Tag: Siskiyou
With the start of the new year, we resume regular Wednesday work practice, beginning about 9:30 and going to about 4pm. Lunch is provided at the 85th House at 12:30pm. Work continues on the engawa, and landscaping projects are gearing up. A special work practice day will be on Martin Luther King Jr Day, Monday,… Read more »
Last week was Rohatsu Sesshin, our longest, deepest retreat of the year. We had 30-40 people at most meals, and often 40-50 in the evenings in the Sodo at zazen. Several people stayed overnight on the floor in the two houses, some stayed in nearby hotels, and three people stayed in trailers parked beside Uji.… Read more »
While Lotus Blooming – our fundraising campaign for Planting Zen in Siskiyou Square – is about money, our vision and aspiration for Siskiyou Square is about the Dharma. So, why does Lotus Blooming matter? “When I walked through the doors of Dharma Rain eight years ago, it didn’t occur to me that it would become… Read more »
Wednesday’s work practice was presented with the gift of a beautiful sunny day in the midst of a wet, windy week. 17 people came in from Great Vow Zen Monastery to work with us on various projects. (The photo of the courtyard was taken in Thursday morning’s rainy weather.) The courtyard needs to be able… Read more »
Yesterday morning they finally started putting asphalt down to pave Siskiyou Street and finish the driveway in to our road. They worked diligently through the day, and got it done. All of this means that this coming Sunday, we will be able to drive into the driveway to our own road and parking area. A… Read more »
Yesterday the driveway got torn up in preparation for pouring concrete for the driveway entering the property. Because of this, we won’t be able to drive in to the property for about a week and a half (including Sunday morning). Instead, park at Glenhaven Park at 82nd and Siskiyou, cross at the traffic light, and… Read more »
There’s still a lot going on at Siskiyou Square. Multiple contractors are doing multiple projects. Sometimes our parking lot is almost full with all of the trucks. Forms are in place to pour concrete for sidewalks along our road. The zendo floor is almost complete in the Sodo, and the dining room is being worked… Read more »
There’s a lot going on at Siskiyou Square. The pathway between 82nd and the parking lot / road got paved yesterday. The new flooring got delivered and unloaded into the Sodo this morning. And a helpful excavator driver moved a bunch of stones from the ravine up to a place where they can be considered… Read more »
There’s a lot going on at Siskiyou Square this week. Kakumyo shows Wednesday work party volunteers how to install intake filters for the storm water inlets. This is to prevent debris and small animals from falling in and getting stuck, blocking the flow of storm water to the system taking it to the dry wells… Read more »
Many thanks to all of you who have shared our Indiegogo crowd funding campaign – Planting Zen & The May Sit – with your friends, family and neighbors. As a result of your outreach, 173 people have donated $23,642 – 47% of our $50,000 goal! Planting Zen got a great boost on KGW News last… Read more »
Work continues on drywall inside the Sodo. Here workers are putting the sheetrock into the skylights. The building is being transformed! The sheetrock is almost all in, and taping has begun. Much of the exterior of the Sodo has been painted, and looks beautiful. In addition, the Founders Shrine has been painted to match the… Read more »
Dharma Rain launched our first-ever crowd funding campaign on Indiegogo this week. Planting Zen and The May Sit has a goal of raising $50,000 in just 40 days. In the first few days, 115 people have donated $16,736. Our crowd funding campaign is one component of our current $400,000 matching gift challenge. That means that… Read more »
This week’s Wednesday work party focused on getting the solar light poles up on the pathway sections, both to 82nd and down through the orchard to Russel Pond. These are only 10 feet tall, but reports from the field are that they are just as attractive and unobtrusive as the other street lights. They light… Read more »
This last Sunday the Daoren met in Uji, and were grateful not only for the electric lights but also for the heat! We still have some warm days ahead of us, but are beginning to experience colder days when we can enjoy a heated space. In addition, now the street lights are on at night,… Read more »
Good news! The Sodo will be getting a big makeover (on the inside) for four weeks right after Kyogen’s Memorial. And so we will move Sunday Services back to Jason Lee beginning September 27 until Segaki Festival on October 25. During that time, a number of essential interior work projects will be done, including walls… Read more »
It’s true! We have electricity on the property. Uji is wired up, and turning on electric lights never felt so wonderful. The Sodo is wired, but has no light fixtures yet. The street lights aren’t quite there, but we expect them to be functional very soon. Now that we are going into a darker time… Read more »