Jukai
Nov
23
to Nov 24

Jukai

  • Atlanta Soto Zen Center (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Jukai is a Zen public ordination ceremony wherein a lay student receives the first five Buddhist precepts and a formal initiation into Buddhism, making one a member of the Buddha's family.


Retreat Downloads

16_Precepts_Okumura.pdf

Precepts_Study_SZBA.pdf

Suggested Program Price: $150 or pay what you can afford. The price includes vestments.

If you are interested, contact Elliston Roshi at taiunmelliston@gmail.com

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Soto Zen Sunday Service
Dec
1
10:30 AM10:30

Soto Zen Sunday Service

Traditional Soto Zen Service 10:30 AM

Dharma Talk: 10:30 AM — Counting Stars

Speaker:  Guest Speaker Shana Smith

Shana Smith is an appointed Assistant Teacher with Sanbo Zen International, and the guiding teacher of Florida Sanbo Zen Center in Gainesville, Florida. Her root teacher is Valerie Forstman Roshi of the Mountain Cloud Zen Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She also studies with Henry Shukman Roshi, Ruben Habito Roshi, and Sanbo Zen International Abbott Yamada Ryoun Roshi. Shana is a RYT-500 yoga teacher and has been a yogi since 1992. Her yoga practice led her to a yoga temple in 2002, where she learned meditation and began a daily practice. In 2006, she became curious about deepening her meditation through Zen and joined a local Sanbo Zen sangha; it was a coming home. In 2007, she took refuge in the Sanbo Zen lineage with Valerie Forstman Roshi. 

Shana Sensei has a Master's degree in Biological Oceanography, is a multiple award-winning children's musician, and is a published, Florida Book award-winning novelist for her historical fiction novel "Islands of Cedars." Zen consistently informs, sustains, and inspires her life as a parent, writer, yogi, musician, teacher, ecologist, and lifelong student. www.ShanaSmithWriter.com www.ShanaBanana.com Coming soon: www.FloridaSanboZen.com (under construction)


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ROHATSU RETREAT at ASZC
Dec
14
to Dec 15

ROHATSU RETREAT at ASZC

  • Atlanta Soto Zen Center (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

ROHATSU is the annual celebration of Buddha’s Enlightenment. We emulate his supreme effort by sitting up all night on Saturday — outdoors weather permitting — and facing the East, where he saw the morning star, triggering his awakening. This year’s retreat is condensed into two days over the weekend, with arrival Friday evening (Dec. 13) for out-of-towners. We will begin sitting Saturday morning at 9am, and then we will join the regular program on Sunday AM.

All are invited to attend (at zendo or online) and follow the schedule as you are able. We recommend the overnight Saturday sit for those experienced in meditation. A recitation of selected teachings will be led by Elliston Roshi on Saturday afternoon following Just Sit Saturday that morning. Plan to come for all or any part of the schedule. Please click here to register.


Suggested Program price: $75 per day or pay what you can afford.

More info email taiunmelliston@gmail.com

Zoom Meeting Information

Meeting ID: 859 5621 0311

Passcode: aszc

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ASZC - Just Sit Saturday
Nov
9
9:00 AM09:00

ASZC - Just Sit Saturday

Just Sit Saturday is your opportunity to enhance your daily practice and prepare for extended meditation in upcoming retreats offered during the year. 

We will focus on just sitting zazen.
MORNING SESSIONS: 9 AM - NOON
(6) SESSIONS- 25 min sitting + 5 min walking

Suggested Program price: $25 or pay what you can afford.

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Soto Zen Sunday Service
Nov
3
10:30 AM10:30

Soto Zen Sunday Service

Traditional Soto Zen Service 10:30 AM

Dharma Talk: 10:30 AM

Speaker:  Guest Speaker Taizan Alford

Taizan Alford received jukai from his teacher, Rev. Sosan Flynn of Clouds in Water Zen Center in St. Paul, MN, in 2014, and received shukke tokudo, or home-leaving ordination, from her in the fall of 2016. In early 2020 he completed a six-week ango, or intensive practice period, at Hokyoji Zen Practice Community in Eitzen, MN. He spent four months at Zen Mountain Monastery in Mt. Tremper, NY, later that year. In 2021, Taizan was shuso, or head student, at Clouds in Water. He is currently serving at resident priest in training for at the Nebraska Zen Cebrwe in Omaha, Nebraska.

Taizan’s meditation journey began in the early 1980s. His focus as a Zen practitioner and priest-in-training is on how zazen, taking refuge, and loving-kindness can heal old wounds and help individuals and communities experience more joy and less suffering. Sober since 1982, Taizan is also a singer-songwriter, deeply grateful for his loving and supportive husband, Tom. He has taught therapeutic and restorative yoga since 1998.


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ASZC - Master Class
Oct
26
9:00 AM09:00

ASZC - Master Class

The MASTER CLASS will occur every fourth Saturday of the month, from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. We will engage in various media studies and exercises alternating with bouts of meditation, inviting you to explore and expand your powers of creativity. Elliston Roshi will share his training in fine art and professional design and teach creativity in the context of Zen and everyday life, entertaining your comments and questions through interactive dialog.

Class Schedule:
0900-0930   Meditation
0930-1200   Course Content & Discussion; Q&A

(All reading and study materials provided. Bring your documentary media: notebook &  camera - feel free to photograph and record. Course content may vary slightly.)

Please plan to arrive by 830 to help set up tables.

