WEEKLY UPDATE
MON 17 FEBRUARY - SUN 23 FEBRUARY 2025
An eminent teacher said, "When walking, standing, sitting, lying down, speaking, being silent, moving, being still--at all times, in all places, without interruption, What is This?" These are very important words. True meditation practice is certainly not dependent on being able to maintain some formal sitting posture for great lengths of time. It means just keeping a great question: only;
"What Am I?"
...Zen Master Seung Sahn
To join in person, visit the Guidelines for our health and safety protocols. All times are Eastern Standard Time.
Special Programs
Classes / Talks / Interviews / Groups
TWO-DAY YMJJ RETREAT
LED BY COLIN BEAVAN, JDPSN
SATURDAY & SUNDAY 8 & 9 MARCH 2025
Note: Registration now open until Thursday 6 March at noon.
Retreats are an opportunity to strengthen our practice, in order to perceive more clearly and act from our natural compassion and wisdom.
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DHARMA TALK - THURSDAY 20 FEBRUARY 7:30-8:30PM
Join this event over Zoom: Meeting ID 876 2455 3876
Dharma talks give you an opportunity to ask questions you might have about Buddhism, Zen teachings, or the connection between Zen meditation and daily life. This event is followed by refreshments and social time.
Dyan Eagles, JDPSN will answer questions after an introductory talk by Tiffany Padilla.
Dyan Eagles JDPSN is a Co-Guiding Teacher of Cambridge Zen Center. She began studying with Zen Master Seung Sahn in 1974. She received Inka in December 2020. Dyan is one of the founding members of Cambridge Zen Center where she served on the staff. Prior to retiring in 2019, Dyan was the Founder and CEO of DharmaCrafts, Inc. She is a long-time member of the Board of Directors.
Tiffany Padilla is a current resident at Cambridge Zen Center for the past 7 months. She is originally from El Paso, Texas. She is in her 2nd year of a Master of Divinity program at Harvard Divinity School. She plans to combine spiritual care and chaplaincy into a holistic healing practice of physical therapy. She began her Buddhist meditation study and practice 5 years earlier with a Lama in the Nyingma Tibetan tradition.
TUESDAY COMMUNITY DINNER at 5:30 PM
Come early and join us for a delicious vegetarian dinner with a $10 suggested donation followed by chanting at 6:30PM prior to the standard Tuesday Long Sitting.
TUESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 7:30-8:40 PM
Join URL: Tuesday Zoom Meditation Practice / Meeting ID: 858 3084 3540
Colin Beavan, JDPSN will offer Kong-An Interviews.* There will be two sitting periods of 30 minutes. You may join the Zoom meeting at 7:25-7:30 PM and 8:05-8:15 PM & 8:45-8:55PM. If you are new, please arrive 10-15 minutes early for brief instruction on our practice forms.
*Note: Interviews may begin during chanting at 7:00 PM and end at 8:40 PM
BIPOC GROUP/ SOCIAL JUSTICE DIVERSITY INITIATIVE-Cancelled this week.
In these 90-minute sessions, we explore practices that link to our various experiences of belonging and otherness, as well as our interest in social, racial, and environmental justice. Our group is especially interested in engaged Buddhism, and our practices will include 30” sitting meditation alongside diverse other forms of practice. Our aim is to create practice space, encourage interfaith Zen dialogue, and build community. All those who identify as BIPOC are welcome to join our practice sessions. Please contact kfoo (kaephu@proton.me) with questions or to join our list!
UNPACKING WHITENESS /SOCIAL JUSTICE DIVERSITY INITIATIVE
WED 19 FEBRUARY 8:15PM - 9:15 PM
Meeting ID: 81745484299
(1st & 3rd Wednesdays on Zoom)
In these one hour meetings, we join together to talk about race and dharma practice, and examine how white privilege operates as we examine the question "What Am I?" The group is currently working with Composting Our Karma: Turning Confusion into Lessons for Awakening Our Innate Wisdom by Barbara Rhodes, Zen Master Soeng Hyang. We use three passages from the book followed by questions to guide our discussion. There is no need to purchase the book, the passages for discussion are posted in the zoom chat. We welcome new members - no experience necessary. Inquiries are presented and facilitated by Senior Dharma Teacher Jennifer Magrone, who brings over ten years of professional experience with addressing how bias and identity oppression operate. If you are curious - please join us!
MEDITATION INSTRUCTION FOR NEWCOMERS
THURSDAY 20 FEBRUARY 6:45-7:30PM
This introduction to meditation is offered weekly in person for those new to Cambridge Zen Center or meditation practice. Highly recommended for new students prior to attending a practice session. Your questions will be answered and you are welcome to repeat sessions. Meditation Instruction is in person.
KIDO CHANTING RETREAT - Registration ends Thursday 20th at noon.
SATURDAY 22 FEBRUARY 10am-3pm
Open Meadow Zen Center, Lexington, MA
Kido means “Energy Path” Ki (chi) means energy and Do means Path or Way. Join us for a one-day kido chanting retreat, led by Dyan Eagles JDPSN. Chanting is an easy way to cut off our thinking, become One-Mind, and directly connect with Universal Energy. We will be chanting the name of the Bodhisattva of Compassion, Kwan Seum Bosal, while playing hand-held percussion instruments.
