emptiness,

emptiness does not differ from form.

Form itself is emptiness,

emptiness itself form.

Sensations, perceptions, formations,

and consciousness are also like this.

Shariputra,

all dharmas are marked by emptiness;

they neither arise nor cease,

are neither defiled nor pure,

neither increase nor decrease.

Therefore, given emptiness, there is

no form, no sensation, no perception,

no formation no consciousness;

no eyes, no ears, no nose, no tongue,

no body, no mind;

no sight, no sound, no smell, no taste,

no touch, no object of mind;

no realm of sight… no realm of mind consciousness

There is neither ignorance nor extinction of ignorance…

neither old age and death,

nor extinction of old age and death;

no suffering, no cause, no cessation, no path;

no knowledge and no attainment.

With nothing to attain,

a bodhisattva relies on prajña paramita,⨀

and thus the mind is without hindrance.

Without hindrance, there is no fear.

Far beyond all inverted views, one realizes nirvana.

All buddhas of past, present, and future

rely on prajña paramita ⨀ and thereby attain

unsurpassed, complete, perfect enlightenment.

Therefore, know the prajña paramita ⨀ as

the great miraculous mantra,

the great bright mantra,

the supreme mantra,

the incomparable mantra,

which removes all suffering

and is true, not false.

Therefore we proclaim the prajña paramita ⨀ mantra,

the mantra that says:

“Gate Gate ⨀ Paragate ⨀ Parasamgate Bodhi Svaha.” ∅

Well Being Ceremony – Call and Response

Enmei Jukko Kannon Gyo (9 times) led by Kokyo

Loving Kindness Meditation led byDoshi

Dedication of Merit led by Doshi

Refuges in Pali

Post service check in (please feel welcome to stay or depart as your schedule requires)

Enmei Jukko Kannon Gyo X9

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.

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

Tuesday October 17, 2023 2pm Eastern , 2023 – Join All Beings Zen Sangha Guiding Teacher Inryǔ Poncé=Barger for a photo show and explanation about the migration of the library, zendo and archival materials from Dragons Leap in San Francisco to ABZS in Washington DC. These items are gifted to us by our very first formal Soto Zen Guiding Teacher Dairyǔ Michael Wenger. Dairyǔ and his wife Barbara are retiring and moving to Enso Village (a retirement community/houseing complex newly built in Healdsburg, CA.

Please use this link to join. If asked for a password use  842721

Thursday, October 12, 2023 7PM – In person and in our cloud zendo. Guest Teacher Rev. Liên Shutt will talk about her new book. Rev. Liên will be in-person with books for sale and to sign in our urban zendo. We will also have the event offered in our cloud zendo. Use this link to join and if asked for a password use 041285

Order of Practice

Short Service in Spanish

10 minutes of Zazen

Guest Speaker Dharma Offering

Refuges in Pali

Book signing

Rev. Liên Shutt (she/they) is a recognized leader in the movement that breaks through the wall of American white-centered convert Buddhism to welcome people of all backgrounds into a contemporary, engaged Buddhism.
As an ordained Zen priest, licensed social worker, and longtime educator/teacher of Buddhism, Shutt represents new leadership at the nexus of spirituality and social justice, offering a special warm welcome to Asian Americans, all BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, immigrants, and those seeking a “home” in the midst of North American society’s reckoning around racism, sexism, homophobia, and xenophobia.
Shutt is a co-founder of Buddhists of Color (1998) and founder of Access to Zen (2014). As the creator, producer, and host, she launched a podcast series, “Opening Dharma Ac-cess: Listening to BIPOC Teachers,” in 2021 with Lama Karma Yeshe Chödrön and Kaira Jewel Lingo. For Season 2, Sister Peace and Dalila Bothwell joined the team.