Compassion’s Way: The Dharma of 3 American Zen Ancestors

led by Hogetsu Laurie Belzer, ADZG Guiding Teacher
Sunday March 23, 2025 – Sunday May 18, 2025
In person, online, or hybrid participation is welcome!

Each moment, life as it is, the only teacher.
Being just this moment, compassion’s way.   ~ Joko Beck

You can’t redo your life.   ~ Zenkei Blanche Hartman

Our intelligence and dignity themselves are developed by our being alive for everything, including the mundane anguish of our lives.  ~ Surei Darlene Cohen

This year’s ADZG Practice Commitment Period, our household ango (practice period), embraces the warm-hearted and penetrating Zen wisdom of modern dharma teachers, Joko Beck, Blanche Hartman, and Darlene Cohen. In the midst of everyday life, participants find ways to arrange their life circumstances to engage in 8-weeks of intensified zen practice. As urban monks during the PCP, you will join dragon dharma companions in defining personal schedules with common elements and following these completely, with your best effort.  Each participant designs a practice commitment sheet and commits to a personal schedule to enter deeply into the three realms of zen practice: zazen/meditation, dharma study, and sangha. 
Personal commitments can include flexibility or modification, in consultation with Hogetsu.
Distant and online practitioners are welcome.  
You will receive a week by week practice period outline and study guide after you register and complete your Practice Commitment Sheet. 

Some key components are:

• • Practice Commitment Sheet:  A personalized practice guide that sustainably fits your life situation. Use the button below to download the sheet to preview the details.
  • Sesshin: The PCP commences with a one day sesshin on March 23, 2025 and concludes on Sunday with a 3 day sesshin (May 16-18, 2025) that includes a Dharma Inquiry Ceremony with the shuso (head student). Early sign-up is encouraged; try to attend at least 2 days of sesshin.
  • Weekly Sunday Dharma Talks will focus on the lives, stories, and writing of three Modern Zen Ancestors: Joko Beck, Blanche Hartman, and Darlene Cohen.
  • Weekly Monday Evening Practice Conversations will include talks by our shuso and tantos, and group discussions with PCP participant practice sharing.  
  • Thursday Morning Dharma: The zazen and dharma event on Thursdays at 8am Central will focus on these teachings and participant sharing.
  • Shuso Tea: The shuso (head student) shares the teaching seat with the guiding teacher. The shuso’s assistant (benji) will invite small groups of participants for tea with the shuso.
  • Dharma Buddy: All participants will be paired with a “PCP buddy”.  
  • Sangha Service Opportunities and Temple Workday: Participate in at least two service events. Try out a greeter or doan job, serve tea, prep sesshin meals, help organize our library – your service creates sangha.

Reference texts:
Everyday Zen and Nothing Special by Joko Charlotte Beck
Seeds for a Boundless Life: Zen teachings from the heart  by Blanche Hartman (with Zenju Earthlyn Manuel)
Turning Suffering Inside Out by Darlene Cohen
The Hidden Lamp: Stories from 25 centuries of awakened women edited by Zenshin Florence Caplow and Reigetsu Susan Moon

Registration and Information

Registration for the Practice Commitment Period involves three steps:

• First, register for the Practice Commitment Period: fill out the form below. Please register by Monday, March 17, 2025.
  Suggested Donation: $125.00* (Does not include additional donations for all-day sittings/sesshin).
  * Donations are suggested and offered on a self-determined sliding scale: you determine the amount of your contribution on the online sign-up form below according to your budget. Donations that exceed the suggested amount help us to widely share the dharma.
• Second, register for the all-day sittings (March 23, May 16-18) you wish to attend on their respective calendar links on the website.
• Third, download and fill out the commitment sheet found by clicking the button below, and email the completed PCP commitment sheet to hogetsu.laurie@gmail.com.
• Questions?  Email or speak to Hogetsu!