While following a similar schedule to our one-day sitting retreats, this retreat will consist of extended chanting and walking meditation and an informal lunch. Silence is not kept for this style of retreat, and you may leave during the chanting periods for water and breaks as needed. Weather permitting, we will plan to spend some of the chanting periods outside so please dress appropriately. Please bring a percussion instrument such as cymbals, shakers, pots and pans to beat on, reindeer bells, moktaks, etc.
“Chanting meditation means keeping a not-moving mind and perceiving the sound of your own voice. Perceiving your voice means perceiving your true self or true nature. Then you and the sound are never separate, which means that you and the whole universe are never separate. Thus, to perceive our true nature is to perceive universal substance.” - Zen Master Seung Sahn
SUNDAY 23 FEBRUARY 9:00-11:30 AM
Meeting ID 816 7973 3521
Dyan Eagles, JDPSN will give Kong-An Interviews. Join us for four 30-minute sitting periods. If you are new, please arrive 10-15 minutes early for brief instruction on our practice forms.
You may join the Zoom meeting at 9:00 AM or 9:30-9:40 AM. The long sitting concludes with the Four Great Vows. The last Sunday and Tuesday of each month will feature zoom participants first for interviews.
Download 2 Chants and 4 Great Vows
Elder Zen
SATURDAY 22 MARCH 11AM-12:30PM
How does Zen Buddhist practice relate to our experiences of aging? Join us in a supportive community at the Cambridge Zen Center to explore this question through meditation and discussion. We will begin with 20 minutes of sitting meditation, followed by a group discussion of a pertinent topic … then refreshments! All are welcome, and instruction is available for people who are new to meditation. RSVP by email to director@cambridgezen.org
SUNDAY 23 FEBRUARY 12:30-1:30 PM
Begin or deepen your meditation practice in community with other students and young adults. Each session includes sitting meditation, a check-in, and then a short talk or reading about how to integrate Zen practice into everyday life followed by refreshments.
Regular Practice
Daily Sitting & Chanting
AM ZEN MEDITATION PRACTICE
Bows 5:45 AM daily except Sunday
Chanting 6:10 AM daily except Tuesday and Sunday
Sitting 6:35 AM daily except on Tuesday and Sunday
Description: AM Meditation Practice in person consists of bows and the Morning Bell Chant followed by the Heart Sutra in English. There is a 30-minute period of sitting.
MID DAY ZEN MEDITATION PRACTICE
Sitting 12:30 PM on Tuesday and Thursday for 30 minutes. There is no need to register, just ring the door bell for entrance 10 minutes beforehand.
PM ZEN MEDITATION PRACTICE
Special chanting 6:30 PM daily
Regular chanting 7:00 PM daily
Sitting 7:30 PM daily except on Thursday*
Description: PM Meditation Practice consists of a 35-minute period of sitting followed by a short reading concluding at 8:10 PM. Note: *On Tuesday evenings, join us for two sitting periods with interviews from 7:30 PM - 8:40PM. You may join the Tuesday Zoom Meditation Practice / Meeting ID 85830843540 Please join the meeting on time.
Upcoming & Ongoing
Events / News
Protect The Jewel We are so grateful for your support in keeping our doors open for 50 years! Please help us continue to serve the needs of the community for a long time to come by using any of the following ways to donate: click on the “Protect the Jewel” for GoFundMe; find Venmo@cambridgezencenter under “Czc Zen”; a donation box is located in the Reception Room for cash or mail us a check to Cambridge Zen Center. We are a 501(c)(3) organization and our Tax ID is listed at the bottom of this page.
CZC Residency: If you have wanted to live in a practicing community, for either short or long-term, your opportunity awaits! Check out our residential requirements and for more information contact abbot@cambridgezen.org. Applications can be submitted online.
Membership is the most effective way to help the Cambridge Zen Center. When you join as a member, you also join the Kwan Um School of Zen, a worldwide community. Become a member today by completing this online Membership Application.
Kyol Che retreat Jan 4 - April 4 at Diamond Hill Monastery, Providence Zen Center. Kyol Che is a time of intensive group practice. Each year, Dharma Teachers and Zen practitioners from all over the world join Kyol Che to practice ‘together action’ to benefit all sentient beings. Prior retreat experience in the Kwan Um School of Zen is required to enter Kyol Che. One and two-day meditation retreats in KUSZ is recommended. Minimum one week participation necessary.
Precepts Ceremony April 5 2025 Buddha's Birthday, Providence Zen Center The Precepts ceremony for Buddha’s Birthday at PZC will be after lunch Saturday April 5th, 2025. Exact time to be determined. See link for more info and to apply.
Buddha’s Birthday Celebration Providence Zen Center April 5 & 6th Meet and get to know the sangha! Register in advance and join for either one or both days, Saturday begins with coffee hour at 9AM then ceremony in morning, precepts in afternoon and ends with evening activities. Book signing and Dharma talk and sitting with Zen Master Soeng Hyang Sunday. For more info and to register click link above.
Online Sangha Events are also available at any sister sangha in the Kwan Um School of Zen Americas. See other opportunities in Europe and Asia, plus another calendar of KUOS events with schedules for online retreats and practice opportunities.
Composting Our Karma; Turning Confusion into Lessons for Awakening Our Innate Wisdom. A new book by our School Zen Master, Barbara Rhodes, Zen Master Soeng Hyang is out and is available for purchase at Shambhalla Publishers, Barnes and Noble, Amazon and at the CZC Book Store!
KWan UM WorldwidE
Events at Sister Sanghas