All Beings Zen Sangha

Rev. Inryu officiating for an Arlington Va wedding in September 2015

Our resident priest Rev. Inryu officiated for a recent outdoor wedding in Arlington VA.  We set up a simple Altar on a small table.Unknown

As part of the ceremony those in attendance were asked to close their eyes and take a moment to bring full attention to the current moment.  Feeling their bodies, the air around them, the sounds in the environment and to observe their breathing. We then shared a moment of silence to settle into the beauty the moment and place.Roxanne & Jamal A-398

 

The couple vowed to take refuge in Awakening, Truth and Community.

The vowed to support and cherish life, to live generously with an open heart, to remain faithful in relationship, to communicate honestly and simply, to treat all beings and each other with dignity and respect, to work for the benefit of others, to be humble, to not hand on to grudges or angered and to awaken to their connection to all life.Roxanne & Jamal A-430Rev. Inryu has been the official celebrant for weddings in Maryland, Virginia, Georgia and Washington DC.  She is a registered officiant with the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

 

The photos above are from Phyllis Petronello Photography

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May All Beings Be Happy!

The All Beings Zen Sangha welcomes and affirms all who come here to seek the Way, and who will work toward respectful acceptance of others across our many differences, harmonizing the one and the many.

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All Beings Zen Sangha
27290 Woodburn Hill Road
Mechanicsville, MD 20659

or to:

All Beings Zen Sangha
C/O  Rev. Inryū Ponce-Barger,
2801 Adams Mill Road NW 402
Washington DC 20009

Tag: Weddings

  • Evening Practice for May 20, 2021 7pm EDT

    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

  • Tuesday Dharma Tea Today at 2pm EDT

    Hello All,

    ABZS is hosting our weekly Tea and Discussion at 2pm today EDT.
    The topic will be “Speaking your truth even when your voice shakes”.
    2 – 2:45 pm EDT
    IMG_0088.jpeg
    Hope to see you,
    Inryū Sensei
    Join Zoom Meeting
    Meeting ID: 814 3007 8262
    Passcode: 826408
    One tap mobile
    +13126266799,,81430078262#,,,,*826408# US (Chicago)
    +19292056099,,81430078262#,,,,*826408# US (New York)
    Dial by your location
            +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
            +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
            +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
            +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
            +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
            +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
    Meeting ID: 814 3007 8262
    Passcode: 826408
    Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdpSnEIZp6

  • This coming Saturday May 22nd 12-3 pm EDT – Branching Streams online conference

    Branching Streams Flow On in the Dark online Conference,

    May 22, 2021, 12 noon – 3 pm EDT 

    Register Here!

    Welcoming words, Tova & MC Inryu Ponce-Barger, All Beings Zen, Washington DC

    Tova Green, Branching Streams liaison, speaks on “Branching Streams Flow On in the Dark”

    Introductory breakout groups

    Video of Nature Images compiled by Teresa Bouza, Kannon Do Zen Center, CA

    Konjin Gaelyn Godwin, Abbot of Houston Zen Center, speaks on “The Climate of Our Time”

    Topical breakout groups:

    “Climate Chaos: How does it feel? What will we do?” facilitated by Eden Kevin Heffernan, Richmond Zen Center, VA

    “The Sacred Work of RacialJustice” facilitated by Joan Amaral, Zen Center North Shore, MA

    “Transitioning to Hybrid Zendo Offerings” facilitated by Jon Voss of Mid-City Zen, LA

    Ceremony: Looking Back and Looking Forward with Douglas Floyd, Ancient Dragon Zen Gate, Chicago, IL; Michael Shinmon Newton, MountainRain Zen Sangha, Vancouver, BC; and Reirin Gumbel, Milwaukee ZC, WI.

    Closing

  • Afternoon Tea and Dharma Discussion on May 11, 2021 2pm EDT

    Discussion Topic for Tuesday Tea at Two on May 11, 2021 2PM EDT – Death Poems.   

    It is not unusual in contemplative spiritual practices for people to compose a death poem.    These are often a gift to those left behind and very often a window into the wisdom and compassion derived from contemplated old age, sickness and death.  Today we will look at two classic death poems for different eras as well as other related poetry as our topic.  Please feel welcome to join us for a rich discussion.