Fees:
The fees for this program support Roshi in his work and benefit ASZC. They may be may be paid per session at the door or online. Additional dana for the teacher is accepted and appreciated place cash or checks in the dana box provided or send via PayPal, Zelle, or Venmo to taiunmelliston@gmail.com. Contact Roshi for additional information.

Individual Class (Per session): $20

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SHARPENING ‘THE RAZORBLADE OF ZEN'
Oct
24
8:00 PM20:00

SHARPENING ‘THE RAZORBLADE OF ZEN'

  • 1167 Zonolite Place Northeast Atlanta, GA, 30306 United States (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Thursday evenings in 2024 will introduce a new online program of contemporary study of Elliston-roshi’s recent book, ”The Razorblade of Zen.”


ZENtalk will be suspended for the rest of the year to avoid scheduling conflicts.
 

ANNOUNCING: NEW WEEKLY PROGRAM FOR 2024 

“SHARPENING ‘THE RAZORBLADE OF ZEN’”

Thursdays 8:00-9:00 pm beginning March 7th

Online Only -Zoom Link Below

Please plan to join online (Zoom Link Below) to engage in a dialog with the author regarding this. 

You can join at any time and catch up on the prior readings.

 
Donation only. No fee required. Dana may be given in cash or check at the door or sent to Roshi online via PayPal, Zelle, or Venmo to:

taiunmelliston@gmail.com


The book can be purchased at ASZC or Amazon

For more information, email: taiunmelliston@gmail.com

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Soto Zen Sunday Service
Oct
13
10:30 AM10:30

Soto Zen Sunday Service

Traditional Soto Zen Service 10:30 AM

Dharma Talk: 10:30 AM

Speaker:  Guest Speaker Shohaku Okumura Roshi

Dharma Talk

"Sanshin (Three Minds): Magnanimous Mind, Nurturing Mind, and Joyful Mind”

Shohaku Okumura is a Soto Zen priest and Dharma successor of Kosho Uchiyama Roshi. He is a graduate of Komazawa University and has practiced in Japan at Antaiji, Zuioji, and the Kyoto Soto Zen Center, and in Massachusetts at the Pioneer Valley Zendo. He is the former director of the Soto Zen Buddhism International Center in San Francisco. His previously published books of translation include Shobogenzo Zuimonki, Dogen Zen, Zen Teachings of Homeless Kodo, and Opening the Hand of Thought. Okumura is also editor of Dogen Zen and Its Relevance for Our Time; and SotoZen. He is the founding teacher of the Sanshin Zen Community, based in Bloomington, Indiana, where he lives with his family.


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STO/ASZC FALL RETREAT 2024
Oct
9
to Oct 13

STO/ASZC FALL RETREAT 2024

  • Atlanta Soto Zen Center (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

STO/ASZC FALL RETREAT is an annual retreat emphasizing Zen meditation with a series of daily talks about our Lineage and Legacy from our Kodo Sawaki, Kosho Uchiyama, Shohaku Okumura lineage. The schedule wraps around all regular ASZC programs such as Newcomer Workshop (Wed 7:30-8:30pm); ASZC Music Program (Thu evening); Just Sit Saturday (9:00am-Noon); Morning Meditation (M-F 6:00-7:00am); as well as Sunday Morning Meditation and Heart Sutra Service (9:00am-Noon); so as not to disrupt regular attendance.

Click Here for Daily Schedule

Click Here for Speaker Schedule

Suggested Fees: $75 per day, or $250 for the entire retreat (3.5 days). Or pay what you can afford if you are a student, or are under other financial constraints (fees also waived for certain in-kind donations). You are welcome to attend any part or all of the retreat, determining your own fee on the honor system.

For more information please contact our Abbot @ taiunmelliston@gmail.com

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SHARPENING ‘THE RAZORBLADE OF ZEN'
Oct
3
8:00 PM20:00

SHARPENING ‘THE RAZORBLADE OF ZEN'

  • 1167 Zonolite Place Northeast Atlanta, GA, 30306 United States (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Thursday evenings in 2024 will introduce a new online program of contemporary study of Elliston-roshi’s recent book, ”The Razorblade of Zen.”


ZENtalk will be suspended for the rest of the year to avoid scheduling conflicts.
 

ANNOUNCING: NEW WEEKLY PROGRAM FOR 2024 

“SHARPENING ‘THE RAZORBLADE OF ZEN’”

Thursdays 8:00-9:00 pm beginning March 7th

Online Only -Zoom Link Below

Please plan to join online (Zoom Link Below) to engage in a dialog with the author regarding this. 

You can join at any time and catch up on the prior readings.

 
Donation only. No fee required. Dana may be given in cash or check at the door or sent to Roshi online via PayPal, Zelle, or Venmo to:

taiunmelliston@gmail.com


The book can be purchased at ASZC or Amazon

For more information, email: taiunmelliston@gmail.com

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ASZC Watershed Fall Retreat
Oct
2
to Oct 6

ASZC Watershed Fall Retreat

  • 361 Albone Branch Road Hayesville, NC, 28904 United States (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Please join us for our multi-day meditation retreat in the western North Carolina mountains. Watershed Retreat Center is located on 94 acres in a pastoral farm setting highly conducive to finding, or returning to our true nature, in the embrace of Mother Nature.

Contact: Chishiki Bryan Price 828-389-4927 

Where: Watershed Retreat Center - 361 Albone Branch Road, Hayesville, NC 28904

Fees:  $200 or pay what you can

Questions Prior to Retreat Contact: Atlanta Soto Zen Center Email : bryan.price.md@gmail.com

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