About our sangha…
Just Show Up Zen Sangha is an online sangha in the Soto Zen tradition of the San Francisco Zen Center, founded by Shunryu Suzuki Roshi. We are serious about our practice, but in a casual and friendly manner, as reflected in our name. As lay practitioners, we use the particulars of our daily lives to inform our practice. In this sense, Just Show Up means to be fully present in “showing up” for our lives, whatever the circumstances.
The group is large enough for there to be good energy while small enough to be quite connected and personal. There is a lot of stability in the group, as many are fairly long term members. Yet, it is also very flexible as some people "just show up" as and when they can. Many of the regular members are quite experienced meditators, but there are some relative newcomers as well, and everyone is thoughtful and engaged--we have great dharma discussions. In general, the group is more horizontal than vertical--very relational.
We meet via Zoom on Monday and Friday mornings. Check out the weekly schedule on this website. We welcome you to join us—whether you are an experienced practitioner or totally new to Zen or meditation. If you are a newcomer, we welcome you to contact us for instruction and/or orientation. We do sitting and walking meditation, and have discussions and dharma talks.
We occasionally have half day or full day retreats that are a great opportunity to dive deeper into practice. From time to time, we come together in informal study groups, examining teachings in depth. Most recently, we have studied the classic teaching poem Harmony of Difference and Equality, by the Chinese master Shitou Xigian, as commented on by Suzuki Roshi.
If you would like to receive the Zoom link, or would like more information about Zen practice, our sangha, or the upcoming practice period, please send an email to Ava Stanton at ava@insightla.org.
We encourage you to follow our blog, which contains periodic posts on topics related to Zen practice. The tool to subscribe is at the bottom of this page.
All are welcome! All races and colors, all nationalities and ethnicities, all religious backgrounds, all citizens or residents (documented or not), gay or straight, bisexual, trans, queer or undefined, cis gender or gender nonconforming, all ages, all persons with or without disabilities
