What are we going to do along the way?  That’s the realm of practice.  Do we keep sticking our feet into the realm of suffering?  Or do we connect with our practice center, really wonder about who we are and how to live in this world and find a way.  ”Enlightenment” is a beautiful word. Buddhism loves to throw it around, and nobody knows what it means.  We all have some idea of what it would be if we were enlightened, but that’s just our idea.  Anything we think about it makes it too small, too limited, and too much just a creation of our human mind. Return to the practice, come back to this moment.  What am I doing right now?  And how is it possible to help the situation?

Phone: 510-845-8565
Email: hdt@emptygatezen.com

We often say Zen is not really about self improvement. What is the self that you want to improve? Who are you really? That’s the fundamental point. And until we really deal with that question, we are not really getting to the base of practice. Because our desires, our beliefs, and our opinions drag us around. Until we doubt them, investigate them, and use the moment as an investigatory tool, we’re just playing around.

Moment to moment to moment to moment, we’re being reflected and we always have an opportunity to ask the question and observe what is. As we are lost in our mind, in our thinking, our desire, our fears, our confusion, we don’t see anything. It’s all colored. It’s all mirrors. So our teaching is to pierce through the mirror and come back to the moment.

Saturday, 24th morning: Yes
Saturday, 24th evening: No
Sunday, 25th morning and evening: No
Monday, 26th morning: Yes
Monday, 26th 11am sitting: No
Monday, 26th evening: Yes

7:00 – 8:00pm Evening Practice
8:30pm – 11:00pm Refreshments & Movie (Bring some food to share, poem, music)
11:15pm – 12:30am Kido (Chanting)

As practice ends late, you are welcome to stay overnight in the dharma room. There will be no morning or evening practice Jan 1.

For questions and registration – Phone: 510-845-8565
Email: abbot@emptygatezen.com

Phone: 510-845-8565

Email: hdt@emptygatezen.com

To see the schedule and fee click here

Faith in Buddhism has nothing to do with anything outside of ourselves. It does not necessarily have to do with something supernatural or esoteric. In a sense, it’s faith in our own true nature. It’s faith in a sense that if I can be willing to let go of that certainty. And if I am willing to have the courage to meet the moment, something authentic, real and natural can emerge. Something that I may not understand. Something that may look nothing like I may expect. But there’s a faith that if I just continue on, true nature will reveal itself. It’s already present in all things. In the sense, you can say it’s faith that using great question and great courage is enough. Not needing the certainty of an answer, but trusting the question.