    Join with this link    If asked for a password use this 983841

    Death poem of Zen Master Keizan (considered the second Japanese Soto Zen Lineage).

    “This peaceful rice-field that one has cultivated by oneself, however often one has gone to sell or buy (rice) is as a virgin land.  Young sprouts and spiritual seeds, infinitely, ripen and shed (their leaves).  Ascending the Dharma Hall, I see men holding a hoe in their hands.”  Then throwing away his brush, Keizan passed away.

    Keizan —1325

    Here is Abbot Myogen Steve Stucky’s “death poem (March 6, 1946 – December 31, 2013),” which was on the altar in the room where is body was laid out.

    This human body truly is the entire cosmos
    Each breath of mine, is equally one of yours, my darling
    This tender abiding in “my” life
    Is the fierce glowing fire of inner earth
    Linking with all pre-phenomena
    Flashing to the distant horizon
    From “right here now” to “just this”
    Now the horizon itself
    Drops away—
    Bodhi!
    Svaha.

    Myogen ——12/27/13

    The discussion will be lead by All Beings Zen Sangha

    Guiding Teacher Rev. Inryū Poncē-Barger, Sensei.

    All Are Welcome

  • May 4th, 2021 May We Gather Event Video

     

     

     

  • Dharma Study Tea and Discussion at 2pm EDT May 4, 2021

    Please join us for a cup of tea and dharma discussion today at 2pm EDT in our cloud zendo.

    Use this link to join.    If asked for a password use  003961

    Today the discussion will be lead by our Guiding Teacher Inryū Poncé-Barger, Sensei  on the topic of “Hearing the Bell, sound and practice”.  Together we can explore what sounds tune us into being in the present moment.

     

    2pm  – *5 Minutes of silently drinking tea together begins the gathering*

    Conclusion at 2:45pm

     

  • Dharma Tea at Two pm EDT Today , Tuesday April 27th, 2021 – Lead by Inryū Poncé-Barger, Sensei

    Please join us for a cup of tea and dharma discussion today at 2pm EDT.

    Use this link to join.    If asked for a password use  003961

    Today the discussion will be lead by our Guiding Teacher Inryū Poncé-Barger, Sensei  on the topic of “Taking care of the body as a gate of practice”.  Together we can explore questions around what are healthy practices and what challenges arise in caring for the physical body

    2pm  – *5 Minutes of silently drinking tea together begins the gathering*

    Conclusion at 2:45pm

     

    Image is from the Fall 2016 Practice Period at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center and taken by Inryū Sensei when she was the men’s bath house attendant during that Practice Period.

    To listen to Inryū Sensei’s talk from last Thursday April 22, 2021 on the related topic of “Taking care of the body as a Dharma gate of Practice: personal intimacy with all things” you can use the below link.

    Meeting Recording:
    https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/zvc0d1_nakGVIrmStW0SzAWS3GpFD6594pXzVEsn2S2Qc9KVyCt355fTXElupuee.g8z3ftTgZVraB9ku

    Access Passcode: d90e@9zA

  • Dharma Tea on Tuesday at 2pm for April 6, 2021 EDT

    Please join us for a cup of tea and dharma discussion today at 2pm EDT.

    Use this link to join.    If asked for a password use  003961

    Today the discussion will be lead by the Most Recent Former Shuso Shōryū Chris Leader on the topic of “intensity of feeling during Zazen”.

    2pm  – *5 Minutes of silently drinking tea together begins the gathering*

    Conclusion at 2:45pm

     

  • Dharma Tea on Tuesdays at Two pm EDT – All are welcome

    Please join us for a cup of tea and dharma discussion today at 2pm EDT.

    Use this link to join.    If asked for a password use  003961

    Guest Teacher Kotatsu John Bailes  will open and lead todays discussion.

    Kotatsu John Bailes is the Founder and President of One Heart Zen, the Buddhist Chaplain at Wellesley College in Wellesley Massachusetts, and the Guiding Teacher of the Monmouth Zen Circle in Monmouth, NJ. He trained at the San Francisco Zen Center from 1972 through 1984 and received full Dharma Transmission from Zoketsu Norman Fischer.

    All present can unmute after the first five minutes and dialogue on the topic can be open

    Conclusion at 2:45pm

  • Statement from SFZC Speaking Out Against Anti-Asian Violence

    Statement from San Francisco Zen Center Leadership, in collaboration with the Central DEIA Committee and CAIC

    With deep sorrow and grave concern, we acknowledge and bear witness to the alarming surge of hate crimes against Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities across the US and in the Bay Area since the start of the pandemic.

