Summer study of the Bodhisattva precepts in daily life

REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS IS CLOSED

Four Thursdays, June 8, 15, 22, 29 - 6.45 pm (in person and online) Open to all, by donation to the temple

Many Zen temples have a practice period or intensive during the summer months, when the pace of work and school is often slower and more space and energy are available for group practice. This year I would like to offer such an intensive, with a focused study of the precepts as taught by Dainin Katagiri Roshi, the founder of the Minnesota Zen Center who also assisted Suzuki Roshi at San Francisco Zen Center before striking out on his own. The second section of his book, Returning to Silence, Zen Practice in Daily Life focuses on the 16 Bodhisattva Precepts. A PDF of the relevant pages will be provided for study. This provides an opportunity for anyone interested in the ethical teachings of Soto Zen to explore them together with others. Beginners, those who have already ‘received the precepts’ in the Jukai ceremony, all are welcome, no special permission is necessary. After the close of the intensive, those who ant to continue study of the precepts can ask to be included in a continuing informal group.

To support ourselves in this study, everyone is encouraged to attend the Full Moon Ceremony of renewing vows and precepts on June 7, the half day zazenkai on June 11, and the Saturday dharma talks during June. The regular schedule of zazen and service will continue, and I encourage you to take full advance of it to the extent you can.
With a bow of appreciation,
Choro

 Rev. Choro Carla 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 a career in academia in 2018, and moved to Austin to practice with the sangha at AZC in 2020, serving as Tanto (Head of Practice). In 2021, she received dharma transmission from Rev. Konjin Gaelyn Godwin, Abbot of Houston Zen Center, and became Guiding Teaching of AZC in 2022. She is a full member of the Soto Zen Buddhist Association and also of the American Zen Teachers Association.