Way Seeking Mind Talk offered by Aaron Bisig,

 

 

Abolish the Death Penalty and Halt All U.S. Federal Executions

I vow not to kill. Not killing life, the Buddha seed grows.                                      Transmit the life of Buddha and do not kill

—Eihei Dogen Zenji

Every version of the Buddha’s ethical precepts begins with this principle: Do Not Kill. Buddha and all the great spiritual teachers — Jesus, Mohammed, the Hebrew prophets, Gandhi — tell us that life is sacred; that violence only begets violence. The logic of cause and effect, karma and its fruit, are inescapable even when you dress them in the emperor or president’s clothes of punitive and retributive justice.

On November 25, 2020 the U.S. Justice Department announced new regulations allowing for the use of new, or rather, old methods for federal executions, including the firing squad and electrocution. According to The New York Times:

Last week, the Justice Department announced that it plans to execute three more inmates on federal death row. If the administration does so, along with two other executions already scheduled, it will have put 13 prisoners to death since July, marking one of the deadliest periods in the history of federal capital punishment since at least 1927. 

As Soto Zen Buddhist priests and teachers, as people of faith, we vigorously oppose state-sponsored murder and this rush to punish. We see capital punishment as the enactment of a cruel and primitive urge for vengeance draped in the fabric of legality. We believe that capital punishment degrades and brutalizes our society by teaching violence in reaction to violence.

The harm of capital punishment does not just fall on the person put to death, but on our whole society — on guards and technicians, wardens, governors, on families of victims, and on each of us allowing this barbarism to go forward in our name.

Capital punishment is the cutting edge of America’s penal system. Social scientists, clergy, politicians, and communities of color all know that this is a broken system, although it is remarkably effective for sowing the seeds of violence. We see no evidence or statistics that capital punishment serves as an effective deterrent to crime. Resting on a foundation of inequality, based on racism and privilege, capital punishment cannot be fixed. Let’s end it now, everywhere! 

People of faith and conscience wish to build a new system of justice based on love, restoration, and redemption. Let those be the lights that guide us. We believe that social and personal transformation are always possible, and that even wounded people can change and contribute to society. While it is true that people reasonably expect protection from those who—by reason of mental illness, and extreme physical or psychological trauma — prey on others, the great majority of all prisoners are capable of transformation. This is our understanding of human nature. As for the handful who must be restrained or separated for their own protection and the safety of others, even these prisoners must be afforded life, a humane environment, and the possibility of meaningful work.

We believe that there is no fair or practical way to arrive at a sentence of death. 

What is our work? Organize against the death penalty in your communities, in your centers and temples. Study and talk about the death penalty; debate it with your friends. Write to the U.S. Attorney General and the President—outgoing and incoming—and speak your opposition and convictions. When federal or state executions are scheduled, join with sisters and brothers of all faiths sitting at the prison gates to bear witness. This is important. We must speak for humane policy and compassion with our bodies. 

Verse 129 of the Dhammapada, Shakyamuni Buddha’s early teaching, says: “All tremble at violence; all fear death. Putting oneself in the place of another, one should not kill nor cause another to kill.” May we live with this awareness and save all beings.

• We ask the U. S. Federal Government to immediately halt all planned Federal Executions.
• We ask for a Nationwide moratorium on Federal and State Executions.
• We ask for our legislatures to reform the justice system to be one of restoration and redemption.

Action Items and Information on the Death Penalty

• http://deathpenaltyaction.org/take-action
• https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/tell-congress-abolish-the-federal-death-penalty/
• https://www.amnesty.org/en/what-we-do/death-penalty/
• https://action.aclu.org/petition/stop-federal-executions
• https://catholicsmobilizing.org/take-action-stop-federal-executions-1

Signed,

Rev. Sosan Flynn, SZBA President
Clouds in Water Zen Center, Guiding Teacher

Rev. Marc Lesser, SZBA Vice President
Mill Valley Zen, Head Teacher

Rev. Dokai Georgesen, SZBA Treasurer                                                                          Hokyoji Zen Practice Community, Guiding Teacher

Rev. Inryū Bobbi Poncé-Barger, SZBA Secretary                                                              All Beings Zen Sangha, Guiding Teacher

Rev. Charlie Pokorny, SZBA Board Member                                                                     Stone Creek Zen Center, Head priest

Rev. Chimyo Atkinson, SZBA Board Member

Rev. Koshin Paley Ellison, SZBA Board Member
New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care, Guiding Teacher

Rev. Chodo Campbell                                                                                                                      New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care, Guiding Teacher

Rev. Hozan Alan Senauke
Berkeley Zen Center, Head Priest

Rev. Colin Gipson                                                                                                                        Guiding Teacher, San Antonio Zen Center

Rev. Joan Jiko Halifax                                                                                                                  Abbot, Upaya Zen Center

(more…)

Barbara Wenger and Dairyū Michael Wenger, Roshi will join the All Beings Zen Sangha for tea and discussion on Sunday December 6th, 2020 at 2:30pmEST.

