Pacific Zen Institute
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PZI operates from the simple yet profound discovery that awakening can happen in this very life, at this very moment, rather than in some other life at some other time. Our two main centers are The Santa Rosa Creek Zen Center at santrarosazen.org, and Rockridge Meditation Community at oaklandzen.org. After 20 years of teaching koans in a classical way, John Tarrant, the founder of PZI, developed a
03/21/2026
SUNDAY ZEN with John Tarrant, Allison Atwill & Tess Beasley: Things Are Not As They Appear, Nor Are They Otherwise
In any given moment, we think we know what’s what, but then there’s this other thing happening, the big lumbering aurochs that runs the universe is just ambling along beneath the surface.
Discrepancies appear between our ideas and experience, uncertainty seeps in, which is far more interesting.
You’re supposed to be happy but you feel sick, or you laugh when you’re sad. It’s why buying gizmos does not console us, because the big lumbering aurochs doesn’t care about gizmos.
Awakening is about befriending the aurochs, even praising it.
Join us Sunday as we explore a famous line from the Lankavatara Sutra:
"Things are not as they appear, nor are they otherwise."
—Tess Beasley, Roshi
Register for Sunday Zen with John Tarrant, Allison Atwill & Tess Beasley – March 22nd – 10:30am PT in the PZI Online Temple – Link in comments!
*Registration is FREE for members and guests, or you may elect to donate $10. Dana gratefully accepted.
Click here to claim your Sponsored Listing.
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P. O. Box 2972
Santa Rosa, CA
95405
