Category: Uncategorized

  • Dharma Tea on Tuesday for October 18, 2022 – Oryoki Practice 2:00-2:45pm Eastern

    Myōshin Carlos Moura will offer information and share photographs on the topic of Oryoki. All Beings Zen Sangha Sesshin (meditation retreats) often a formal proscribed manor of serving food, eating the food and cleaning up after the eating is finished. Come and join the discussion and share your experience and knowledge about this important part of our practice. All are welcome. Please use this link to join. If asked for a password use  995606

    A wabi-sabi Oryoki set of bowls, clothes and utensils

  • Guest Speaker – author Rev. Ben Connelly, Sensei Thursday October 13, 2022 7pm

    Thursday October 13,  2022:  7pm Guest speaker Rev. Ben Connelly to visit ABZS and speak about “Yogacara and collective liberation”. In-person and via our cloud zendo. We will begin with a 20 minute period of zazen. We will recite the before lecture chant before Sensei Connolly begins their talk. Use this link to join. If asked for a password use 837695. Connolly Sensei will have books available for sale and signing for those in person.

    In his new book, Vasubandhu’s “Three Natures,” a plain-English commentary, Ben Connelly shows the power of integrating early Buddhist psychology with the Mahāyāna emphasis on collective liberation. You’ll discover how wisdom from fourth-century India can be harnessed to heal and transform systems of harm within ourselves and our communities.

    You can find the book here, publication date is Oct. 4th:

    Ben Connelly is a Soto Zen teacher and Dharma heir in the Katagiri lineage.

    He also teaches mindfulness in a wide variety of secular contexts including police training and addiction recovery groups. He works with multifaith groups focused on intersectional liberation, racial justice, and climate justice. Ben is based at Minnesota Zen Meditation Center, travels to teach across the United States, has written for Tricycle and Lion’s Roar magazines, and is author of Inside the Grass Hut, Inside Vasubandhu’s Yogacara, Vasubandhu’s “Three Natures”, and Mindfulness and Intimacy.

  • Dharma Tea at Two pm – Walking as Meditation 2:00- 2:45pm Eastern

    Inryū Sensei will offer information and share photographs and a small video on the topic of walking meditation. All Beings Zen Sangha gatherings often include Kinhin (slow walking) to break up intervals of sitting meditation. What other forms does walking meditation take? How is it helpful in your practice? Come and join the discussion and share your experience and knowledge about this important part of our practice. All are welcome. Please use this link to join. If asked for a password use  995606

    All Beings Zen Sangha members practicing walking meditation during Sesshin (retreat) while at Woodburn Hill Farm in St. Mary’s County MD.

  • Tuesday Dharma Tea at Two – Sejiki Ceremony – some information and a conversation 2-2:45pm Eastern

    Inryū Sensei will offer background about the traditional Sejiki Ceremony (feeding the hungry ghosts) which ABZS will have a ceremony and observance of on Oct 30th, 2022 at 4pm (outdoors). If we have time we can also view a few photographs from our recent Jukai and Tokudo ceremonies and have discussion about those events. All are welcome. Please use this link to join. If asked for a password use  995606

    Kwan Yin offering compassion to the hungry ghosts
  • Tokudo Ceremony for Seidō David Sarpal on September 25, 2022 2pm Eastern

    Please join All Beings Zen Sangha for a Tokudo (Priest Ordination Ceremony) at 2pm on September 25, 2022. Use this link to join. If asked for a password use 455457 .

  • Evening Practice for September 22, 2022 7pm Eastern

    Tonight we will have a period of Zazen followed by a 10 minute period of Kinhin. Inryū Sensei will offer information about the beginning of the Fall Ango and the celebratory events happening this weekend (Jukai Ceremony on Saturday for Grace McClain and Priest Ordination for Seidō David Sarpal. We will have a Shuso Entering Ceremony for Shogaku Alan Brenner followed by chanting the refuges in Pal. Please feel welcome to stay on zoom if you are able to share greetings with the sangha. .


    Here is the link to join us via the cloud zendo at 7PM for the All Beings Zen Sangha evening program.

    If you are asked for a password please use this    837695

    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

    25 Minute Zazen Period

    10 minutes of Kinhin (slow walking)

    Four Great Vows

    Inryū Sensei’s instruction for the Ango/Announcement about weekend ceremonies

    Shuso Entering Ceremony

    Heart Sutra in English

    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.

    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.”

    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

  • Dharma Tea at Two on Tuesdays for September 20, 2022. 2pm-2:45PM Eastern

    Tuesday Dharma Tea:  Inryu Sensei will offer information and lead a discussion about the “Rakusu” and “Kechimyaku” given to people being offered Jukai (lay ordination) and Tokudo (priest ordination) in the Shunryu Suzuki Roshi Lineage of Soto Zen Buddhism. Use this link to join. if asked for a password use  995606.

    Our first 5 minutes are spent in silence drinking tea. All are welcome.

  • Evening Practice for September 15, 2022

    Tonight we will have a short service following by two periods of Zazen with a short period of walking meditation in between the zazen periods. The Kokyo will offer announcement and we will close with chanting the refuges. You are welcome to stay online following the chanting of the refuges to share greetings with the sangha. .


    Here is the link to join us via the cloud zendo at 7PM for the All Beings Zen Sangha evening program.

