Zen Buddhist Meditation Center
Everyone welcome
***ANNOUNCING***
| Become a Resident at ASZC |
| Click for information on our Residency Program |
Our weekly schedule in a nutshell:
SUNRISE MEDITATION: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings at 6:00-7:05 am. Join us any time.
MON 7:30 - 9:00 PM: Book Discussion Group
TUE 7:30 - 9:00 PM: Skype conference
WED 7:30 - 9:00 PM: Introduction to Zen Meditation
SUN 9:00 AM - NOON: Soto Zen Service
Please find more details following the link
STUDENTS: If you are visiting for a class (e.g. Comparative Religion), please come to our 7:30p Wednesday Workshop: "Introduction to Zen Meditation." You may also attend Sunday morning, but will have less time for Q&A. Please DO NOT drop by unannounced at any other time.
This ensures that there is someone who can answer your questions and you will not disturb the residents.
Upcoming Events
| Rohatsu Sesshin 2018 |
| at the Atlanta Soto Zen Center (ASZC) |
| December 2 through December 9 |
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| Rohatsu Sesshin commemorates |
| The Enlightenment of Shakyamuni Buddha. |
| During this retreat, we take inspiration from the historical Buddha who, after supreme effort, awakened on December 8, when he saw the morning star appear. |
| We invite all of you to join us for this important opportunity to deepen our meditation and awareness practice. This is our most vigorous retreat each year and so we do recommend, but do not require, experience with one of our other annual retreats before committing to Rohatsu. |
| We encourage you to attend the entire week, but also welcome you to participate as much as you can. |
| A Direct Funding Campaign of $5,000 for ASZC and STO Training |
| STO and ASZC announce a joint fund-raising Initiative to address a shortfall of income at the ASZC brought about by a down-turn in the number of residents at the Center since January 1, 2018. |
| This is a direct funding campaign target of $5,000 by December 31, 2018, to support the Atlanta Soto Zen Center and the STO training program. |
| This goal breaks down to $1,166.67 per month. We simply ask that everyone consider a special donation and ask friends to do the same. |
| To donate online using PayPal, click the PayPal donate button (left side of this page): |
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| In the PayPal form, click the Add special instructions to the seller link (that displays a text box) and enter "For the ASZC Training Fund" so we can apply your gift to our campaign. If sending checks, please indicate in the note: For the ASZC Training Fund. Checks can be sent to: Atlanta Soto Zen Center, P.O. Box 133241, Atlanta, GA 30333-3241 |
| Please note an initial donation has been made by an Affiliate Sangha. We also ask that Practice Leaders of the 22 Affiliate Sanghas consider sending a donation from their sangha. This short-term campaign progress graphic will be posted on the STO and ASZC websites (this can also be posted on an Affiliate Sangha website if you wish) as a reminder of sangha generosity. |
| ASZC Training Fund as of October |
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Monday Book Discussion Group
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"The Kyosaku"
by Rev. Zengaku Soyu Matsuoka, Roshi
Starting October 29, 2018
Every Monday
7:30 - 9:00 pm
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| The first 25 minutes is zazen followed by an informal discussion that ends at 9:00 PM | ||
| Books can be purchased at the Zendo for $25. | ||
| Detailed Reading Schedule | ||
| COMMUNITY OUTREACH |
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| • Newcomers | — Instruction/Orientation/Workshop Wed 7:30 pm |
| • Atlanta Region | — Dialog with interfaith groups, schools, public |
| • Training Center | — Formal training of Priests and Disciples of STO |
REGULAR PRACTICE PROGRAM |
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| • Buddha Practice | — Daily sitting meditation sessions (zazen) |
| • Dharma Study | — Regular dialogs & discussion forums |
| • Sangha Service | — Weekly sutra services & social events |
CALENDAR RETREATS |
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| • Zazenkai | — Monthly Friday—Saturday retreat |
| • Sesshin | — Annual; Precepts; Buddha’s Elightenment Day |
| • Hossen | — 5th Sunday Dharma Combat (4/year) |
| • Ango | — 30- & 90-day practice period (student residency) |
SPECIAL EVENTS |
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| • 4th Friday Forum | — Sangha dinner & discussion; guest speakers |
| • Guest Teachers | — Visiting Zen teachers, authors & educators |
| • Holidays | — Buddhist Holidays; Founder’s Day; New Year |
| • Practice Path | — Initiation (Jukai); Discipleship (Zaike Tokudo) |
The Atlanta Soto Zen Center, founded in 1977, is one of the larger non-residential Zen centers in the country, offering a full schedule of morning and evening zazen, zen meditation and protocol instructions for beginners, monthly all-day sittings (zazenkai) and occasional week-long retreats (sesshin).
Please come join us in our beautiful location on Zonolite Place and look for opportunities to begin or deepen your Zen practice.
Please come join us in our beautiful location on Zonolite Place and look for opportunities to begin or deepen your Zen practice.
We also have a network of affiliated centers and sitting groups throughout the country and Atlanta suburbs. For locations, please see the Silent Thunder Order affiliates page.
We are pleased to announce the publication of the first and second volumes of teaching archives of our lineage founder, Rev. Soyu Matsuoka-roshi (click here to purchase).
Silence/Thunder calligraphy by Rev. Dr. Soyu Matsuoka-roshi