Blog

  • Morning Practice for March 31, 2022 6:30am Eastern

    Please join us via Zoom at 6:30am for morning practice. Use this link to join. If asked for a password use 179561

    Today we will have a brief period of zazen followed by a talk by Seidō David Sarpal.

    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.

    ABZS keeps an attendance of participation at sangha events. This is done for the welfare of our members and for guidance in future programing.

    See below for the order of service and chants. Please click here for a PDF of our morning service chant.

    Order of Service

    Robe Chant before zazen

    Zazen (approximately 5 minutes)

    Four Great Vows after zazen

    Way Seeking Mind Talk by Seirdō David Sarpal

    If your schedule allows please stay on the zoom call to share a brief check-in after the service is concluded.

  • Evening Practice for March 30, 2022 7pm Eastern

    Tonight we will have a short service that includes chanting the Heart Sutra in English. Followed by one period of Zazen and a Way Seeking Mind Talk by Junji Rui Sun.. Will we 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   794038

    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)

    Way Seeking Mind Talk

    Four Great Vows

    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

    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.” ∅

    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

  • Saturday Dharma Study for March 25, 2023 2pm Eastern

    Saturday March 25th, 2023 – 2 PM Dharma book discussion “Dogen’s Instructions to the Cook” 2 of 2

    Cloud Zendo only. To Join use this link. If asked for a password use 633557

    Instructions for the Cook (Tenzo kyôkun) . Don’t have the book? No problem you can find a pdf of the main text by clicking here or here.

    By the monk Dôgen

    of the Kannon Dôri Kôshô Hôrin Zen Monastery
    Cf. Nothing is Hidden: Essays on Zen Master Dogen’s Instructions for the CookTr. Griffith Foulk, Edited by Jisho Warner, Shohaku Okumura, John McRae and Taigen Dan Leighton. Weatherhill Inc., 2001

  • Evening Practice for March 23, 2023 7pm Eastern

    Tonight we will have a short service that includes chanting the Heart Sutra in Chinese. Following by two periods of Zazen with an interval of Kinhin (slow walking) in between.. Will we 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   794038

    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 Chinese

    All Buddhas Chant

    25 Minute Zazen Period

    5 minutes of Kinhin (slow walking)

    25 Minutes Zazen Period

    Four Great Vows

    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

    Heart of Great Perfect Wisdom Sutra in Chinese

    The Pinyin pronunciation:

    (Title) bō rě bō luó mì duō xīn jīng

    guān zì zài pú sà , xíng shēn bō rě bō luó mì duō shí,zhào jiàn wǔ yùn jiē kōng, dù yī qiē kǔ è。

    shè lì zǐ, sè bù yì kōng ,kōng bù yì sè , sè jí shì kōng , kōng jí shì sè。

    shòu xiǎng xíng shí,yì fù rú shì。

    shè lì zǐ, shì zhū fǎ kōng xiāng,

    bù shēng bù miè, bù gòu bù jìng, bù zēng bù jiǎn ,

    shì gù kōng zhōng wú sè, wú shòu xiǎng xíng shí,

    wú yǎn ěr bí shé shēn yì, wú sè shēng xiāng wèi chù fǎ,

    wú yǎn jiè, nǎi zhì wú yì shí jiè, wú wú míng , yì wú wú míng jìn,

    nǎi zhì wú lǎo sǐ, yì wú lǎo sǐ jìn。

    wú kǔ jí miè dào, wú zhì yì wú dé, yǐ wú suǒ dé gù。

    pú tí sà duǒ, yī bō rě bō luó mì duō gù, xīn wú guà ài。

    wú guà ài gù, wú yǒu kǒng bù, yuǎn lí diān dǎo mèng xiǎng, jiū jìng niè pán。

    sān shì zhū fó, yī bō rě bō luó mì duō gù, dé ā nòu duō luó sān miǎo sān pú tí。

    gù zhī bō rě bō luó mì duō, shì dà shén zhòu, shì dà míng zhòu,

    shì wú shàng zhòu, shì wú děng děng zhòu。néng chú yī qiē kǔ, zhēn shí bù xū。

    gù shuō bō rě bō luó mì duō zhòu, jí shuō zhòu yuē:

    jiē dì jiē dì, bō luó jiē dì, bō luó sēng jiē dì, pú tí sà pó hē。

    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 pm for March 21, 2023 2-2:45pm Eastern

    Tuesday March 21st, 2023 – 2PM Dharma Tea by Shinren Mark Stone “Dogen’s Original Face”. Use this link to join. If asked for a password use 629543. Online only. You can also sign in by going to the www.allbeingszen.org home page.

