by SJZC Administrator | Apr 21, 2026
From Mushin: Myriad drops of rain on the roof, a water glass hitting the floor, breeze riffling leaves on the katsura tree outside the zendo window, allthings speak with their own voice. Voices speaking dharma all around. And yet who hears them? In the up-coming...
by SJZC Administrator | Apr 12, 2026
From Mushin: You may have noticed that we often encourage people who practice at Sangha Jewel Zen Center to take up a service position here as an aspect of a vital zen practice. Zazen is important, yes, but/and there’s more to this practice besides meditation. We...
by SJZC Administrator | Apr 5, 2026
From Mushin: A line emerged during our just-completed retreat, Poetry in Motion, that serves as an apt prompt for considering the reality of interdependence, which marks every moment of our experience. It comes from Wiliam Carlos Williams’s poem, The Red...
by SJZC Administrator | Mar 29, 2026
From Mushin: Words: Instead of encouraging words this week, in honor of our creativity theme, here are some suggestions to stimulate appreciation for the non-worded character of life, highlighting direct experience. You might want to keep a journal as you explore...
by SJZC Administrator | Mar 22, 2026
From Mushin: If we use only language to explore Zen practice we confine ourselves to words. But Zen practice points us towards who we are and how this life is unfolding outside of words and letters. This is the framework for what we are now opening up in this spring...
by SJZC Administrator | Mar 15, 2026
From Mushin: We call these Encouraging Words, a phrase Aitken Roshi used to refer to his short prompts for practice. The most encouraging word that I know is metta, lovingkindness. The practice of metta had become an essential element for practicing in this cultural...
