This week is quiet, with few practice events, and cold weather making it more difficult for volunteers to come out. We are winding down to being closed the next two weeks for staff to rest, vacation, and get caught up. We still have Sunday morning program this Sunday, December 17. After that, beginning December 18,… Read more »

This week we are in Rohatsu sesshin. See the schedule for times when you can join us for zazen, services, and Dharma Talks. You are also welcome to come join in work practice time at 9:20am on Saturday. Wednesday Work Parties We have regular Wednesday and Thursday work parties from around 9am to 3:30pm. There… Read more »

We continue with getting ready for bathrooms and showers in the duplexes. There’s a lovely claw-foot tub (it’s in a living room now, but eventually …) The showers will have pocket doors, which are now framed in. We are hoping to have these ready by Rohatsu. Wednesday Work Parties We have regular Wednesday and Thursday… Read more »

With the exterior mostly done, we turn our efforts to interior work on the duplexes – preparation and support for utilities, patching and walls. Also spreading dirt in the back in order to seed grass to create a bit of lawn back there. Some of the interior work is to frame in where the extra… Read more »

The roofs are about 3/4 painted – all of the north duplex and the back half of the south one, next to the Sodo. The color of the houses now blends with the Sodo. The painters were halted by the rain, and hope to get it finished in a break in the weather next week.… Read more »

Work continues on the duplexes. Featured this week are the doors: putting locks on them and painting them to match the Sodo doors. Eventually, the outside of the duplexes will harmonize with the Sodo. There is also work on soffits and flashing and other details to continue to get them ready for use. Two Dharma… Read more »

A new practice this year is having Dharma School children, teachers and parents come into the zendo at the end of Dharma Talk. They practice putting their shoes straight on the engawa before entering, then bow and find a place (quietly!) in the zendo. We all chant the Tisarana (the Three Refuges in Pali) together,… Read more »

Taking advantage of the warm sunny weather and a lot of enthusiastic volunteers, we have finished the siding on the duplexes. Here, Kakumyo explains a procedure to Zonnyo, with Natalie and Gary looking on. Some people are also doing work on the inside to get two rooms ready for Dharma School this Sunday. We could… Read more »

The sudden change in weather means that we’re dealing with mud and weatherproofing. The first steps have been taken in roof repair and repainting (both roofs will match the Sodo roof soon). The priority now is finishing the siding and outside to weatherproof the duplexes before the steady serious rains set in. Some inside work… Read more »

The photo shows the difference between the north duplex (to the left), which has new siding around the bottom half, and the south duplex, which doesn’t yet, but is being prepped to receive it. This week’s Wednesday work party was sparse, likely because of heat and smoke and generally unhealthy conditions to be outside. Still,… Read more »

We’re looking for a small rowboat or canoe to put in the Dharma Rain playground. It should be in fairly good condition, not rotting or splintery, but it definitely doesn’t have to be sea-worthy! Please contact Shin’yu [shinyu at dharma-rain.org] if you have such a boat to donate. We can arrange pick-up. This week work… Read more »

Work on the duplexes continues. This week we’ve been working on utilities, especially plumbing, and removing some siding that we are replacing with other siding. The torn-up land with caution tape will likely continue to be a presence for another week or so, until we can get some inspections completed. Wednesday Work Parties We have… Read more »

The AZTA (American Zen Teachers Association) conference last week brought together teachers from all over the country to share information and do a little business. The sessions were helpful and interesting, and the schmoozing in between times were also helpful. It was a remarkable conference for harmony. The photo shows everyone who attended except Gyokuko,… Read more »

We are in high summer, and this time of year, morning and evening light comes from the north, bathing the north side of the Sodo in a beautiful glow. This week work continues on the duplexes, getting them ready to lower on to the foundations soon. Tai’an shows one aspect of “exploratory demo.” The garden… Read more »