"Vast is the robe of liberation, 
a formless field of benefaction;
I wear the Tathagata's teaching,
saving all sentient beings."
--from our liturgy book 

The Precepts of skillful action are the moral and ethical teachings of the Zen Buddhist tradition. They're not rules to be followed, but suggestions on how to navigate the difficult and messy business of being human in this human world. They describe how to fully actualize the absolute truth of interconnection and oneness in the relative of world of this and that. Moreover, the Precepts are among the Buddha's clearest suggestions about how to find liberation right in the middle of our everyday lives.

The ceremony of formally receiving the precepts is called Jukai, and takes place twice a year. People who have received the Precepts wear a rakusu (pronounced "rock-su") during zazen, the black bib-like garment that is a miniaturized version of the Buddha's robe, the robe of liberation. In this ceremony, each person receiving the precepts has the opportunity to read a sentence or three about each of the sixteen precepts. In this way, the ceremony is extremely powerful, communal, and inspiring. If possible, you should attend at least one Jukai ceremony before receiving them yourself.

Receiving the Precepts is not something we do when we believe we will never act against them, but is itself an expression of our bodhisattva aspiration to return, again and again, to our intention to let Precepts guide our lives.

The process of aspiring to be guided by the precepts, falling short of our aspirations, and atoning for the harming karma we create is the essence of Zen. This three-part process (aspiring, falling short, and atoning) is the heart of practicing Zen in our everyday off-the-cushion lives.

If you're interested in taking the Precepts, you can inquire about this in dokusan with any of our transmitted teachers. Most people sew their rakusu themselves, and there are sangha members who can help with this, including by providing you with a kit to get started.

You can find two Precepts recitations in our liturgy book.

Jukai Ceremonies in which the precepts are given and received are held twice a year.  One in Spring, and one in Autumn at GBZC. It is suitable to invite friends and relative to this ceremony.

Jukai Schedule for 2018 and 2019

• November 17, 2018 -- GBZC, Cambridge
• April 2019 -- TBD
• November 9, 2019 -- GBZC, Cambridge

Our next Jukai ceremony at GBZC is scheduled for November 15th, 2014 at 4:30 PM.

Dr. Patrick Codd of North Carolina was ordained as a priest of Boundless Way Zen on October 28th, 2017.  In this audio recording Patrick talks about what Zen practice and ordination mean for his life and the world.

[Download] Why do you put on your seven piece robe?

The Liturgical texts of Zen are powerful and provocative teaching tools. They can be pointers to practice, words of encouragement, and transformative acts-in-themselves.

GBZC offers a Liturgy study and discussion group on the FOURTH THURSDAY EVENING of the month at 7:15 PM. Drop-ins are welcome! 

For 2017-18, this group will be taught by our abbot Josh Bartok assisted by our co-heads of practice Steve and Laura Wallace. John Vetrano will be the practice leader for the group.

We'll be meeting each month, September through May, except January.
Please note that there are some exceptions to our typical schedule of meeting on the fourth Thursday of the month.  The dates below are underlined if they are NOT the fourth Thursday.
Dates: 9/21, 10/26, 11/30, 12/21, (no meeting in January), 2/22, 3/22, 4/26, 5/24
Time: 7:15 – 8:45 pm

Suggested donation - GBZC members: $10 / non-members: $15

Reading will be:

This year we will be discussing a selection of texts that have been newly added to our BoWZ liturgy book.  The liturgy book is available for download here.

• September
  1. Healing is Situated in Love, by angel Kyodo williams
  2. Compassion Unbound, by Koun Yamada
  3. The Fruit of the Bodhisattva Way, by Mazu Daoyi
• October
  1.  Buddha Nature, by Eihei Dogen
  2.  The Way I Must Enter, by Izumi Shikibu
• November
  1. Nothing to Do, by Linji Yixuan
  2. There is No End, by Dainin Katagiri
  3. Aspiration Prayer, by Larry Yang
  4. Your True Self Is The World, by Kosho Uchiyama
• December

  1. The Heart of True Entrusting (“Xinxinming”), by Jianzhi Sengcan

• February
  1. Receiving the Marrow by Bowing, by Eihei Dogen, p. 51
  2. Body and Mind, Ocean and Waves, by Keizan Jokin, p. 55
  3. Realizing the Zen Way, by Muso Soseki, p. 19
• March
  1. Sending-and-Receiving, by Norman Fischer, p. 74
  2. Hope in the Dark, by Rebecca Solnit, p. 71
  3. Fourfold Commitment to Social Justice, by GBZC Racial and Social Justice Group, p. 66
• April
  1. Observing the One Who Is Dim and Dull, by Da Hui, p. 19
  2. This Moment is the Koan, by Keizan Jokin, p. 57
  3. Great Doubt, by Hakuin Ekaku, p. 18
• May
  1. Who Owns the Weather? By Joan Tollifson, p. 73
  2. Ocean-Mudra Samadhi, by Eihei Dogen, p. 54
  3. Do Your Best from the Record of Linji, p. 20

"Every Day Is A Good Day"

"We can't do it by ourselves, and no one else can do it for us."
--from our liturgy book

"Commuter retreats" are non-residential multi-day intensive practice periods. They are opportunities similar to a day of sesshin. They typically run from 8am-6pm over one weekend. Like the zazenkai, commuter retreats include lunch practice together. We ask retreat attendees to bring a bag lunch and a teacup. We will provide hot water for tea.  Participants should plan to eat breakfast and dinner at home.

GBZC Commuter Retreats are scheduled for:

• February 16-18, 2019
  Led by Josh Jiun Bartok, Roshi & Kate Kagen Hartland, Sensei 
• June 29-30, 2019
  Led by Josh Jiun Bartok, Roshi and TBA

More information is available at our commuter retreat information page.

Lunch: Please bring a brown-bag lunch to eat Oryoki style.

Suggested donation: $50 for each full day; $25 for each half-day
Sliding scale available. Please never let money keep you away. All are welcome, regardless of means.