Volume 24.1 Spring 2017 Plum Mountain News

Spring 2017 Dear members and friends,

I know it is spring in Seattle when I need to mow the lawn at least once a week. We have been receiving a lot of rain this season, but last week there were three sunny days in a row when I was able to bike ride down to Seward Park and back each day. Our garden is sublime this time of year, so well tended by many Chobo-Ji gardeners, most especially our Zen resident Sally Zenka Metcalf, who provides inspiration and instruction.

Spring Sesshin was steady and strong, with 21 participants. Everyone did his or her part to facilitate deep inquiry into our true nature. Anne Sendo Howells oversaw our structure and samu (work future spending priorities. You will hear May 27th. Rinzan has completed all the assignments) as our Shika (host/ more about this meeting in this issue appropriate steps to warrant this elevation and manager). Zenka was our Dai-Tenzo from our Board President, Chris Zenshin many of us will be going down to celebrate (Chief cook) and she was greatly Jeffries; also Zenshin has written a short with the No Rank in Portland. I’m supported in her efforts by Rev. Tendo report to the sangha about former sexual also delighted that Sendo will do Tokudo Kirkpatrick and others who helped in the offenders wishing to train here. On ( ordination) at our upcoming Summer kitchen. Rev. Seiho Morris was our March 10th, I met with other inter-faith Sesshin. I hope many sangha members will be (time keeper) and he worked leaders and Senator Maria Cantwell to able to attend these important events. hard to keep us all awake and quiet. Rev. discuss ways of protecting immigrants Gendo Testa, who comes each quarter and religious, sexual and racial from back East, served as our lead minorities from harassment and Beyond what has already been mentioned (tea server) and George Gibbs was right persecution. I’ve also been active serving you will find in this issue an important by his side providing us with ubiquitous on the Interfaith Network for Indigenous message from the Board and our recently tea, coffee and snacks. Rev. Rinzan Communities where we work to act as a formed Restorative Process Committee about Pechovnik served as my Inji (abbot supportive interfaith conduit on issues of moving forward in the wake of a bumpy assistant) and has now served in every native sovereignty, and overturning process investigating a complaint made by a Chobo-Ji post. Rev. Kanko Kritee gave a current and historical injustices such as sangha member last year. In addition, I hope Talk on the sixth day of sesshin, repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery. you enjoy the transcription of my Spring which has been transcribed for this issue. Sesshin Teisho on Hei Jo Shin, the closing I’m sure you will enjoy her words. Spring Incense Poem, Rev. Seiho’s Book In April I traveled to San Diego and review, an update from Patacara on Camp th Walla Walla to lead . While in Second Chance, the announcement of our O n April 8 , we celebrated the Walla Walla I met with prisoners in the upcoming Summer Sesshin, and an Historical Buddha’s Birthday with our State Penitentiary and students at announcement of an upcoming workshop on b a b y B u d d h a i c o n Whitman College. After June 3 about meeting, accepting and “Inviting standing in a bowl of my journey to Walla the Stranger.” As always, may everyone flowers from our garden Walla I flew to see my reading this take care in these troubled times and sprinkled with sweet a i l i n g m o t h e r i n and enjoy each day to the fullest by sharing tea from everyone Montana. I hope to see our grounded being and open heartedness. present. We had our her again on or before annual meeting and her 81st birthday in late potluck the following July. I’m looking forward With gassho, day, when we elected our to Rev. Rinzan’s Osho Board and gave input on (full priest) ceremony on Genjo

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for one another. We are excited to move Building a Healthier into our shared future with increased wisdom gained from the difficulties of the Spiritual Community past and a clearer vision of how all of us might care for each other better. As you are probably aware from reading the last two Plum Mountain newsletters, last Chobo-Ji Board and spring and summer there was an Restorative Processes Committee investigation of a complaint made by a student against Genjo Osho. (See: pages 2 and 7 of the Fall 2016 issue of PMN, and page 2 of the Winter 2016-17 issue: https:// Zen Bridge choboji.org/newsletters/.) The investigation, which concluded there was no ethical reviewed by Rev. Seiho breach, and its aftermath have been painful and difficult for many who were involved eido Fukushima Roshi was the head and resulted in some very beloved members K deciding to leave our sangha. It has become abbot of Tofukuji, in , and dharma clear that our policies and procedures for heir of Roshi. dealing with such grievances did not serve Beginning his training as a Zen monk at the us as we had hoped and that we need to age of thirteen, he also spent a significant develop better means of dealing with amount of time in the United States, conflicts that arise among us and of doing attending Claremont College to study what we can to prevent their arising in the English and attempting to carry forward first place. Shibayama’s goal of bringing Rinzai Zen to America. origination and Attachment,” the clearest s a first step in formalizing these Zen Bridge: The Zen Teachings of Keido and most direct reflection on the subject that A I’ve heard or read. It is strikingly disarming intentions, the Board has engaged a Fukushima Roshi is largely a collection of his talks and shared experiences. It is to read, “Humans tend to be arrogant. In facilitator, Marcia Christen, who has European philosophy we say, ‘I think brought her expertise in restorative practices masterfully assembled by Grace Shireson, Peter Schireson, and Barbara Ruch, who therefore I am.’ This is okay. But informed by Nonviolent Communication to views matters from a different angle. help us process what has happened and to divide it into four sections: “What is Zen?”, “My Zen Training,” “ Joshu,” European philosophy tends to think that begin to formulate new practices that will first there’s a self, and because of the self, better support the community during times and “Classical Zen Stories.” In the reflections below, it will be evident that I the world comes to be. But Buddhism of conflict. A Restorative Practices teaches that because everything exists, the Committee, appointed by the Board, have found great value in each section. In particular, though, the two final sections, self comes to be. So when I say that I am comprised of Board members Sally Zenka here, I’m not just referring to a detached, Metcalf, Anne Sendo Howells and Rev. largely Fukushima Roshi’s take on various , have been powerfully illuminating to unique self, separate from everything else; I Seiho Morris, as well as Rev. Rinzan exist because of everything else that Pechovnik, is supporting her. me. Their groundedness, clarity, and directness, disarmingly candid and sincere, exists . . . This is what the law of dependent have left an indelible impression and co-origination is all about.” As our next step in moving forward we are influenced my practice a lot. scheduling trainings in communication From there, Fukushima Roshi develops a skills with an emphasis on learning Reflections on “What Is Zen?” theme which spreads through the book: empathetic listening and speaking with care “Zen is the religion of .” He shares his and authenticity. (These interactive trainings yakka shoko is a practice that means, experiences with Mu in a way that is will serve in lieu of the Sangha Council K practical and spiritual at the same time. format mentioned in a previous report.) “Look under your own feet; examine Other topics in this section include Zen and Additionally, we are revisiting our Ethics yourself and what you are doing.” I realize prejudice, and compassion articulated and Reconciliation Policies to bring greater this reference to this kind of practice was through our presence and expression of our clarity to our grievance procedures and to Fukushima Roshi’s way of reflecting back being. The section culminates in a very include a restorative system that will to Zen Master Dogen’s “To study the way practical discussion of how to practice support caring for the community and the of enlightenment is to study the self. To . interpersonal relationships of the sangha. study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be enlightened by all Being, and to be enlightened by all Being is to Reflections on “My Zen Training” O nce the dates of the trainings are remove the barrier between self and other.” established, we hope that many of you hough Shibayama Roshi and Fukushima reading this will find the time to attend the T trainings so that you can join us in In this section I was thoroughly amazed by Roshi placed great emphasis on lay practice, deepening our skills at listening and caring the discussion of “Dependent Co- he shares at some depth his personal

Page 2 Volume 24.1 Spring 2017 experiences with monastic Zen training, a big problem for mankind. We don’t realize with insight into the opportunities provided that we have these unconscious delusions, Patacara Update by “the forms” and “practice.” He says, “A and so we act them out over and over is a greenhouse for growing no- again.” Explaining that “non-attachment” is I want to thank those of you who have been ego. The realization of no-self requires not the same thing as “detachment,” he helping with Camp Second Chance, either severe training and Zen monastic training is reflects on how this operated for him in his financially or as volunteers. The camp now quite difficult.’ everyday life. This distinction alone helps has 49 residents and our first tiny house is set aside long-held misconceptions about up! We also now have city electricity, a Zen Buddhist practice. Many of his personal stories relate to the potable water cistern, rat control, garbage pick up, and a full time Housing Case universal tendency to overly complicate Reflections on “Classical Teaching things in an effort to get things perfect or Manager to help residents move up and out have the “right” answer. What I take away Stories” into housing. from this section is that there’s a significant difference between “idealized” practice and This final section of Zen Bridge continues This spring and summer, we will be raising life, and the “reality” of practice and life. to ground in the reality of daily life money to replace our 50 tents with 50 He captures this when he says, “Because elements of Zen which are often micro-homes. The cost of each unit will be Zen emphasizes that you must become what misunderstood. Fukushima Roshi begins around $2,500. This is just for the cost of you encounter, when you encounter with ’s response, “Muku the materials and houses are being built something enjoyable, it’s very enjoyable, doku” or “no ,” to the Emperor’s with volunteers. We will be having and when you encounter something sad, it’s question, “What do I get for all the good volunteer work parties to construct units okay to cry.” This for me shifts away from deeds that I’ve done in supporting each weekend in June. Please contact aims of “perfection” and getting things Buddhism?” Fukushima Roshi says, “You Patacara if you are interested in donating or “right” and towards what I could call a must be careful when you come across Zen volunteering with this project. sense of “completeness.” expressions that appear to be negative like this one. Mu, the first character of the Best wishes, As the section flows forward, he talks phrase muku doku, is negative, but the about various aspects of awakening or expression itself does not simply mean that Polly “enlightenment” in a way which makes there’s no merit. What Bodhidharma them feel down-to-earth and imaginable. intended to communicate is that one should There is great elegance in his taking the not hope for merit from doing good deeds. term “enlightenment” and restating it as Instead, truly great deeds are performed Polly Trout, Ph.D. “being a full human being.” without attachment or hope for reward. The Founder and Executive Director, Patacara Zen that Bodhidharma transmitted to China Community Services teaches us to act out of non-attachment. 