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Tuesday Evening Study

Class is from 8-9pm Pacific Time, after zazen and a short break (you can arrive or leave any time). Click here to view the practice schedule. You are welcome to join our class series for free at any time, at any point in the series, and there is no need to register. Each class can be accessible and enjoyable even if you haven’t attended previous classes in a series. Missed a Class? Classes and Dharma Talks are almost always recorded; click here for recordings.

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2026 Annual Precept Study

Every year, we study the Bodhisattva Precepts. Please join us! This series occurs every Tuesday (except for Sesshin, on April 21st) between March 10 and June 2nd, concluding with our June 7th Jukai ceremony (12 classes total) and is led by Sangha members who have received Jukai.

Click here for our Bodhisattva Precepts resource page, including the main precepts text, supplemental references, and suggested books. We don’t have any assigned reading but recommend that people chose one or more of the books on the precepts resource page to read.

Upcoming Study Schedule:

  • Tuesday, March 10th – Precepts 1: Precepts as Practice in Our Lineage, Three Refuges, Karma Verse ~ Coral

 

  • Tuesday, March 17th – Precepts 2: Three Pure Precepts ~ Eric
    • Cease from harm – release all self­-attachment. This is the house of all the ways of buddha; this is the source of all the laws of buddhahood.
    • Do only good – take selfless action. The dharma of the anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, perfect enlightenment, is the dharma of all existence, never apart from the present moment.
    • Do good for others – embrace all things and conditions. Leap beyond the holy and the unholy. Let us rescue ourselves together with all beings.
  • Tuesday, March 24th – Precepts 3: Do Not Kill – cultivate and encourage life ~ Erica
    • In the realm of the everlasting dharma, holding no thought of killing is the precept of not killing. The life of buddha increases with life; no life can be cut off. Continue the life of buddha; do not kill buddha.
  • Tuesday, March 31st – Precepts 4: Do Not Steal – honor the gift not yet given ~ Dan
    • In the realm of the unattainable dharma, holding no thought of gain is the precept of not stealing. The self and the things of the world are just as they are; the mind and its object are one. The gateway to enlightenment stands open wide.
  • Tuesday, April 7th – Precepts 5: Do Not Misuse Sexuality – remain faithful in relationships ~ Gathel
    • In the realm of the ungilded dharma, not coveting or creating a veneer of attachment is the precept of not misusing sexuality. The three wheels are pure and clear. When there is nothing to desire, we follow the way of all buddhas.
  • Tuesday, April 14th – Precepts 6: Do Not Speak Dishonestly – communicate truthfully ~ Drew
    • In the realm of the inexplicable dharma, putting forth not one word is the precept of not speaking dishonestly. The dharma wheel turns from the beginning. There is neither surplus nor lack. The sweet dew covers the earth, and within it lies the truth.

 

  • Tuesday, April 21st – SESSHIN – no precept class. Class will be led by Tyler:
    “What’s The Rush? Zen’s Preoccupation Of Slowing Us Down”
    In this talk Tyler will examine in both literature and practice Soto Zen’s preoccupation with slowing us down. What effects does slowing down have on our lives, our well being and our brain and how might this affect our practice and our ability to experience “Reality.”

 

  • Tuesday, April 28th – Precepts 7: Do Not Become Intoxicated – polish clarity, dispel delusion ~ Leah
    • In the realm of the intrinsically pure dharma, not harboring delusions is the precept of not becoming intoxicated. We are naturally pure; there is nothing to be deluded about. This is enlightenment itself. Understand this truly, and no intoxicants can be taken in.
  • Tuesday, May 5th – Precepts 8: Do Not Dwell on Past Mistakes – create wisdom from ignorance ~ Mick
    • In the realm of the flawless dharma, not expounding upon error is the precept of not dwelling on past mistakes. In the buddha dharma there is one path, one dharma, one realization, one practice. Do not engage in fault-finding. Do not condone haphazard talk.
  • Tuesday, May 12th – Precepts 9: Do Not Praise Self or Blame Others – maintain modesty, extol virtue ~ Yolanda
    • In the realm of the equitable dharma, not dwelling upon I versus you is the precept of not praising self or blaming others. All buddhas and ancestors realize the empty sky and the great earth. When they manifest the noble body, there is neither inside nor outside in emptiness. When they manifest the dharma body, not even a speck of dust is seen upon the ground.
  • Tuesday, May 19th – Precepts 10: Do Not Be Mean With Dharma or Wealth – share understanding, give freely of self ~ Rachel
    • In the genuine, all-pervading dharma, being jealous of nothing is the precept of not being mean with dharma or wealth. One phrase, one verse – that is the ten thousand things and one hundred grasses; one dharma, one realization – that is all buddhas and dharma ancestors. From the beginning, not one thing has been begrudged.
  • Tuesday, May 26th – Precepts 11: Do Not Indulge Anger – cultivate equanimity ~ Jen
    • In the realm of the selfless dharma, not contriving reality for the self is the precept of not indulging anger. Not advancing, not retreating, not real, not empty. There is a brilliant sea of clouds. There is a dignified sea of clouds.
  • Tuesday, June 2nd – Precepts 12: Do Not Defame the Three Treasures – respect the buddha, unfold the dharma, nourish the sangha ~ Tyler
    • In the realm of the One, holding no concept of ordinary beings and sages is the precept of not defaming the three treasures. To do something by ourselves, without copying others, is to become an example to the world, and the merit of this becomes the source of all wisdom. Criticize nothing; accept everything.