Category: Blog
Bukkai takes a risk and talks about joy, in a talk that is part lecture from Buddhist sources and part practice advice and instruction. This talk was given Sunday, January 29.
This week’s Wednesday work party worked on finishing the siding for the front of the barn and also to caulk on the inside in an effort to stop leaks. If putting a bird on it signifies approval, then we must have succeeded. We really value our volunteers, who were happy to return after a couple… Read more »
Sunday 3:58 AM One last shot at Rohatsu Everyone’s still asleep Savoring the still still of sesshin seventh A journal and warm tea ablution by the back French doors I realize what I’d hoped was moonlight Bathing the kitchen all this time Nothing but an overdone silver screen The last ditch katz of a lone… Read more »
Dharma Rain’s Sewing Master Genko Rainwater shares some of the research that has contributed to the Zen Sewing Study Group meeting on Tuesday nights. There’s a lot of interesting history behind the various kinds of robes that we wear. Beyond that, she will look at the practice of wearing robes (including rakusus and wagessas), the… Read more »
A sigh of relief has been heard in the land. Snow and ice has melted, and snow boots have been put away to dry. Delayed shopping has been accomplished. Now there are clean-up tasks of various sorts to do, and people can again attend our events safely. Several sangha members are away, at Inauguration events… Read more »
One of the attachments that many of us work hard to satisfy is an aversion to failure. This is a particularly interesting attachment for several reasons. This Sunday, Kakumyo will explore why, and make a dharmic case for failure as a crucial ingredient in one’s spiritual path. This talk was given Sunday, January 15.
The beauty of a rare winter snowstorm has been breathtaking. The weather has impacted our attendance, though we have continued our schedule of events. A few hardy souls trickle in to various things, like the sewing class on Tuesday and Wednesday’s Precepts class. We are asking that people use their own best judgment about whether… Read more »
On December 18, 2016, Kakumyo ended his kessei term with a Jodo ceremony. It began with a procession from Uji to the Sodo. Once at the Sodo, Kakumyo took off his regular gold kesa, and put on a new brown one. The hall was filled with sangha members, lay disciples, DRZC lay and… Read more »
This Sunday marks the end of Kakumyo’s Kessei term, the year of “abbot-with-training-wheels.” As with the shuso term, it ends with a testing ceremony, like Ko’in did last week. He will present several verses, and then those in attendance have an opportunity to ask a question. If Kakumyo passes, he is then qualified to become… Read more »
In spite of the weather, work has been continuing on the barn, which is now all enclosed and nearing lockability. That is, doors are in the process of being installed, and moisture barrier has been put up. The photo shows Ikuo, Kakumyo, and Joel working on that. Those of us who live at and near… Read more »
Frog Song is on winter break until January. This term, the children and teachers established three agreements for the classroom, drawing pictures of them and referencing them in connection with things that happen during the day. The agreements are: We are safe We are kind We help each other Precepts for preschoolers! And remarkably reminiscent… Read more »
From eastern Oregon, comes this news from Mugaku, who works with two prison groups there, Two Rivers Correctional Institution (TRCI) in Umatilla, and Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution (EOCI) in Pendleton. Mugaku is wearing an orange shirt in these pictures. Hi everybody, this is the first picture of our TRCI group I have ever seen. All… Read more »
This Sunday, the current shuso, Nicole Ko’in Newsom, will take her “final exam,” presenting a verse and answering questions from teachers and sangha members. Come help “prod the loaf” to see whether she’s done. This will take the place of the usual Dharma Talk. Join us this Sunday, December 11, for zazen, sanzen and Shuso… Read more »
We are in the midst of Rohatsu Sesshin this week. There is work practice going on with the barn, with planting, painting, cooking, and sewing. Wednesday morning’s frost in the Japanese garden gave way to yesterday and today’s cold weather storm, while 20-30 people diligently sit and practice. Regular Wednesday work parties return next week,… Read more »
This Sunday, Genko explores bodhicitta, or Way-Seeking Mind. A few months ago, someone asked where it comes from, which brings to mind the old koan: “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” What is bodhicitta? Is it something we cultivate? Something that just happens if we sit still long enough? Where is it, and… Read more »
Visible progress on the barn! Yesterday’s work party did a lot of good work, and the north wall of the barn/workshop is now up. Its shape is clear, showing where window and doors will be. The south wall is well begun. In the Sodo, volunteers added shelves in the pantry to gain more usable storage… Read more »