206-465-6342; [email protected] Reflections on “Zen Master Joshu” Please don’t misunderstand the meaning of non-attachment. Zen talks about non- Zen priests respect Joshu to the point of attachment, but it’s not a simple matter. calling him father . . . A Rinzai Zen When your ego gets wrapped up with your priest or nun is only born through Joshu’s desires, they become delusions. You need to Summer Sesshin Mu ; without it there would be no keep this in mind in trying to understand the rd th Rinzai Zen priests or nuns. – Keido meaning of Muku doku, ‘No merit’.” June 23 - 30 Fukushima Roshi Please help us get an accurate count by ukushima Roshi then goes on to other sending a deposit and application by June his section takes a deep dive into Zen F T stories we hear often but may not have fully 18, earlier if you want to guarantee a Master Joshu and his indelible energy and understood, including those about Eno (the reserved spot. Please drop it by or mail it. presence, part of the gravitational substance Sixth Patriarch), Hyakujo’s fox, and Baso. that supports Rinzai Zen. Fukushima Roshi Reading and reflecting on this section and The cost of sesshin is $250 (less dues for reflects on stories about Joshu, their on the whole of Zen Bridge has been deeply tangible meaning in everyday life and this month). Sesshin will start Friday meaningful for me, supporting my practice evening, 6/23, 5:30pm with informal practice, and describes his own pilgrimages in a very open and kind-hearted Way. to the temples of both Rinzai and Joshu. supper, introductions and orientation. Sesshin from Saturday to the following Thursday runs from 5am-10pm. We provide In a talk titled “Jiyu,” which he translates sleeping accommodations for those as “Freedom,” he says, “Zen is a religion traveling from out of town (an additional that is free from attachments. Zen has $10-$20 per night); please bring absolutely no attachments. We come to a sleeping bag, toiletries, sitting clothes, know our attachments through Zen training. work clothes and a towel. The final Friday, When we throw them away, it doesn’t 6/30, begins at 5am and concludes around matter whether our attachment is conscious 10am. or unconscious. Unconscious delusions are

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So growing up, he and his Gandhian Annual Meeting Report Ho Koji’s “Beautiful principles were a huge influence on me. by Chris Zenshin Jeffries Today, I ended up chanting Gandhi’s name Snowflakes” at the last moment in our dedication A healthy quorum of members, plus a few because, as imperfect as Gandhi was — guests, enjoyed a delicious vegetarian Genjo Osho would know, he has been to potluck feast as Chobo-Ji’s 2017 Annual India — for me Gandhi was a . Meeting kicked off. The first item of by Rev. Kanko Kritee He continues to be one of my ideals. business was voting in new members of Chobo-Ji’s Board of Trustees to replace MAIN SUBJECT outgoing Board members Dee Seishun So, my grandfather was a huge influence for me growing up as a teenager, and I Endelman, Rev. John Daikan Green, and Ho Koji was leaving Yakusan. Yakusan let Justin Myozan Wadland. The Board will really wanted so badly to be like him. I ten zenkaku [zen students] escort him to the somehow wanted to copy his integrity, his miss all three of these outstanding members temple gate to bid him farewell. Koji and the entire sangha thanks them for many simplicity, his ability to stand up for those pointed to the falling snowflakes and said, who might not have the money or the power years of selfless service in this capacity. “Beautiful snowflakes, one by one; but they Happily, three very strong replacements to stand up for themselves. That ideal of fall nowhere else.” Then one of the being like my grandfather moved me and were found and unanimously voted onto the zenkaku, named Zen Zenkaku, said, “Then Board: resonated with me. But as you can imagine, where do they fall?” Koji gave him a slap. a young person who has not gone through Zen said, “Koji, you shouldn’t be so deep inner work, when they try to be like Rev. Jaye Seiho Morris abrupt.” Koji said, “If you are like that and Eddie Daichi Salazar someone else, they fail so badly. I went to call yourself a zenkaku, Emma will never college, and I subconsciously wanted Polly Trout (Executive Director, Patacara let you go.” Zen said, “What about Community Services) everyone to accept me as their eye-opening yourself?” Koji gave him another slap and leader that wakes everyone up from their said, “You look, but you are a blind man; stupor. My grandfather, after independence, Our current slate of Board Officers (still a you speak, but you are like a deaf-mute.” and after he had work in progress) is as follows: given up on – Three bells and a bow – politics as a President Chris Zenshin Jeffries vehicle to serve Vice-President Lynn Sogetsu Hernandez When Genjo Osho, my dharma uncle, people, realized Treasurer Bob Daigan Timmer asked me to consider giving a talk, I felt what a havoc Secretary TBD honored and I really thought he was giving big corporations me a new koan. So I feel like all of you are were causing to our social- As