    Please put your zoom in gallery mode, and keep your video link on while muting your mic until the end of the presentation – Please keep 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.

    *ABZS does keep an attendance of participation in sangha events*  this is done for the welfare of its members and for guidance in future programing 

    Shinren Mark
    Shinren Mark
  • Guest Speaker Yuko Okumura Sensei on March 18, 2023 2pm Eastern

    Yuko Okumura is an accomplished okesa and rakusu sewing teacher, lifelong Soto Zen lay practitioner, and devoted lover of strawberries. A native of Japan, Yuko attended her first zazen retreat at age 16 and graduated from Komazawa University where she studied Buddhism. Yuko has served in the role of tenzo at temples in Japan (Zenjoji, Shorinji) and the US (Sanshinji). Her love of strawberries has led to the creation of La Fraise Do’r clothing and is discussed in a short documentary ‘Strawberries Will Save The World’ by her daughter, film director Yoko Okumura. Yuko lives with her husband of 40 years, Shohaku Okumura, in Bloomington, Indiana, where they founded Sanshin Zen Community/Sanshinji in 2003.

    In case it’s tricky to hyperlink the “Strawberries will save the world”, the link is here:  

    http://www.yokookumura.com/strawberries-will-save-the-world.html

  • Tuesday Dharma Tea at Two with Eshō Beth Milligan talking about the work of Ito Jakuchu. 2-2:45p.m. Eastern

    Tuesday March 14th, 2023 – 2PM Dharma Tea led by Esho Beth Milligan on the ” 18th century Japanese artist Ito Jakuchu and his Colorful Realm of Living Beings, a set of 30 nature paintings plus a Buddha Triptych” (these were exhibited at The National Gallery in DC in the spring of 2012). Use this link to join. If asked for a password use 629543

  • Thursday evening practice, March 9, 2023 7pm Eastern

    Join us via Zoom at 7pm for evening service and zazen. Use this link to join. If asked for a password use 794038

    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.

    ABZS keeps an attendance of participation at sangha events. This is done for the welfare of our members and for guidance in future programing.

    Click below to see the order of service and chants.

    Order of Service

    Greeting by the Kokyo

    Enmei Jukko Kannon Gyo

    Heart Sutra in Spanish

    25 Minute Zazen Period

    5 Minutes Kinhin

    25 Minute Zazen Period

    Cuatro Votos Four Great Vows

    Refuges in Pali

  • March 4, 2023 Zazenkai with Barbara Wenger as Guest Speaker

    Saturday March 4th, 2023 –  Full Day Zazenkai at Urban Zendo (lunch provided).   Guest Speaker Barbara Wenger will join us for 2pm tea and discussion about her experience as Tenzo at SFZC.  In person and online. Use this link to join. If asked for a password use 027306

    All Beings Zen Sangha Zen Meditation Retreat Schedule    9am-4:30pm 

    9:00am Practice Period Leader does the Jundo (opening of the zendo for practicer)

    Robe Chant (lead by Kokyo)

    9:05am 40 minute period of Zazen

    9:45am Kinhin (slow walking meditation)

    9:55am 30 minute period of Zazen

    10:25am Kinhin (slow walking meditation)

    10:35am 30 minutes period of Zazen

    11:05am Inryū Sensei offers meditation instructions/ Oryoki instruction

    12:00pm Lunch Break – Self Serve Oryoki from Zendo Kitchen

    1:00pm Work Practice /Zen Sewing

    2:00pm Tea and Cookies/Dharma Discussion – Guest Speaker Barbara Wenger

    3:10pm Kinhin (slow walking meditation)

    3:20pm 40 minute period of Zazen/Zen Sewing

    4:00pm 30 minute period of Zazen

    4:30pm Refuges in Pali/Closing of retreat

  • Evening Practice for March 2, 2023 7pm Eastern

    Tonight we will have a short service followed by two periods of Zazen with an interval of Kinhin (5 minutes of slow walking in between). We will have our monthly pass the feather sharing and conclude by chanting the refuges in Pali. 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     794038

    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

    25 Minute Zazen Period

    5 minutes of Kinhin (slow walking)

    25 Minute Zazen Period

    Four Great Vows

    Refuges in Pali

    Brief Check in and announcements

    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