    If you are asked for a password please use this    837695

    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

    All Buddhas Chant

    25 Minute Zazen Period

    5 minutes of Kinhin (slow walking)

    25 Minute Zazen Period

    Four Great Vows

    Refuges in Pali

    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

    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.”

    All Buddhas

    All Buddhas, ten directions, Three times

    All Honored Ones, Bodhisattvas-Mahasattvas

    Wisdom beyond wisdom

    Maha Prajna Paramita

    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.

    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

  • Dharma Book Discussion for September 10, 2022 2pm-3pm Eastern

    Saturday September 10, 2022:  Book Discussion Join All Beings Zen Sangha for a book discussion of the “Shamanic Bones of Zen” written by Zenju Earthlyn Manuel.   2pm- 3pm Eastern time (online only). Use this link to join. If asked for a password use 635618

  • Evening Practice for September 8, 2022 7pm Eastern

    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 in Spanish followed by one period of Zazen and a Full Moon Ceremony.   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  837695

    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 Spanish

    25 Minute Zazen Period

    Cuatro Votos Four Great Vows

    5 Minutes Kinhin

    Full Moon Ceremony – Call and Response

    Refuges in Pali

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

    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

    Sutra del Corazón de la Perfecta Sabiduríaaaāāā

    ⨀ Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva

    a través de la práctica profunda de Prajna Paramita ⨀

    Claramente vio que los cinco agregados son vacío y gracias a esta comprensión liberó todo el sufrimiento.

    Sariputra la forma no es diferente del vacío,

    vacío no es diferente de la forma.

    La forma en sí misma es vacío,

    vacío en sí mismo es forma.

    Las sensaciones, percepciones, formaciones mentales

    y la conciencia son igualmente vacío.

    Sariputra todos los fenómenos son vacío.

    No aparecen ni desaparecen,

    no son puros ni impuros,

    no crecen ni disminuyen.

    Debido al vacío no hay forma ni sensación,

    ni percepción, ni formación mental, ni conciencia;

    Ni ojos, ni oídos, ni nariz, ni lengua, ni cuerpo, ni mente;

    Ni vista, ni sonido, ni olor, ni gusto, ni tacto, ni objetos mentales;

    ni ámbitos sensoriales ni ámbito de la conciencia.

    No hay ignorancia ni extinción de la ignorancia

    ni vejez y muerte ni extinción de la vejez y de la muerte

    ni sufrimiento ni causa ni liberación

    ni vía que conduzca a la liberación del sufrimiento

    ni conocimiento ni obtención.

    Sin nada que obtener, el bodhisattva confía en

    Prajna Paramita ⨀ y así la mente está libre de obstáculos.

    Sin obstáculos no hay miedo.

    Alejado de las visiones erróneas se realiza el Nirvana.

    Todos los budas del pasado, presente y futuro confían

    en Prajna Paramita ⨀ por lo cual obtienen el perfecto, completo, insuperable despertar.

    Por lo tanto, Prajna Paramita ⨀ es el mantra resplandeciente,

    el mantra milagroso, el supremo mantra, el mantra incomparable, aquel que extingue todo sufrimiento y es verdadero, no falso.

    Proclamamos el mantra Prajna Paramita que dice:

    GATE GATE ⨀ PARAGATE ⨀ PARASAMGATE, BODHI SVAHA ∅

    El cuerpo de Buddha impregna todos los mundos del Dharma, se manifiesta en todas partes ante todos los seres. Ya hemos recitado el Enmei Jukko Kannon Gyo y El Sutra del Corazón de la Perfecta Sabiduría, con reverencia ofrecemos los méritos generados por esta practica a: ✪

    Nuestro Gran Maestro Original de la Enseñanza, el Buda Shakyamuni ✪

    Nuestro primer ancestro en China, Gran Maestro Bodhidharma; ✪

    Nuestro primer ancestro en Japón, Gran Maestro Eihei Dogen; ✪

    Nuestro primer ancestro en las Americas, Shogaku Shunryu Suzuki ✪

    Nuestro primer Maestro Guia, Dairyu Michael Wenger ✪

    Y todos los ancestros femeninos a travesa de la historia cuyos nombres se se han olvidado o dejados sin decir. ✪

    Ofrecemos el merito de nuestra practica a George Floyd, Gianna Floyd, Philonise Floyd y a toda la familia Floyd y todos aquellos que sufren a diario por los efectos del racismo sistemico y la violencia en nuestra sociedad. ✪

    Tambien ofrecemos el merito de nuestra practica a todos aquellos sufriendo por los efectos de la pandemia del Coronavirus ✪

    Que con todos los seres nos libremos del sufrimiento y disfrutemos de la felicidad.

    Que nuestros votos sinceros para lograr el Camino del Buda se realicen plenamente juntos. ➚➘➞ ✪

    Todos los Budas, diez direcciones, tres tiempos ✪

    Honrados, Bodhisattvas Mahasattvas ✪

    Sabiduría tras el saber ✪.. …

    Maha Prajna Paramita ✪ ✪ ✪

    Cuatro Votos (Four Great Vows)

    Los seres son innumerables,

    hago el voto de liberarlos a todos.

    Las obstrucciones mentales son inagotables,

    hago el voto de acabarlas todas.

    Las puertas del Dharma son ilimitadas,

    hago el voto de entrar por todas.

    La Vía del Buddha es insuperable,

    hago el voto de realizarla.

    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