Painting by Sue Dirksin, Untitled, with artist's permission.
Ango, Spring Practice 2025
led by Robert Reese and Patricia Wolff of the MBZC Teaching Council
One of the foundational teachings of the Buddha is that renewing our purpose and intensifying our commitment for a short interval of time enlivens our practice and clarifies our intention. Ango, or Practice Period, means “Peaceful Dwelling,” and is a time to take advantage of the singular opportunity to work with our life in this way supported by the community and practice leaders. And, while there are several events offered during this time, the Ango occurs within each one of us — exactly where we are.
With this understanding, the Practice Period is created to sustain our efforts in the circumstances of our everyday life and work. To support this endeavor, we have created a series of options from which you can form an ongoing practice that cultivates and encourages you to go deeper into your own life. According to Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, to live skillful and ethically is an expression of our original nature, rather than rules or an abstract code of ethics. Studying the precepts and paramitas heightens awareness of how ethical behavior can inform and enliven our daily words and actions, assist us at work, and in our interactions with friends, family, and the wider world. In meeting the ethical challenges of modern life, the living skillfully offers a clear and engaged path of practice and show us what the heart and mind of Zen look like when immersed in the world.
Practice Period includes:
Creating a personal zazen schedule
Integrating work and family as Practice
Attending Tuesday night Dharma talk(s)
Attending a Half-Day Sitting: Sunday, April 13th, 12 noon -- 4 p.m.
Attending Sesshin in full or in part, February 27 - March 2.
Meetings with practice leaders
Working with the Precepts, Paramitas, or Brahmaviharas
Practice Period Classes and Teas
Teas and discussion for those committing to the full Practice Period.
Classes, zazen and half day sitting(s) open to all
The Sunday Schedule
The bodhisattva vow is to be there with us and for us, not above us or beyond us.
— Dale S. Wright, Living Skillfully: Buddhist Philosophy of Life from the Vimalakirti Sutra
9:00 to 10:00 AM - Teas and discussions on the period themes. Check-in and support with companions on the Way (who have also fully committed to the practice period).
10:00 to 10:30 AM - Zazen
10:30 to 11:30 AM - Class
The classes explore two significant themes of living in the world: Each week we will be alternating between the themes of Complete Speech in Language of the Heart with Patricia Wolff, and Skillful Means (Upaya) from the Vimalakirti Sutra with Robert Reese. Both themes fall under the umbrella of Skillful Means, but are expressed in differing ways.
Practice Period study includes the Brahmaviharas (Sympathetic Joy, Equanimity, Compassion and Loving Kindness). Classical Buddhism identified these four states of mind to tend toward nurturing characteristics. Students are also welcome to work with the Bodhisattva Precepts, or the Paramitas.
Among the questions addressed: What does it mean to use complete speech and live skillfully; how do we enact intimacy in language? How is a perspective of contingency appropriate to everyday life and what does it mean to comprehend there is no permanent self?
To participate, please complete the Commitment Form linked from this button. This is also a registration for class, zazen, and or zazenkai. Practice Period participation is by donation and no one is turned away for lack of funds.
You may also return to this page at any time to add the following to support MBZC and the teachers in this offering.