is our custom, the meeting ended with a interviewing me a little bit now [Laughter]. I am very happy to share my journey with economic and lively exercise in visioning an aspect of the environmental future of Chobo-Ji. Currently our bank you and hope that it will be helpful in some remote way. life. In his last account includes a sizable surplus in funds. years, he used Seishun and the Board presented several to talk a lot possible areas in which some of those funds I want to start by talking about my about the need might be invested toward Chobo-Ji’s future childhood. I was raised by a single mother to oppose the growth and/or contributions to our in India, and my maternal grandfather was a greed of multi-national corporations. So, in neighborhood/locality/planet. All present at Gandhian freedom fighter. He was a lawyer. my college years, I would pick up the the meeting were invited to give feedback And while he was practicing law as a young statements that he had uttered, and I would about which categories ought to be top lawyer in 30s, he got caught up in the civil want all my closest of friends (not Zen priorities as the Board develops its vision disobedience movement that Gandhi was friends, I didn’t practice meditation at the toward the possible use of those funds. We leading. He left his law practice in late time, my college friends) to me… you are grateful for everyone’s participation and 1930s and participated in many different know… I would think “Why aren’t they hope more people will join us as similar civil disobedience actions. In his entire listening to me? I am right! I am just so opportunities arise to participate in planning lifetime, he was imprisoned 4-5 times and right!”. I felt righteous anger. I know now our mutual future as a sangha and as local/ he ended up being in jail for a total of three that these issues are complicated and so world citizens. and a half years. He was beaten up both by hard to communicate for the most articulate Indian and British police officers at the of activists. It was no wonder nobody in my behest of different political administrations. college years would want to listen to me but He went on to become a statesman, a at that time I started getting bitter, arrogant humanitarian lawyer, and also a political and very isolated. I wanted to have friends servant. At the peak of his political career, like every college student does, but here I before he became disillusioned by politics, was – on a “holier than thou” platform – he was equivalent of vice-governor of his and losing friends instead of connecting home-state [Haryana]. with them. [In addition, I was sickly and

Page 4 Volume 24.1 Spring 2017 needed help from my friends just to keep up with pressures of college life]. So, this I was thinking yesterday that it has now There are many, many stories … I probably dynamic of not being able to be myself (or been 60-65 sesshins. I don’t know the exact would run out of time way before I went being bitter/arrogant when I tried to be count. I went to every sesshin with our over all the “Genki stories” Kurt used to tell myself and nobody listened to me) sangha from 2003 until 2013 when we us. For some of you who might not have continued throughout my college moved away from New Jersey to Colorado. heard, there was a point when Genki and undergraduate years in India. I delayed my Ph.D. graduation because I Glen Webb used to teach together. They sort didn't want to go on the job market and be of parted their in some other state away from my root ways after a few When I came to the U.S in 2001 to do my sangha. And the underlying worry was “Oh years and there’s Ph.D., a week before 9/11 (interesting and my God, of course, my sangha was the best. no need for me dark times, right?), I fell into depression, My teacher was the best.” [Laughter] Okay. to speak about actually really deep depression! In this new Well, you know that feeling, right? I mean, that. Hearing so country and with its giant wheels of yes, your teacher [Genjo Osho] is the best many Genki consumerism churning in its big malls, I [Laughter], but I was so attached to my stories used to was stunned. You know … of course… I sangha and my teacher was/is the best and I make us feel had seen it on TV, I had read about it, I had could not imagine leaving New Jersey. curious about dreamt about studying in the U.S., but just him. And in my facing it all was like the ground was taken curiosity about out from under my feet. This losing the My first sesshin was very hard. And here I wanting to know ground under the feet was different than the come to my connection with Chobo-Ji. My all about my sangha and my teacher and my wondrous Zen way of losing our sense of first sesshin was brutal. I imagine at least a teacher’s teacher, I used to “Google” Genki self, but I kind of lost my identity in a new couple people are here who have not done all the time. I used to go to Chobo-Ji’s land in a very depressing way. I didn’t like sesshin before [looking around for first- website and one day I saw that Genki had my Ph.D program, I missed my family, I timers] -- you guys are doing phenomenal. I retired. I asked, “Kurt, you haven't gone to didn’t belong to this country, I had was just a wreck. The first words I meet Genki. When will you go?” and he’d relationship problems – I didn’t feel at remember from the first teisho that Kurt say, “Yes. Yes. I’ll go.” home. I became depressed. So guess what? gave at this sesshin were about Genki [Asking everyone] What happens at that Takabayashi Roshi. [in our sangha, we stage? You find Zen [Laughter]. Wooa! should call Kurt “Kurt.” We didn’t (and Kurt didn’t go to meet Genki while Genki don’t) call him Roshi or Osho, just Kurt. was still alive. But I remember when Genki (That’s the informal college/university passed away, Kurt grew quiet for several So my teacher, my root