BHZ Monday Zazenkai

Mondays at 3 p.m. Pacific time in the Zoom Zendo.  

In August use Friday order of service.

(Doan/Kokyo part is in blue text. Turn on "original sound for musicians" at the beginning of each zazenkai.)

     Order of Service (Doan/Kokyo's part in blue).

     Three Periods of Zazen 

Doshi rises, goes to altar, places rakusu on head 👏
kokyo: “Robe Verse” (first four lines only, in English)
Great robe of liberation, field far beyond form and emptiness, wearing the Tathagata’s teaching, saving all beings.
doshi makes offering then moves to bowing position
doshi deep bow (No Bells), deep bow,  deep bow
          bows to altar    🔔.    bows to seat     🔔  bows to center  🔔 
3:10  after doshi is settled, doan: “Zazen”
3:30 🔔 🔔 “Kinhin” 🔔
3:40 after doshi is settled, “Zazen” 🔔 🔔 🔔
4:00 🔔 🔔  “Kinhin” 🔔 
4:10 after doshi is settled,“Zazen” 🔔 🔔 🔔
4:30 🔔 signals end of zazen

     Service

doshi rises, goes to altar, makes offering then moves to bowing position
kokyo: “Three bows, in your own way”
🔔 all bow,    🔔 all bow,    🔔 all bow
👏 doshi faces altar in gassho
kokyo announces sutra
sangha recites sutra
👏 at end of sutra
kokyo reads Long Eko:
We dedicate our practice today to: Memorial List
doshi deep bow
And to all those who have died in natural and human-made disasters, racism, extreme weather events, climate change, war, disease, conditions, poverty, and acts of terror, violence, persecution, and indifference.

Recognizing Buddha Nature manifested in their precious lives, as in our own precious lives, we pray that the benefits of their and our own positive actions of body, speech, and mind may continue, and that all harmful karma may be swiftly brought to peace. 

👏 doshi rises

We also dedicate our practice today for the wellbeing of those suffering from the ongoing effects of trauma -- childhood abuse and neglect, systemic racism, climate change, poverty, disease, conditions, war, and acts of terror, violence, persecution, and indifference. And especially for: Wellbeing List

May they, and we, find wisdom and serenity in the midst of difficulties and be free from hindrance.

kokyo chants:
May all beings realize the Awakened Waaay. 🔔
All Buddhas throughout space and time, 🔔
doshi goes to altar
All honored ones, Bodhisattvas, Mahasattvas, 🔔  
doshi makes offering at altar 
Wisdom beyond wisdom,
doshi moves to bowing position
Maha Prajna Paramita
kokyo drops pitch at last syllable “ta” to indicate end of chant 
🔔 o o o ooooooooo
kokyo announces: “Three Bows, in your own way.” 
🔔 all bow, 🔔 all bow, 🔔 all bow
doshi bows to altar,     🔔    bows to seat,      🔔    bows to camera 🔔

Dharma time

1^st Monday: Tea & conversation or topic -- all comers invited

2^nd Monday: Koan

3^rd Monday: Tonglen practice followed by chanting

· Led by Dolkar alternating with Mary Ann

· Chanting led by Doko or practice leader

4^th Monday: Metta practice followed by chanting

· Led by Kishin alternating with Kenshin, or Dainei

· Chanting led by Doko or practice leader

Om mani pedme OMMm
mani pedme Hum
Om mani pedme Hum
Om mani pedme Hum

Refuges

I take refuge in Buddha. May all beings
embody the great way, resolving to awaken.

I take refuge in Dharma. May all beings deeply
enter the teachings, wisdom like an ocean.

I take refuge in Sangha. May all beings
support harmony in the community, free from hindrance.

or:

Pali Refuges
 

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

 

 

 

Key:
(X) = “Clunk”
(O) = Bell (usually takes place before an action)
Ooooooooooooooooo is called a roll down. Imagine dropping a ping pong ball on the table and imitating the successively shorter intervals between bounces until it kind of dribbles . A rolldown is usually done to indicate an ongoing movement such as the doshi unfurling and laying out their zagu, or the doshi walking from the altar to the head of the mat while the sangha moves into position (e.g. from sitting/kneeling to standing) prior to making bows.

During successive periods of zazen and kinhin, a period of either form of meditation ends with 2 bells if it will be followed by another period of either form of meditation. The doan sounds only 1 bell to indicate the end of a period that will be followed by something other than zazen or kinhin (e.g. Service or a talk.)