Month: September 2014

On Sunday, September 28, we did our annual Two Ancestors memorial service to honor Eihei Dogen and Keizan Jokin. Genko talked about honoring our ancestors, and of course this included some talk of Kyogen as he takes his place in the ancestral line. Who are our ancestors? How do we honor them? Why do we… Read more »

On Sunday, September 21, morning service attracted well over 100 people (we usually have about 40-50). Kyogen did his last Shosan ceremony, with the answers in silence. For the afternoon Memorial Ceremony, the guest book recorded more than 150 names, and best estimates were that 200 people came. The ceremony, even though none of us… Read more »

Our beloved Abbot Kyogen Carlson passed away about 9am Thursday, September 18 from a massive heart attack. Several teachers, disciples, and members held vigil at the hospital most of yesterday. People are welcome to come by the 85th St house (3155 NE 85th Avenue) to share stories, food, or just sit as needed. This Sunday,… Read more »

Framing of the Sodo is moving along rapidly. The sub-floor is in, and we have walls beginning to go up! Roof joists have been delivered. Plumbing and stormwater trenches and pipes are happening. The pond has been dug, and the pathway to 82nd Avenue is continuing to take shape. Changes happen every day out there… Read more »

People often use the metaphor of climbing a mountain when describing spiritual practice. For example: “there are many paths but they lead up the same mountain.” There are number of problems with this view. The main one is that spiritual attainment has many different facets, and we confuse ourselves by rolling them together. “Mountain” might… Read more »

For the first Ango Sunday in fall 2014, Bukkai referenced a Pete Seeger song, with words from the book of Ecclesiastes: To everything – turn, turn, turn There is a season – turn, turn, turn And a time for every purpose under heaven. This talk given Sunday, September 7. Listen to the recording here.

    What is “sacred?” Why have we human beings, throughout our existence on this earth, nearly universally created rituals and images invoking the sacred? How do we use the word today, and just what does it really mean? What then, if anything, fits that definition? Does Buddhism, specifically Zen, point us toward the sacred? What… Read more »

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