teacher, Roshi Kurt culture for you)]. days, and when I saw him [it was actually Kankan Spellmeyer, was a professor, still is, over a phone call], he just said, “I feel at Rutgers University where I went for my orphaned”. Interesting, right? He never Ph.D. and where he offers free meditation Even though Kurt was eventually ordained went to Genki when he was alive, but classes three by Roshi Glenn Kangan Webb and was later Genki’s influence on Kurt was so deep that evenings in a week. given his dharma he felt like an orphan when Genki died. I was just really transmission by Kurt did express some of his mixed feelings deep in depression Kangan as well, the after Genki died in an article that appeared by the time my first first stories that I on the Sweepingzen website [now semester at Rutgers h e a r d , w e r e o f discontinued]. ended. One Genki Roshi. We evening, a recent heard Genki stories acquaintance who very often. I don’t The point I am trying to convey is that I went on to become know if this words feel Genki’s influence on me, and that this one of my closest sound familiar but at influence was one of the reasons that f r i e n d s a s k e d , my first sesshin, brought me here to practice as Chobo-Ji. “Would you like to Kurt said that Genki (Yes, there were other causes and conditions try meditation?” I used to say, “What that were appearing in my life as well that had tried meditation as a child. There is a does the breath with made me come to do a sesshin at Chobo-Ji). deep tradition of doing meditation in my eyes see?” I still tell people when they come My first sesshin here was Rohatsu 2015. It family. So I said, “Yes”. I promise you, I to meditate with our group in Boulder, “You was so beautiful. I felt so lucky. I have swear to you, within two weeks of are blind. Focus on your hara. What does expressed this before. I didn’t know what I meditation, I had my laughter back. Not that the breath with eyes see?” So what does that was getting into. We all have this perception my depression went away completely, but I mean? You can try this right now: when you that my sangha is the best. Right? I don’t was like, “Gosh. I’m laughing! It’s real!” are focused on your hara and when, you are have to go anywhere else. Although I had It’s not made up. It’s not a joke. It’s the following your out-breath and looking into done sesshins with other before I laughter that rises up spontaneously when your hara and that space before the next in- came to Chobo-Ji and I always love you start tasting Mu, the vast zeroness. And breath arises, you are blind there, what does sesshins, being here just felt right at so I was hooked. I was hooked to Zen for life! the breath with eyes see? many levels. I learned so much perhaps

Continued on next page… Page 5 Volume 24.1 Spring 2017 because I felt like a beginner in a new sangha. It was especially moving to be at The other thing that Kurt taught us related sesshin at a location where Genki himself to when we took our vows and got our had led sesshins. I thank you all, especially rakusus, and it has Kangan’s influence too. Genjo Osho just for being so welcoming He translates this [pointing to her rakusu] as towards me. “clinging child.” Rakusu has two characters. One means “Sewn” and the other means “child.” Anyway, one can combine the two So now, let’s look at our koan for today. I characters’ meanings in different ways but was struggling with which koan to choose. Kurt basically says, “This is your clinging One of the reasons this koan came to mind child. Take care of her all your life,” and was because the protagonist of the story also he said, “This signifies that you are here, Ho Koji, is a layperson. If you look at ready to hear the cries of the world.” When small or thin that life protecting atmosphere me, I’m a very odd Osho. I don’t have a I got ordained, he said, “It’s not about any is. Space feels like it is endless, but the kesa. I don’t have a fan. I don’t have a belt. kind of power or authority or celebrating layer that keeps us alive, that holds all the My rakusu is black. My hair is too long. your practice. It’s about you being the oxygen or even carbon dioxide is that thin. [Laughter] It’s not all a coincidence. It’s nurse. Nurse. So you have to be ready to When we add and take away things from how Kurt is, and how he has stripped away take care of all kinds of wounds.” this thin layer, it affects all life on the things that he thought were okay to strip planet. away. [Roshi Glenn Kangan thinks that only o, I hope that Kurt’s way of looking at celibate priests should wear kesa]. Kurt S didn’t believe in changing rakusus when things is coming across. You can have the his is also true with soil. People here at same spirit, embody the same basic T you go from stage to another. In fact, when Chobo-Ji love gardening. Most of you know I had my priest ceremony, I made my teachings, but with different symbols and another form which is so beautiful and that at any given spot, the thickness of rakusu, another dharma friend did topsoil is less than eight inches. At many calligraphy on it with phrases from transformative as well. The outer form that I learnt from him was just a little different. places in the world, we have lost more than Diamond but Kurt never signed it half our total topsoil, which takes hundreds (stamped it with his seals). So after three or of years to form. so years, I said, “Kurt, I’m leaving New When you have these two things together, Jersey, would you like to sign/stamp it at the this really looking into hara, not caring he same thing is true with freshwater on back?” He said, “Oh. I forgot. I’ll do it.” about how many koans one has done, and T our heart is purified of our expectations, the the planet. Once again, all the freshwater on the planet, if you could pack it up into one We have dokusan in our sangha. They are kenshos and daikenshos