We are hoping they will share with us some of their stories about Mitsu Suzuki (Suzuki Roshi’s wife).

Please use the link to join.

If you are asked for a passcode use this number 103346

Monday, November 23: Way Seeking Mind Talk offered by Lucy Turner after short period of  zazen, 6:30 am

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday, November 25: Way Seeking Mind Talk offered by John Flanagan after a short period of  zazen, 6:30 am

 

 

NO Thursday Evening Service or Practice on November 26, 2020

Friday, November 27: Way Seeking Mind Talk offered by Augustine Smith Jr. after a short period of zazen 6:30 am

(rescheduled from 11/ 20)

Saturday, November 14:  Book Discussion on Shohaku Okumura Roshi’s “Living by Vow,” 1pm-2:30pm EST in our online zendo.  Use this link to join.

We will begin with a short period of zazen at 1pm.  

Watch a short film produced by Okumura’s daughter Yuko titled “Sit”

Kōryū Naomi Knoble will offer some reflections on her study of the text.  

Then we will have ample time for dialogue and discussion of the text and Dharma teachings within it.

At 2:20 we will evaluate whether we should schedule additional time to meet regarding this book and conclude with a circle poem and chanting the 4 great vows.

 

 

 

Way Seeking Mind Talk offered by Kōryū Naomi Knoble after morning zazen, 6:30 am

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday, November 19: Dharma Offering by the Shuso titled “Being on Time: Dogen’s Uji and Managing the Present Moment” , Tendō Shōryū Christopher Leader, 7:00 pm

 

Way Seeking Mind Talk offered by Mike Barreda — following a short period of zazen.  We will have a 10 minute period of zazen which will be followed by a Way Seeking Mind.  Join us with this link.

 

Way Seeking Mind Talk offered by Suzanne Ehrenhalt — following a short period of zazen.  We will have a 10 minute of zazen which will be followed by a Way Seeking Mind.  Join us with this link.

Way seeking Mind Talk offered by Alan Brenner— following a short period of zazen.  We will have a 10 minute of zazen which will be followed by a Way Seeking Mind.  Join us with this link.

Open Class offered by Susan Cho on —Sunday Nov 1, 2020 1:30 pm EST

About Susan Cho

Led by a growing appreciation for wildlife and the environment that sustains it, I got a bachelor’s in Environmental Science and Policy at U of M College Park, in 2008.  I also became vegan and joined an intentional community (Maitri House) that strives to live with consideration for others.  I’m now serving on the Board of the Takoma Park-Silver Spring Coop.  This past year I helped establish Fullfillery, which sells cleaning and body care products with as little waste as possible.  I’m honored to be asked to share some of what I’ve learned along the way with the All Beings Zen Sangha community.

Sejiki-e is a Japanese word meaning “The Feeding and Nourishing of Hungry Ghosts.” Hungry ghosts are depicted as beings with very large stomachs swollen from malnutrition, who have the tiniest of throats, and who are always hungry. They are symbolic of the state of mind which is never satisfied with who we are or what we have. In the ceremony we call forth hungry ghosts and beings who are stuck in intermediary states, as well the dark, unknown regions of our own psyches, bringing them into the light. We offer them the nourishment of Dharma with the hope of satisfying and releasing them.

The Sejiki Ceremony also has the feeling of a universal memorial service. In addition to releasing the spirits of the departed, the ceremony is intended to resolve our karmic relationships with the deceased. During the ceremony, the names of those for whom we have performed memorial services during the past year will be read and the cards placed into a fire.

 This years ceremony was held in the yard of Sangha member Alan Brenner.  We are grateful to Alan for providing such a perfect bon fire to support the burning of the ABZS past years memorial cards, leftover bits of incense and thread.    Due to Covid we had limited attendees and we were careful to wear masks and stay physically distanced.   Photo by Alan Brenner