February 2010 Saturday Morning Lecture Series

All Buddhists vow to avoid “misusing sexuality.” But what does that really mean?
How should contemporary Western Buddhists understand the precept against the
misuse of sex in a society that is much more open and free about sexuality
than any society in the Buddha’s time?
Do the old restrictions still matter? And how is sex connected with meditation?


February 6, 13, 27
9:55 AM - 10:00 AM Instruction
10:00 AM - 10:40 AM Zazen
10:40 - Noon Tea, Talk & Discussion
($15 suggested donation each meeting)

February 20 one-day retreat
9:50 - 10:00   Instruction in Zazen
10:00 - 10:30   Zazen
10:30 - 10:40  Kinhin (slow walking)
10:40 - 11:10   Zazen
11:10 - 11:20   Kinhin
11:20 - 11:50   Zazen
12:00 - 13:15    Lunch and Clean Up
13:15 - 13:45    Zazen
13:45 - 13:55   Kinhin
13:55 - 14:25   Zazen
14:30 - 15:30    Talk and Discussion
Please bring your own lunch or you may dine in one of the many nearby restaurants during the one hour break.
($20 suggested donation)

Wear loose comfortable clothes. The suggested donation to attend is at least $15 per person ($20 for the all day sittings, see here for details). It is those who attend these classes who pay the rent for the use of the center. If we can't make the rent, we'll have to close down. So feel free to donate more if you can. Remember this is by far the cheapest meditation class available in the area!

Beginners are welcome. But if you've never done zazen before, please look at the following page:

HOW TO DO ZAZEN

PARKING: You can usually use the parking lot next to the Hill St. Center. However, sometimes folks got blocked in by the people from the church next door who also use the lot. So we cannot guarantee this won't happen. To avoid this, there is a public parking lot just off Main St. with meters which charges 50 cents per hour. There's a Starbuck's on the corner of Hill & Main. The lot is more or less across the street from the Starbuck's. There's also some on-street parking in the area which is free. Your best bet is to park above 4th Street (meaning in the direction away from the ocean).

The focus of the class is on zazen practice. So come prepared to do the practice. If you come late, please enter quietly and start sitting. Watch everyone else if you don't know what to do. There are about ten zafus (sitting cushions) at the Hill St. Center.

Here is some brief information about Brad:

Brad Warner is the author of Hardcore Zen, Sit Down & Shut Up and Zen Wrapped in Karma Dipped in Chocolate. He began studying Zen in the early 80's under Tim McCarthy, a student of Kobun Chino Roshi.  Brad was ordained in the Soto School of Zen by Gudo Nishijima Roshi, co-translator of the only complete English edition of Dogen Zenji's 12th century masterpiece Shobogenzo.  Before moving to California, Brad taught zazen classes and led retreats in Japan for several years. He now teaches and leads numerous retreats each year in the US, Canada, Europe and Japan.

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