led by Head Priest Sessei Meg Levie and Abiding Teacher Jisho Warner, with Shuso (Head Student) Jude Kreissman

ABOUT ANGO
Ango, literally “Peaceful Abiding,” is a period of deepening and intensifying our commitment to practice, through zazen, study, and sharing the Dharma together, held each year at Stone Creek. We will come together for weekly evening ango groups, two full practice days, Sunday morning programs, and a Dharma Inquiry ceremony for Shuso Jude Kreissman. In addition, there are opportunities to meet one to one with the teachers and with the shuso.

Embracing the Human Condition

This year’s ango will be a collective exploration of what is involved walking the path of the Buddha in a human body, with a human mind and heart. We aim to bring our whole selves to all we do, and we rely on the Dharma to guide us to our whole self.

How do wisdom and compassion arise in a being with an inherently limited body and mind? What supports us in walking this path, and how do we support each other?

ANGO EVENTS

The heart of ango practice is the Weekday Evening Ango Groups. Everyone who is participating in ango in person should try to be present for all of the evening meetings, as well as the Dharma Inquiry Ceremony on Sunday, April 16 and all the Sunday talks.

Ango also includes two practice days, one-to-one meetings with the two teachers, tea with the shuso, daily zazen, and study.

Weekday Evening and Online Groups

- 5 Wednesday evening meetings held at Stone Creek Zen Center

The weekday evening groups provide an opportunity for participants to learn from one another and to each make an offering to the group of how the Dharma informs and supports our experience and practice of Embodying the Human Condition.

March 22 & 29, April 5, 12, 19 - 6-8pm

- 5 Thursday evening meetings held at Stone Creek Zen Center and also online (hybrid meeting)

March 23 & 30, April 6, 13, 20 - 6:30-8pm

- Participating online

Online participants are asked to also attend the Sunday talks via Zoom, the talks during the two practice days, and dokusan.

Daily Zazen

Everyone participating in ango is asked to commit to daily zazen practice (either joining the early weekday morning zazen offering online or in person when available, or on your own if this time is not possible).

Dokusan and tea with the shuso

Everyone participating in ango is also asked to meet for dokusan with one of the teachers, and if possible for tea with the shuso.

Sunday Dharma talks March 19 & 26, April 2, 9, 16
The Sunday program includes the whole sangha. The talks will be on the ango theme. They will be held both in person and online. Note that on April 16 we will hold the shuso or dharma inquiry ceremony instead of a Dharma talk.

Practice Days
There will be practice days at the beginning and end of ango. The practice-day talks will be live-streamed and recorded for the online group.

- Opening One-Day Sitting: 8am - 5pm, Tuesday, March 21

- Closing One-Day Sitting: 8am - 5pm, Thursday, April 13

Registration for the practice days is included in the ango fee. You will receive a form where you can indicate which sittings you are planning to attend. The practice days are also open to the whole sangha.

Dharma inquiry Ceremony Sunday, April 16, 10am-12pm

If you have any questions, or you would like to participate but are unable to make the minimal level of commitment of five evening groups, April 16 Dharma Inquiry Ceremony, daily practice, and meeting with a teacher and the shuso, please reach out to Head Priest Sessei Meg Levie at meg@stonecreekzen.org.

Study We'll be looking at two books, Zenju Earthlyn Manuel's The Way of Tenderness and Joanna Macy's World as Lover, World as Self (30th Anniversary Edition). Copies are reserved for sale at Many Rivers Books & Tea in Sebastopol.

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Jude Kreissman - our shuso (head student) for the ango

After becoming lost in the Tassajara wilderness, Jude and a camping partner literally
stumbled upon Tassajara Zen Center and joined the three-day sesshin then taking place.
This began a 45 year exploration of Buddhist practice, which quickly became a
cornerstone of her life. Stone Creek has been her spiritual refuge for nearly 20 years.
Jude loved working in education for 45 years, and loves retirement even more.
Having time to be with family and friends, be outside, read, dance and travel are
deeply restorative pleasures. She feels it's a privilege and a delight to be on the Stone Creek
board, where she serves as membership and volunteer coordinator.