of the world (coming face to face with The Source) can little sphere and earth is an apple, that long as they happen only once a day, and sphere is the thickness of the apple skin. we don’t run to get to dokusan line. In fact, really come our way. The third teaching that comes both from Kurt and Webb is that That is all the fresh water we have that there is no dokusan line. We have no keeps us alive. We’ve got very, very, very . So, if you look at these outer when they [kenshos or daikenshos] do come, hold them lightly. The first e-mail thin layers of these three basic elements — appearances, it may not look like Rinzai soil, air and water — that make all life on Zen form that everyone practices at Chobo- Webb sent me, it was after a sesshin, he said, “Hold it lightly.” I don’t know if it the planet possible. They’re very precious. Ji. It might just look like what’s happening That’s what makes this precious human in that sangha. But I feel that the heart is makes any sense, but sometimes we have these really deep experiences, I’m sure form, where it is possible to wake up, still the same. Why would I say that? What possible. And on top of it, we have this did I learn from Kurt? I probably learned everyone here has had them, we get so excited even though we are also moved, troubling truth — as you all know — that the same basic teachings that everybody at some of us get a much bigger share of the Chobo-Ji embodies. shaken and lost at some levels “I’m on top of the world! I just had a breakthrough!” air, water and soil than others.

The first thing that I learned from Kurt is This goes back to what I was telling you just looking into hara. Yes, just looking into So I want to go back to this koan, and I want to tell you about what is my current about my grandfather, his civil disobedience hara and getting tired. He’s an incredible and my wanting to be like him. My ongoing sitter. He sits and he gets up after three or life koan, and that is also my current priest koan. koan is: how do I bring my practice to this four hours. When we have half day sits on [holding out apple], these thin precious Saturdays, most of us need to stretch layers that make life possible on the planet; between two sits or need bathroom breaks. This is an apple [Holding out a large red also, how to support those who are really He just sits there in full lotus for 3-4 hours apple]. I’m not going to trick you by asking, really on the front lines of making that fight without break. [I understand that Kurt once “Is this really an apple?” [Laughter]. I am a possible. I told you that when I had tried to saw Genki sit for 7 hours]. So when you see scientist. I really, really care about what is be like my grandfather in my teenage and that sort of sitting, week after week, year happening to our planet. If earth were an college years, I had become very bitter, after year, it rubs off on you. One can’t sit apple, the thickness of the atmosphere, the isolated and arrogant. I needed our deep for long without being deeply focused on bottom-most layer that keeps us alive, is practice to become a balanced human being. hara. one-third the skin of an apple. That’s how But now after over 16 years of practice, I’m

Page 6 Volume 24.1 Spring 2017 at a point (and others might be there as in many ways and that I don’t have to be a well) where I cannot wait to be on the front traditional Zen priest. This is my life koan -- Let it Be lines of non-violent direct action with that how to bring the activist and the Zen person spirit of non-duality (where there is no of — hopefully — no-rank in me together. I Concluding Teisho of Spring Sesshin 2017 difference between you and me, us and guess what I am saying is I hope that we all Case 19 of the Mumonkan them, mind and matter; the spirit that we can bring to our cushion, not just our own Ordinary Mind is Tao learn to cultivate over years of practice). suffering but the suffering at the planetary level that includes all not-so-privileged KOAN: human beings as well as other species. We I won’t have the time to get to all aspects of all have deaths in our families, sickness in Joshu once asked Nansen, “What is Tao?” this koan, but see this koan has a lot of our families. We also are all getting older. Nansen answered, “Ordinary mind is Tao.” slapping and shouting like what goes on in We have our neighborhoods, our sangha and “Then should we direct ourselves toward it many Zen koans, right? [Laughter] Okay. our community. We do our best to take care or not?” asked Joshu. “If you try to direct Great. But the truth is that I trust my teacher of suffering in our immediate families and yourself toward it, you go away from it,” [Kurt]. I trust Genjo Osho. Even if I might our communities, but overall, the kind of answered Nansen. Joshu continued, “If we feel a bit rough for a little while, it’s still service we have been able to do in this do not try, how can we know that it is the such a safe space – this koan practice with country, as Buddhist communities, has been Tao?” Nansen replied, “The Tao does not them. Thank goodness, right? But wouldn’t limited to the top, if not 95, 90 percent. belong to knowing or to not-knowing. the best test of our practice be to do this in They say that if you make more than Knowing is illusion. Not-knowing is front of police force where we know they $35,000 a year, you are part of the global blankness. If you really realize the Tao could be brutal? Wouldn’t that be the best 1%. The question is: How is this wonderful, beyond doubt, then it is like the great void test of my practice? I really can’t wait to be precious Zen practice going to go beyond so vast and boundless. How then can there there. You know, I don’t have U.S. just the privileged among us, and how are be right and wrong in the Tao?” At these citizenship. I don’t even have a green card we really going to protect