Month: August 2014
With Permits In Hand, Work Takes Off! Construction crews are busy on the new property, as we have been as well. Below the foundation is being poured onto the footings established earlier. Framing will being in a few days! Click on any photo for a larger view Below we see the foundation completed! This is… Read more »
This Dharma Talk is about actively engaging in the practice of not criticizing, and specifically not complaining. Taking the practice of cultivating acceptance off the cushion and into all the situations and people we encounter in the course of our lives is quite a challenge. Is it even possible to really do this practice of… Read more »
Genzo-e Sesshin, our first retreat actually on the property, was a big success. Participating were Kakumyo (presiding teacher), Jyoshin (shuso), Genko (precentor), Shin’yu (tenzo), Ko’in, Kengan, Yoan, Shokei, Doug Hull, Joe Walder, Sonja Aikens, Terry Carnahan, Kim Wood-Saldana, Kym Kline, Sokuchu, and Richard Schuler. The photo shows the people present at the end of retreat… Read more »
Everything is always changing; on what can we rely? All passes away. Where is our ground? We seek for something and it is pulled away. The Buddha repeatedly predicted perfect enlightenment – Buddhahood – for all beings; how can this be true if everything is conditioned and dependent and changing? The word sometimes used for… Read more »
This Dharma Talk is about Gratitude. Kakumyo finds much to be thankful for. The talk was given on Sunday, August 10.
The Dharma Council is introducing a new team into the Sangha’s organizational structure, designed to answer long-standing questions about how instructors are developed, and how people are given opportunities for leadership in the sangha both in class instruction and in other roles such as the sacristy and the jisha-ryo. Many important qualities of good teachers… Read more »
Work Starts in Earnest on the Sodo With work permits in hand, heavy equipment is again working the property on infrastructure as well as the Sodo. Here are some early photos, click on any one of them for a larger view: This will be the wheelchair ramp into our new Zendo/Sodo! It has a firm… Read more »
The Dharma Talk for Sunday, August 3, was about family. Bukkai’s way in is an unusual koan from The Hidden Lamp collection entitled “Ganji’s Family.” Bukkai found much food for thought in the story and she hopes that those hearing this talk will as well.
There is a lot going on this week. GroundWork came in to help with putting together the raised beds for the gardens and also preparing the newly-picked plums for saving and eating. At the same time, construction workers were putting in a vault and manhole cover so that the methane pipes can be below street… Read more »