January 1, 2024 gifting of 18th Century Japanese Zen Temple Bell to the U.S. National Arboretum

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Inryū Sensei and members of the All Beings Zen Sangha were invited by the donor organization to participate in the New Years Day event.  We chanted the Heart Sutra and Enmei and offered wisdom water, incense and flower petals to purifiy and bless those assembled and the Bell in it's new home. 

Love this video and its message about bringing down walls on stolen land. Grupo Fantasma - "The Wall" feat. Locos Por Juana and Ozomatli - Officia...

This sweet boy "Henri" passed away Thursday August 3, 2023

 

Higher Ground 2020 (Stevie Wonder) | Playing For Change | Song Around Th...

A Chat with Bill Porter (Red Pine)

Really enjoyed this phone conversation between David Chadwick and Bill Porter which took place in 2020

A Chat with Bill Porter (Red Pine)

Zen Buddhist clergy condemn the attack on the United States congress

 

As Zen Buddhist clergy, we condemn the attack on the United States congress on January 6th. We acknowledge the anguish and rage it has brought. At the center of our tradition is the understanding that violence leads to violence, compassion to compassion, ignorance to ignorance, and insight to insight. Although countless conditions led to the attack at the capitol, we see that the violence at the capitol was deeply tied to the white supremacy that has characterized this nation since its inception. 

White Supremacy was a founding principle of the United States, and remains one of the hierarchical conditions on which this nation operates. Until this country fully acknowledges and repairs the damage of the horrific violence and day to day inequities of its racist systems, we will continue to reap its fruit. We must recognize the poison of racism not as an evil committed by terrible people, but as a part of the fabric of our collective karma which we must unravel together if we want to be truly free.

We witnessed the confederate flags carried at the capitol attack. We witnessed, too, the Nazi imagery there. A host of other structural oppressions are deeply tied to this attack, including a rejection of truth itself. Part of this rejection of truth is denial of the racism that permeates this country. As we watched the attack on the capitol, we witnessed the stark differences in the way law enforcement treated these protestors and protestors at Black Lives Matter protests last summer. We recognize that future violence is a very real possibility.

Buddhism teaches us that there is always the possibility for healing and liberation. To be free of the violence of white supremacy and other modes of systemic oppression, we must acknowledge them fully, collectively, and individually as an ongoing practice, and from this acknowledgment, find the way to fundamentally transform our society. 

We, the undersigned, ask that as religious leaders, Zen clergy commit to justice, accountability and ethical action based in the teaching of Buddhism. We call on the clergy to address structural oppression within themselves, their sanghas and their nations. With compassion alive in our hearts, and the courage to face the truth, let us move into liberative action.

Signed,

Sosan Theresa Flynn, President, Soto Zen Buddhist Association

Marc Lesser, Vice-president, Soto Zen Buddhist Association

Inryu Bobbi Ponce-Barger, Secretary, Soto Zen Buddhist Association

Dokai Georgesen, Treasurer, Soto Zen Buddhist Association

Chimyo Atkinson, Board Member, Soto Zen Buddhist Association

Koshin Paley Ellison, New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care/Board 
Member, Soto Zen Buddhist Association 

Gyozon Royce Johnson, Board Member, Soto Zen Buddhist Association 

Annalisa Rakugo Castaldo, chair, SZBA DEIA committee

Rev. Ben Connelly, Minnesota Zen Meditation Center

Hoka Chris Fortin, Everyday Zen, Dharma Heart Zen

Rev. Jisan Tova Green, San Francisco Zen Center

Charlie Korin Pokorny, Stone Creek Zen Center

Teresa Bouza, Kannon Do Zen Center

Rev. Genjō Sam Conway, Clouds in Water Zen Center 

No human is illegal.

No

I recommend the Documentary Film 13th.

Just finished watching this.  I highly recommend it.  Please consider watching the film which is now available on Netflix and other venues online.  Remember her name @SandraBland.  Her death haunts me.  Who haunts you?  Now is the time to have this conversation...

Tsuru Rising—Buddhist Remembrance Ceremony, 6/6/20

Remember their names...and uniting our practice in solidarity across time and space.  Thank you Tsuru for Solidarity and Duncan Williams​ for making certain this would happen.  

Message from Abbot Gaelyn: Special Delivery of Care during the time of Covid-19