those thin layers, words, Joshu had a sudden awakening. yet. I could be deported if I have too many so very thin layers for all beings? I leave charges against me, but there is a cry inside you with this koan. MUMON’S COMMENTARY: me that’s my life koan. I feel like, if our dharma, after a while, is not helping us get Questioned by Joshu, Nansen immediately there, what the F are we doing here sitting And of course, the snowflakes are also shows that the tile is disintegrating, the ice (if we are not getting ready to meet our falling exactly where they have to be. This is dissolving, and no communication biggest challenges as a civilization). is all perfect; and it can be better. whatsoever is possible. Even though Joshu can be awakened, he can truly get it only after studying for thirty more years. That’s just my deep inner voice right now, and the other part of all this is that we have MUMON’S POEM: to be ready. We cannot be premature. There are a lot of pitfalls in being an activist, just Hundreds of flowers in Spring, like there are so many endless pitfalls, as the moon in Autumn you all know, in just be a Zen student, in A cool breeze in Summer, just being a good community member. But and snow in Winter unless we are willing to collectively raise If there is no vain cloud in your mind, the bar of what we are willing to go through For you, it is a good season. to protect all beings on this beautiful planet from suffering, our addressing of our Bodhisattva vows to protect all beings from suffering will be partial [yes, our four great vows are impossible to meet from a relative Our founding abbot, Genki Takabayashi, perspective even without taking on the loved this koan, and would often explore it collective planetary suffering, and yet, we on the last day of a weeklong sesshin, a have to go beyond individual-level causes tradition I continue to follow. Sesshin of suffering and deal with the outer means to face our deep heart-mind and we institution-level delusion, anger and greed do this inquiry in our laboratory called the as causes of the planetary suffering]. So I hope all this made some sense. I’m . The construct of our ritual and form glad that I could share some pieces of my provide a strong container to dive into our life’s journey with you, could convey how deep nature. However, we must remember I don’t know. Maybe I’m too idealistic, precious it is for me to be able to practice that though the zendo is part of the real maybe not. I really hope that I will be able with all of you. And I hope that you will be world, it’s not nearly as complex as our to contribute to some shift on these issues able to help me with my journey wherever it ordinary lives outside of this room. Initially, even though I don’t know how. It helps me goes next. Thank you, Osho. [bows] when we do our first few sesshins, we may that Kurt has been who he has been, and he think, “Oh, this is so foreign, why bother has given us freedom to explore. He has with all this form and ritual,” yet after some suggested that I can serve this clinging child Continued on next page… Page 7 Volume 24.1 Spring 2017 sesshins, the ritual and form becomes Sometimes we trip over ourselves, that samu is the core practice of Zen almost second nature. In time, going misjudge things and make mistakes, and training. Zazen may be the thing that we do through the paces of sesshin becomes like a sometimes our actions flow as easily as the most of during sesshin, but without dance, and we become grateful that the water going downhill. samu as a bridge to our everyday life, what sesshin structure provides an excellent good is it? environment where we don’t have to think much. We learn to just go with the flow, to I do know that this sesshin did not have too relax and not think about where we need to many bumps. A year ago, there were some Joshu is not following Nansen’s retort that be or what to do. It’s all prescribed. That significant bumps and one person ejected everyday ordinary heart-mind activity is it. leaves us time while on the cushion, or herself. Mistakes were made, but usually I imagine Joshu thinking, “Gosh! If all I’m during samu, chanting, bowing and kinhin the form and our good intentions are trying to do is get to ordinary life, what am to be present to each and every moment. enough to protect us and hold us all I doing here in the monastery?! Considering Of course, even in this highly structured together. It is my hope that our good efforts, how painful, exhausting, exacting and simplified environment we’re probably not and our deep inquiry of heart-mind in this rigorous our training is, you’re telling me as successful as we would like to be at strong container of the zendo, will allow all that all we are really trying to do is get to being present, but we at least have lots of of us to feel willing and even excited to ordinary life? There’s got to be something opportunity to be fully present to each and return for further exploration year after more. How do I get it?” every moment of eternity. Even if we are year. fully present only to one breath during Nansen answers, “If you try to sesshin, we will find this to be very In this koan, Joshu asks his direct yourself toward it, you restorative. In such a moment of being fully core teacher, Nansen, “What is go away from it.” Joshu thinks, present, the artificial barriers that our mind it, really? I’ve been practicing “Dang! Wait a minute, I’m normally sets up between self and other, life and training with you for some doing all this work, but if I try and death, right and wrong, start to dissolve years, and I at least partially to attain anything, I go away or become transparent and sometimes fall get the dance, the rhythm of from it?” away completely. If we are fully present for sesshin and temple life, but just one breath, we’re definitely restored. what is it we are here to