Right Speech, Kind Speech, and the power to turn the destiny of the nation: a Dharma Talk by Rev. Choro Antonaccio, Austin Zen Center

  • Guiding Teacher  Rev. Choro Antonaccio
  • Date/Time  Saturday, July 8th at 10:15am
  • Location  In person & Online Zendo
  • Fee  By donation*

Choro Antonaccio began formal Zen practice at Chapel Hill Zen Center in 1999. She received lay precepts from her teacher, Rev. Josho Patricia Phelan, in 2001 and priest ordination in 2010. She was shuso in Chapel Hill in 2016. Rev. Choro has practiced at the three temples of San Francisco Zen Center including practice periods at Tassajara and Green Gulch Farm. In Chapel Hill she served for multiple years in the positions of Tenzo, Work Leader, and Ino and also served as member at large and president of the board of directors. She decided to end her career in academia in 2018 and moved to Austin to practice with the sangha at AZC in 2020. 

Several of the 16 Bodhisattva Precepts are about speech. Some guidelines from the Buddha’s teaching offered to us emphasize that is deciding whether to say something, we should ask,  Is it true? Is it kind? Is it beneficial? Is it necessary? Is it the right time? This talk will explore how the ground of compassion is the ground of kind speech. As Dogen tells us, “”Kind speech is not just praising the merit of others. It has the power to turn the destiny of the nation.” What is this kind speech that Dogen refers to, and what is truly beneficial? Everyone is welcome.

Join our ONLINE ZENDO to attend this Dharma talk.

Morning zazen will be closed to the public due to our weekend retreat.

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* While our Saturday Morning Program has no charge, we depend on the generosity of our members, donors, and participants to continue to make such offerings available.