Why the name, “Sweeping Heart Zen”?  To begin, The “zen” in Sweeping Heart Zen refers to a centuries-old, inspired-way of living that’s informed by the teachings of the Buddha.

These teachings are known as the Dharma. When we live the Dharma we learn to be harmless to ourselves, to other beings, and to nature.  Aspiring to harmlessness is the heart of the Zen way of life.    We are commitment to nonviolence, to nonharming, to nonaggression, to loving-friendliness, and to joy; we oppose war and teach peace in all cases.

The Soto School of Japanese Zen Buddhism

Furthermore, the “zen”  in Sweeping Heart Zen also refers to The Soto School of Japanese Zen Buddhism. In the 13th Century, Eihei Dogen Zenji, a Japanese Buddhist monk and reformer, transplanted the  Caodong School of Chan Buddhism from China to Japan where it became known as the Soto School.  Both the Chinese word “chan” and the Japanese word “zen” simply mean meditation. Both Dogen Zenji and Chan Buddhism put meditation in a preeminent place in Buddhist practice.  Dogen called it “… the gateway of ease and joy.”

With this in mind, it’s not surprising that, even though Sweeping Heart Zen does not attempt to recreate a Japanese way of practice here in America, Sweeping Heart Zen does cherish it’s Soto School heritage and, along with the practices of kindness and non-harming, we place great emphasis on mindfulness and meditation in both our shared practice times and in our personal practice in daily life.

Taking Responsibility For This Life

The “sweeping” in our name reminds us, in a direct, simple, and down-to-earth way, to take responsibility for the nitty-gritty details of daily life and for the course of our spiritual journey.  Sweeping Heart Zen is committed to paying close attention to what’s ahead on the path, and to keeping our own ethical and spiritual house in order.   We’re also willing to get our hands dirty helping others.  And, “sweeping” also points to life’s vast horizon and to the boundless innate goodness of the human heart.  This goodness of the heart manifests in our sweeping capacity to do good, to love, and to share in life with each other and the world, unconstrained by outward circumstances.

Finally, we aspire to fully uncover, nourish, and embody our innate, unguarded capacity to care for our lives and to love all of creation. That’s the “heart’ in Sweeping Heart Zen. Additionally,  we aim  liberate our capacity to fully love and serve each other.  That is the point of Buddhist practice.   “The unshakable deliverance of the heart,” the Buddha once said, “that is the object of practice, that is the essence, that is the goal of spiritual life.”

Here is a link: sweepingheartzen.org/about-sweeping-heart-zen/

Here is a link to our page at the Soto Zen Buddhist Association website: szba.org/centers/sweeping-heart-zen/