Dear Mid City Zen community members, In the depths of summer, we've added an early morning zazen period on Tuesdays at 6:30am and brought back 8am Friday morning meditation. You can always see the current calendar at midcityzen.org. We hope to see you in the zendo at 623 N. Rendon! (Pictured: reception following the 2024 Practice Period and Shuso Ceremony) |
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This Saturday August 17 at 3pm Sangha House NOLA Grand Opening led by the Venerable Clear Grace Dayananda Sangha House NOLA is a Buddhist meditation center and refuge for all sincere seekers of a contemplative path. Their doors are open to the local community, monastics, guests, and residents who wish to gather and share in a community-oriented freedom practice. In the spirit of inclusiveness and accessibility, they also encourage members of the BIPOC and queer communities to share their gifts, presence, and offerings from the heart. More information on how to join and support available at the link below. |
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Summer 2024: Presence in the Heat |
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Our time at Tassajara this year was once again a wonderful opportunity, and as Linda Gallian and Greg Fain were our guiding teachers, we combined with 9 folks from San Antonio Zen Center, including Karen DeCotis, their incoming teacher who was dharma transmitted by Sojin Mel Weitsman just before he died. There was a number of other groups and sanghas there, including Young Urban Zen (which is a really cool no-ceremony offering from SFZC), Jokoji in Los Altos, CA, Family Sanghas from all over, and others. There was also a dharma transmission happening for Mary Stares by her teacher, former Abbot Ed Sattizhan. It was a really exciting and full time to be there. |
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Other Recent Community Happenings Kinship Senior Center took a field trip to the Mid City Zen on May 6 and got a peek at the zendo - we love our collaboration with Kinship! 6/15 Ceasefire Sit: Mid City Zen sponsored a public ceasefire sit along the Mississippi River in Waldenburg Park on Saturday June 15. Around twenty folks joined in this powerful community practice.
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Community member Dara, and the Louisiana Himalayan Association, will be offering The Global Plant Medicine Conference this December. This 10-day program in Dharamsala, India is focused on the healing applications of medicinal plants. The program will focus on Tibetan medicine and other regional systems such as Ayurveda and include wisdom from global systems and diverse participants. |
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August 18: regular Sunday program August 25: regular Sunday program September 1: Half Day Sit September 8: regular Sunday program September 15: full moon ceremony
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Become a Member of Mid City Zen |
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If you’ve been coming to Mid City Zen for a bit, and you like what you’ve found here, consider becoming a member. Membership affirms our commitment to practice and to our sangha, our community of practice. As members, we help MCZ create a place where people can settle their minds and hearts and steep in the teachings of the Buddha.
You can become a member by making a monthly recurring donation of any amount. Learn more about membership and its benefits on our website! |
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Support and join us in our commitment to non-violence in ourselves and the world by attending our weekly sit for ceasefire. We will sit zazen and practice loving kindness, dedicated to a lasting ceasefire in Palestine/Israel, and all places where people are living the violence of war. All are welcome. Monday mornings, ongoing 8am - 8:30 Zazen 8:30 - 8:35 Loving Kindness Chant |
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Monthly Full Moon Ceremony |
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During the fall and spring, on the Sunday closest to the full moon, the Mid City Zen community takes part in the ancient Bodhisattva Full Moon Precept Ceremony in lieu of our regular Sunday service. We offer light, incense, flowers, as well as our bowing and chanting. In this call and response ceremony, we acknowledge the karma created by our intentional actions, and renew our commitment to the ethical conduct expressed as the 16 Bodhisattva Precepts. Our next Full Moon Ceremony will take place on Sunday September 15. |
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Every First Sunday: Half Day Sit. Next one is September 1, 8am. Schedule Here |
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Sunday Schedule (except first Sundays of the month) 8:45-9:25am Introduction and Meditation Instruction (No instruction on the first or third Sundays of the month) 9:30am Robe Chant immediately followed by Zazen 9:30-10:00am Zazen 10:00-10:10am Kinhin (walking meditation) 10:10-10:40am Zazen 10:45am Chanting Service (heart sutra and well-being ceremony) 11:00-11:30am Dharma talks, Way Seeking Mind talks, Board Meeting, Study Group or Community Gatherings 11:45-11:55am Soji (mindful cleaning) |
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Weekday Sittings Monday, Wednesday & Friday morning zazen at 8am (Mondays are ceasefire sit & loving kindness chant) Tuesday zazen at 6:30am & 6:30pm The zendo opens 15 minutes before a sitting begins. Please try to arrive to get settled into your seat a few minutes before the start time. The sitting period is 30 minutes long followed by a short (~5 min) chanting service. |
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Queer Zen ~ *second* Monday of the month |
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Queer Zen is a monthly gathering on the second Monday of the month to sit in community together. No meditation experience necessary. All LGBTQIA+ folks and allies welcome. The zendo will open at 6:15 and sitting meditation and a short ceremony will take place from 6:30-7:05pm. Our next Queer Zen is Monday, September 9. |
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Sober Zen ~ *first and third Thursday* at 7pm |
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Come join fellow Zen practitioners at various places on their sober journeys for a casual bimonthly discussion group. We’ll chat about how Zen, mindfulness, and meditation have played a role in our sobriety, and offer each other community and support. This group is not affiliated with any sobriety program, but rather, an open place to be met where you are. |
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The virtual zendo will remain open for sitting for all of our regulary scheduled programs and services (tech problems notwithstanding!). On Sundays, the virtual zendo ideally starts about 10 minutes before any event, but sometimes it's a little closer to the event start time. |
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