    In 2020, Stop AAPI Hate recorded nearly 3,000 reports of incidents against Asian Americans nationwide, and there have been over 700 reported attacks on people of Asian descent in the Bay Area alone. We understand that these attacks are vastly underreported by the victims, often due to language and cultural barriers. These attacks of hateful speech and physical harassment include the deaths of two elderly men, as well as the vandalism and burning of a Buddhist temple in LA.

    Acts of violence and slander are being perpetrated against our neighbors, families, friends, and colleagues. Sadly, such acts of ignorance have been growing and encouraged to spread through the coded language of racism and xenophobia.

    We understand there exists a long and painful history of racism and exclusion of AAPI communities in the US, compounding the trauma of recent events. And, like other marginalized groups, AAPI have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, due to many being nurses and other health care workers, or low-wage workers in hard-hit sectors of the economy.

    The leadership of the San Francisco Zen Center denounces acts of hatred against people of Asian descent, as well as against Black, Indigenous, and all people of color, who have suffered from centuries of systemic racism, oppression, and exclusion in a white supremacy culture.

    Some actions we are taking ourselves, and which we encourage you to do, include: becoming more informed about racism in general, and about how racism has specifically impacted AAPI; checking in with our neighbors, friends, and students of Asian descent and offering support; and, most importantly, finding ways to interrupt hateful acts whenever and wherever they occur. (See below for a list of further actions and resources.)

    The Buddha taught, “The pathway of compassion for all is a 10,000 mile-long iron road.” This road often feels hard and unyielding, especially as we encounter difficulties and resistance within ourselves, in our relationships, and in the world.

    But this long journey is also one of wisdom, love, and the deep joy of mutual generosity, as we work together for the benefit and healing of the world. We are grateful to walk this path with you.

    With bows,

    San Francisco Zen Center Leadership,

    in collaboration with the Central DEIA* Committee and CAIC**

    *DEIA = Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility

    **CAIC = Cultural Awareness and Inclusivity Committee

    Things you can do

    1. Reach out to friends and family members of Asian descent

    • You might say something like, “Are you OK?” or “Would you like to talk” or “This must be tough and I’m sorry you are going through this” or ‘”I don’t know exactly what you are going through, but I am always here to help” or “You really matter to me” or “How can I help, if at all.”
    • What leaders can do – The simplest thing managers and organizational leaders can do for their Asian American employees is to use their privilege to acknowledge the recent news of anti-Asian violence, and give space for impacted individuals to process, grieve and heal. (Read: How to support Asian American Colleagues by Jennifer Liu, CNBC)
    • Hold a ceremony to honor and remember victims of anti-Asian hate crimes
    • Support Asian-owned local businesses (e.g., SF Chinatown is struggling)

    2. Raise awareness, speak up, and condemn anti-Asian racism

    • Participate in non-violent protests and spread the word about when they are happening

    3. Report Instances of anti-Asian violence

    4. Receive Bystander Intervention Training

    5. Learn about AAPI and discrimination

    6. Support, donate, and volunteer with organizations working to overcome racism towards AAPI

    • Hella Heart Oakland supports mental health and wellness initiatives for Asian/Asian American women and girls in Oakland who may suffer from mental illness and other hardships.
    • Compassion in Oakland provides the Oakland Chinatown Community with a resource for promoting safety and community to the forgotten, underserved, and vulnerable.
    • Hate is a virus – started as a grassroots movement to combat racism and xenophobia against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) fueled by COVID-19, Hate is a virus has evolved into a sustainable organization that addresses xenophobia and hate in the AAPI and BIPOC communities.
    • Act To Change – a national nonprofit organization working to address bullying, including in the AAPI community. They published “The Racism is a Virus Toolkit” to support the community in combating racism.
    • Asian Americans Advancing Justice – a national nonprofit organization that focuses on housing rights, immigration, civil rights, labor rights, and others for Asian Americans
    • National Council of Asian Pacific Americans – a nonprofit organization that serves to represent the interests of the greater Asian American (AA) and Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (NHPI) communities through a coalition of 37 national Asian Pacific American organizations around the country.