2025 FALL PRACTICE PERIOD

September 21 to December 21

This fall, our theme is the Three Tenets.

The Three Tenets are Not-Knowing, Bearing Witness, and Action that arises out of Not-Knowing and Bearing Witness. These Three Tenets are a recasting of the Three Pure Precepts. Do Not Do Evil, is recast as Not-Knowing; the second, Do Good, as Bearing Witness; and the third, Do Good for Others, as Action arising out of Not-Knowing and Bearing Witness. The Three Tenets are also aligned with the Three Treasures of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.

The participating Sanghas are: Zen Center of Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo Zen Circle, Wild River Zen Circle (Nevada City, CA), Joyful-Mind Sangha (Rolling Hills, CA), Monday Night Meditation Group (Pasadena, CA), Empty Hands Circle (Campinas, SP, Brazil), Zen-Center Bambushain (Zhulinci, Aachen, Germany) and The Buddhist Fellowship Group at the California Men’s Colony (San Luis Obispo).

The teachers pictured on this page are ready to support your practice throughout the practice period. They are Senseis Senshin, Myoho, Mukei, Dharma-Joy, Jitsujo, Tchoren, Etsugen and Gessho; and Roshis Egyoku, Ryodo and Shogen.

PRACTICE PERIOD ENTERING

Everyone is encouraged to attend the Fall Practice Period Entering Ceremony for all participants and the Head Trainee Leave-taking and Shuso Entering Ceremonies on Saturday, September 20 at 9:00 a.m. Those unable to attend in person may join via Zoom. Details will be sent by the Program Steward. The Practice Period Closing Ceremony will be held on December 21.

Click here to fill out your commitment form!

ENTERING HEAD TRAINEES

ZCLA Shuso Glenn Gikai Davis

Glenn Gikai Davis is the 2025-2026 Shuso under the guidance of Sensei Tom Dharma-Joy Reichert, with continuing koan training by Roshi Wendy Egyoku Nakao.  Gikai began his formal meditation practice in the mid-2000s, practicing with Trudy Goodman at Insight LA (becoming a teacher at Insight LA), Shinzen Young (becoming a facilitator for Shinzen) and Anam Thubten Rinpoche.  Gikai was inspired by Shinzen Young to practice with his teacher, Joshu Sasaki Roshi, with whom Gikai practiced for about 5 years (until his death in 2014).  Thereafter, Gikai discovered ZCLA, where he began koan practice with Roshi Egyoku and Roshi Ryodo, He received jukai in 2017 and tokudo in 2023 from Roshi Egyoku. Gikai became a resident of ZCLA in 2018.  Gikai and his spouse, Treya, have been married 16 years, and have a home on Atlas Peak mountain in Napa.  Gikai is an entertainment and media lawyer, a musician, and an avid sailor.

SLO Head Trainee Eduardo Kyƍzen Zambrano

Eduardo will begin serving as the San Luis Obispo Zen Circle’s fifth Head Trainee on Thursday, September 25. He has practiced meditation since 1988, with a path that includes Zen (since 1995), Theravāda (since 1999), and Dzogchen (since 2005). He received jukai from Rƍshi Shƍgen on May 11, 2025.

A student of The Work of Byron Katie since 2002, Eduardo was certified as a facilitator in 2007, and has staffed her events regularly since 2005. He has offered The Work in Buddhist settings since 2007 and leads retreats twice a year at Great Vow Zen Monastery.

Eduardo has been teaching economics at the university level since 1999. He is currently a professor of economics at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where he has taught since 2007. He lives with his wife, Katya, and their two young children, and enjoys rock climbing in his free time.

 

 

 

EXITING HEAD TRAINEE

ZCLA Head Trainee Bill Tetsui Press

Bill Tetsui Press is the 2024-2025 Head Trainee under the guidance of Roshi Kipp Ryodo Hawley. Tetsui began Zen practice with Charlotte Joko Beck at Zen Center of San Diego in 1996. After moving to the Bay Area in 1998, he began working closely with Joko’s successor Diane Eshin Rizzetto at the Bay Zen Center. He received jukai from Diane in 2003 and played a leadership role, both in practice and in the operation of the center, until Diane’s retirement in 2019. He also served on the board, including as board president. Tetsui began practicing at ZCLA in 2016 with Roshi Egyoku and has been studying with Roshi Ryodo since 2019. Tetsui has been with his spouse Elana for over 20 years and has two children, a teenage son and an adult daughter, and one grandchild. Tetsui is a tech executive and has a deep love of dogs and music. His Dharma Combat will take place on Sunday, October 12, at the end of the October sesshin.

PRACTICING WITH THE THREE TENETS

For this Fall Practice Period, we encourage everyone to commit to one or more of the following practices:

1. Recite one of the following daily:

a) Today, I commit myself to Not-Knowing, the source of all manifestations, and to seeing all manifestations as the teachings of Not-Knowing.

I commit myself to Bearing Witness, by encountering all creations with respect and dignity and by allowing myself to be touched by the joys and pains of the universe.

I commit myself to Healing, by inviting all hungry spirits into the mandala of my practice and using my energy and love for healing myself, the earth, humanity, and all creations.

 

b) Today, I vow:

First, to Do No Evil. I renew my vow to Not-Knowing as the source of all manifestations, and to all manifestations as the teachings of Not-Knowing.

Second, to Do Good. I renew my vow to Bearing Witness by allowing myself to be touched by the joys and pain of the universe, clearly seeing what is without attachment or judgment.

Third, to Do Good for Others. I renew my vow to serve others by using my energy and love for the healing of myself, the earth, humanity, and all creations.

c) Today, I will manifest my True Self in every situation and with everything that arises, using the Three Tenets.

  • I will embody Not-Knowing, thereby giving up fixed ideas.
  • I will Bear Witness, opening my heart to the joy and suffering of life.
  • I will take Action arising out of Not-Knowing and Bearing Witness.

2. Work with a Three Tenets Mala. (If you don’t have one, we can guide you in making your own.)

3. Do a beneficial Action that arises out of Not-Knowing and Bearing Witness for yourself or others. (Examples: clean a public bathroom, say hello to a stranger, etc.)

4. Attend our monthly Saturday Day of Reflection, where we use the Three Tenets as guidelines.

  • September 27
  • October 25
  • November 22
  • December 20

5. The first Tenet of Not-Knowing is strengthened by doing Zazen. Therefore, we encourage everyone to participate in our fall Sesshin and Zazenkai.

  • Autumn Wind Sesshin – October 5 (eve) through October 12
  • November Zazenkai – November 7 (eve) – 8
  • Rohatsu Sesshin – December 5 (eve) – December 13.

We have many fall practice opportunities and encourage everyone to attend in person with the Sangha in our:

A. Gate of Sweet Nectar Service (held on most Sundays)
B. Ceremony of Atonement:

  • Thursday, October 23
  • Thursday, December 4
  • Tuesday, December 31

C. Personal Practice Talks

  • Thursday, September 25
  • Thursday, October 16
  • Thursday, October 30
  • Thursday, November 13

D. Sunday 11 am Dharma talks, councils, or special events

This fall we have again expanded our weekday schedule for those who want to come to the Zen Center and practice. All are encouraged. For that schedule, click here.

RESOURCES

 

To deepen your work with the Three Tenets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click here to fill out your commitment form!