Heart of Compassion Zen Sangha: Recent Episodes
Ando Jaune Evans
The Heart of Compassion Zen Sangha is a member-community of Everyday Zen and Branching Streams, West Marin, CA. Donations: westmarincommunityservices.org/donate. Please scroll down to "Where can we designate your gift?" and indicate HOC sangha.
Source book: "How to Cook Your Life", By Dōgen and Kōshō Uchiyama Roshi; translated by Thomas Wright
Source book: "How to Cook Your Life", By Dōgen and Kōshō Uchiyama Roshi; translated by Thomas Wright
Source book: "How to Cook Your Life", By Dōgen and Kōshō Uchiyama Roshi; translated by Thomas Wright
Source book: "How to Cook Your Life", By Dōgen and Kōshō Uchiyama Roshi; translated by Thomas Wright
Source book: "How to Cook Your Life", By Dōgen and Kōshō Uchiyama Roshi; translated by Thomas Wright
Source book: "How to Cook Your Life", By Dōgen and Kōshō Uchiyama Roshi; translated by Thomas Wright
Source book: "How to Cook Your Life", By Dōgen and Kōshō Uchiyama Roshi; translated by Thomas Wright
Source book: "How to Cook Your Life", By Dōgen and Kōshō Uchiyama Roshi; translated by Thomas Wright
Source book: "The World Could Be Otherwise" by Norman Fischer
Also, reference made to Kaz Tanahashi's work: "Treasury of True Dharma Eye" -Appendix 1: "Recommending Zazen to All People" by Dogen
This recording begins with a YouTube clip from the Monks Walk for Peace. A talk given at the end of their walk at American University.
Source book: 'The World Could Be Otherwise' by Norman Fischer
Source book: 'The World Could Be Otherwise' by Norman Fischer
- At the tail end of the recording after most people had signed off, Melissa Nelson recited a prayer for the winter solstice. She opened the winter solstice event at the Mill Valley Public Library the evening before with this invocation acknowledging this sacred gem of place we live in here in Marin County. It begins at about the 42:15 minute mark.
Source book: 'The World Could Be Otherwise' by Norman Fischer
Please note that around the 6 minute mark and again at the 23 minute mark there are interruptions in the recording. Yet, nothing is really lost. Apologies for the loss of flow.
Sangha is reading: 'The World Could Be Otherwise' by Norman Fischer
Note: the recording has a glitchy patch from minute 7:46 through to 9:12 and at 9:05 it is silent until 9:12. (The recorders internet connection was unstable.)
During the glitchy time, Norman is speaking about the philosopher John Sallis and refers to Sallis' book: Force of Imagination: The Sense of the Elemental (Studies in Continental Thought)
Please note that at the 40:15 min mark there was a mysterious interruption and the beginning portion of Larry's share is not in this recording.
Source: Thich Nhat Hanh, Tiep Hein Precepts, 1966
Precept 14: Do not mistreat your body. Learn to handle it with respect, preserve vital energies (sexual, breath, spirit) for the realization of the Way. Be fully aware of the responsibility of bringing new lives into the world. Meditate on the world into which you are bringing new beings.
Source: Thich Nhat Hanh, Tiep Hein Precepts, 1966
Precept 13: Possess nothing that should belong to others. Respect the property of others, but prevent others from profiting from human suffering or the suffering of other species on Earth.
Source: Thich Nhat Hanh, Tiep Hein Precepts, 1966
- Do not kill. Do not let others kill. Find whatever means possible to protect life and prevent war.
Note: This recording begins with Jaune reading the 14 Precepts. It completes at the 12:50 mark.
Source: Thich Nhat Hanh, Tiep Hein Precepts, 1966
- Do not live with a vocation that is harmful to humans and nature. Do not invest in companies that deprive others of their chance to live. Select a vocation that helps realize your ideal of compassion.
Source: Thich Nhat Hanh, Tiep Hein Precepts, 1966
- Do not use the Buddhist community for personal gain or profit, or transform your community into a political party. A religious community, however, should take a clear stand against oppression and injustice and should strive to change the situation without engaging in partisan conflicts.
