Past, Present, Future
and a little bit more
Sangha Meeting
On November 2 in the afternoon — like today, a day that was extraordinarily warm — we gathered at Ben and Noah’s for our Fourth Annual Sangha Meeting (old enough to get a number!).
After reviewing sangha news and plans for winter (see below) and reflecting on our year of practice together, we caught some photos — with several new participants and a few old-time regulars unable to attend.
The Sangha sharing circle started with these words, which beautifully capture the spirit of this annual gathering:
The biggest thing to have happened with my practice this year was taking the precepts with the other jukai students. Not only do I feel that I became close to them because of the shared experience, I also became close to this sangha as a whole. I feel more committed to this group of people, and am very grateful for this place of practice. Another big thing was that I started volunteering at the jail. This experience has been very intense for me: it has been my belief that jails and prisons are immoral, and while I still think the same, I had never experienced the reality of being in such an environment, let alone practicing there with people whose day-to-day reality and life are so starkly different from my relative comfort. Practice at the jail makes me face harmful assumptions and prejudices that I didn't even know I had, and it brings me directly into both dukkha and compassion in all their combinations. In “Sansuikyo” Dogen writes: “Walking forward does not cease; walking backward does not cease.” For me the experience at the jail has been both “walking forward”—putting forth my practice into the world, and being there for the inmates in whatever little way I can, and no matter what place they’re in—and “walking backward”—reflecting on this practice by letting myself be humbled, wordless, uncomfortable, and making a practice out of practice.
Sangha News
After reviewing some items that appeared in “More Fall Offerings” (below), we introduced our new leadership positions, with Westri serving as Treasurer and Work Leader, Brent as Ino, Trevett as Tenzo, Koji as Fukuten, and Jodi as Jisha and Garden Leader.
Fall Dates
Still to come this fall are the Stillpoint Retreat, November 7 - 10, followed by Writing As A Wisdom Project, on November 16.
Our last Sunday half-day sitting will be on November 24, and our Rohatsu Retreat December 4 - 8.
Rohatsu Retreat — December 4 – 8
Save the dates for our five-day Rohatsu retreat, traditionally the celebration of Buddha’s enlightenment. The retreat will follow our usual pattern of open sittings, with encouragement to sit full days when possible, and especially to participate in the ceremony on the final morning. More details closer to the dates.
End-of-Year Interim: December 15 – 31
Interim will start after a period of morning sitting on Sunday December 15, followed by a Full Moon Bodhisattva Ceremony. All are welcome to participate.
New Year’s Day Reading of the Diamond Sutra
Winter Interim ends with our (now traditional?) annual reading of the Diamond Sutra, this year for the first time beginning with extended sitting. Save the date and times — January 1, 2025, from 1:00 pm to 5:00, followed by tea.
Full Moon Bodhisattva Ceremony
Inspired by the suggestion of Korin Charlie Pokorny, our Preceptor for the recent Jukai Ceremony, we will add a regular Full Moon Ceremony to our practice. Each month the ceremony will be scheduled for the morning or evening closest to the time of the full moon. The Full Moon Ceremony is an occasion when all practitioners can renew our deep intention to practice together with all beings, whether or not we have formally received bodhisattva precepts or made bodhisattva vows. The dates can be found on our public calendar here—exact timing will be announced as each date approaches.
Finally, some views from my visit to California
Just a few images from my travels in the west — first, from the bulletin board outside the Green Gulch office and bookstore — Samurai Kamala!
And inside? — our old Neighborhood Zen friend Jacory, who has been living and working at Green Gulch (and Tassajara) for several years now.
I didn’t take many photos out on the beautiful grounds and surrounds, but I did catch a few garden shots —
— and especially of the restoration of the wilds around the creek (which was dry).