Source: Thich Nhat Hanh, Tiep Hein Precepts, 1966
9th Precept:
Do not say untruthful things for the sake of Personal interest or to impress people. Do not utter words that cause division and hatred. Do not spread news that you do not know to be certain. Do not criticize or condemn things of which you are not sure. Always speak truthfully and constructively. Have the courage to speak out about situations of injustice, even when doing so may threaten your own safety.
Source: Thich Nhat Hanh, Toep Hein Precepts, 1966
Recommended: 'Beginning a New' by Sister Chan Chong
Precept 8:
Do not utter words that can create discord and cause the community to break. Make every effort to reconcile and resolve all conflicts, however small.
Source: Thich Nhat Hanh, Tiep Hein Precepts, 1966
Precept 7:
Do not lose yourself in dispersion and in your surroundings. Practice mindful breathing to come back to what is happening in the present moment. Be in touch with what is wondrous, refreshing, and healing both inside and around you. Plant seeds of joy, peace, and understanding in yourself in order to facilitate the work of transformation in the depths of your consciousness.
Source: Thich Nhat Hanh, Tiep Hien Precepts, 1966
Included in the talk were a dozen or so slides depicting paintings and photos that show anger throughout time in various expressions.
Precept 6:
Do not maintain anger or hatred. Learn to penetrate and transform them when they are still seeds in your consciousness. As soon as they arise, turn your attention to your breath in order to see and understand the nature of your anger and hatred and the nature of the persons who have caused your anger and hatred.
Source: Thich Nhat Hanh, Tiep Hien Precepts, 1966
- Do not accumulate wealth while millions are hungry. Do not take as the aim of your life fame, profit, wealth, or sensual pleasure. Live simply and share time, energy, and material resources with those who are in need.
Source: Thich Nhat Hanh, Tiep Hien Precepts, 1966
- Do not avoid contact with suffering or close your eyes before suffering. Do not lose awareness of the existence of suffering in the life of the world. Find ways to be with those who are suffering, including personal contact, images, and sound. By such means, awaken yourself and others to the reality of suffering in the world.
Source: Thich Nhat Hanh, Tiep Hien Precepts, 1966
- Do not force others, including children, by any means whatsoever, to adopt your views, whether by authority, threat, money, propaganda, or even education. However, through compassionate dialogue, help others renounce fanaticism and narrowness.
Source: Thich Nhat Hanh, Tiep Hien Precepts, 1966
- Do not think the knowledge you presently possess is changeless, absolute truth. Avoid being narrow-minded and bound to present views. Learn and practice nonattachment from views in order to be open to receive others' viewpoints. Truth is found in life and not merely in conceptual knowledge. Be ready to learn throughout your entire life and to observe reality in yourself and in the world at all times.
Source: Thich Nhat Hanh, Tiep Hien Precepts, 1966
- Do not be idolatrous about or bound to any doctrine, theory, or ideology, even Buddhist ones. Buddhist systems of thought are guiding means; they are not absolute truth.
References:
- Interbeing by Thich Nhat Hanh
- For A Future To Be Possible by Thich Nhat Hanh
Book referenced: 'Zen Seeds', chapter: 'Plum Blossoms Open the Early Spring' by Shundo Aoyama
Chapter 3 of 'World As Lover, World As Self'
Book references sited by Wendy : 'Walking with the Wind' by John Lewis and 'Just Mercy' by Brian Stevenson
References:
Book: World as Lover, World as Self : Courage for Global Justice and Planetary Awakening - Joanna Macy, Edited by Stephanie Kaza - 30th Anniversary Edition
Bioneers clip on YouTube of Joanna Macy speaking: https://youtu.be/mrCPVtf0bWA?si=b_EZ_Cnn0I92w9rMF
References
- Primary study text: Love Letter to the Earth, Thich Nat Hang
- Article: The San Francisco Standard, August 22, 2024 -"Redwood forest with Sonoma County's most famous tree is now protected forever"
- Poets: Pattiann Rogers, Dorianne Laux, Khalil Gibran
Continued study and explorations based on Thich Nhat Hanh's "Love Letter to the Earth".
In acknowledgement of the wonder and love we have for our planet, the sangha gathered for a day-long retreat and began the day with this ceremony.
“Sangha Reflections on The Five Invitations”
Andrea Glass, Bob Andrews, Eden Clearbrook, and Jane Flint