achieve?” Nansen immediately And haven’t we all discovered that anytime we try, “I am I’m guessing that everyone in this room with no hesitation responds, “Ordinary mind is Tao.” I’ll be going to get this!” we go away feels at least partially restored, which is from it. On the other hand, why most of us make the effort to come forever grateful to Genki for translating the three ideograms when we surrender and just let back to sesshin again and again. things be without trying to Furthermore, I suspect by this point we are associated with “Ordinary Mind,” which are “Hei Jo force a result, then we all grateful that this sesshin has given us the naturally remember where we opportunity to be present to our own depth Shin. - 平常心.” Hei means “everyday or ordinary,” Jo left the keys or a response to a and to the depth of the world around us. koan bubbles up from the We all know that just beyond these walls, means “always or usual,” and Shin means “heart-mind.” depths of our unconscious. life is a lot more complex, with many more Only when we deeply let go potential distractions. Soon we will get the Therefore, a more literal translation might read are we able to cultivate the chance to practice how much of our spaciousness for a new insight. recovered peace of mind can be maintained “Everyday usual heart-mind activity is the Tao.” Therefore, when we bring a in our more complex ordinary lives outside koan to the cushion, we rest these walls. the case in our hara and then In a Zen sesshin we spend a lot more time work to leave it be. The same is true for life Yesterday, someone was telling me that on the cushion than anything else, but the koans such as, “How do I approach this or they don’t know how at one Rohatsu they deep practice is bringing our off that? What should I do, or where do I go stayed up all night doing yaza (unstructured the cushion and ultimately back into our next?” Once we have posed the question zazen). Last night this same person didn’t daily lives. The bridge that brings whatever and rested it in our hara, we must work to even make it to 11:00 PM. I’m not sure depth we’re able to dive into on the cushion forget about it! Just sit, breathe and listen, anyone in the room made it past 11:00 PM. into everyday usual activity is samu (work and guess what? Something will bubble up. I know that just before 11:00 PM, I pooped meditation).Therefore, when we are In the readiness of time, we will have an out and went upstairs. I can’t remember chopping vegetables while preparing a insight on how to best proceed in a given ever feeling more tired in my whole life. meal, cleaning up afterwards, sweeping the set of circumstances. However, be careful, And yet, this morning, I have lot of energy, floor, working in the garden, cleaning not every insight works! We must go out feel bright and don’t feel tired at all. What toilets or mowing the lawn, this is where we and test it. From insights we form testable happened? Who knows? There’s no telling. engage our ability to be fully present to the hypotheses. For traditional koans we test I’ve never figured it out. Sometimes we are activity at hand. In other words, samu is our our hypotheses in the dokusan room; for completely exhausted, and sometimes we’re chance to practice while doing life koans we must go out and test our bright and bushy tailed. Sometimes we feel some simple, ordinary activity. Samu is our hypotheses outside the wall of this zendo. If like a nut, and sometimes we don’t. chance to be openhearted and caring about our insight works, great, move on, if not try everything we do. Genki often would say again. Sometimes we find that our insights

Page 8 Volume 24.1 Spring 2017 drop away in the short distance from the fantasies about yesterday, today or can’t keep it down. Even if the whole zendo to the dokusan room, let alone to tomorrow. universe falls down a black hole, it will pop outside these walls. In which case, we come up someplace else. back and sit some more. It is no good to sit here like a lump on a log. Don’t settle for ignorance. Investigate T herefore, anytime we’re stuck in J oshu then pleads what is this and who’s asking? With deep righteousness, look out! I often delight in with Nansen, “But if non-analytical inquiry we become aware of righteousness, but I must also acknowledge I don’t even try, how our communion with the infinite. To that when I do, I know I’m off track. will I know when I paraphrase Nansen, “If you really realize have found it?” Joshu the Tao beyond doubt, you will commune has made a good with what is vast and boundless.” From this In the hallway, there’s a picture that point. After all, we spacious awareness, inspiration, insight, someone sent me. In this framed photo, I’m are not coming here creativity and love will naturally manifest. sitting on a prayer mat doing prostrations to sit like a lump on a with Islamic brothers and sisters. We were log. We can’t just say to ourselves, “Okay. I Nansen then says his most powerful line, give up. I’ll just sit “How then can there be right and wrong in here and be the Tao?” We’re always asking ourselves, ignorant.” Slacking won’t work for us. “Am I doing it right or am I doing it Nansen clearly sees what Joshu is getting at wrong?” There is no error in having a and says, “What you’re looking for does not measure of doubt; in fact, a measure of belong to the realm of knowing or not- doubt is essential to our practice. “Am I on knowing. Knowing is an illusion. Not- knowing is blankness.”

In Zen we often say that we’re the religion of no knowing! For example we don’t know what reality is, where it comes from or why it is here. Yet, we can feel and observe reality as a seamless multidimensional vibrant unfolding fabric. Nansen in this case is equating not-knowing to blankness, lack track? Am I not on track? Am I doing self- of investigation and ignorance. Nansen also care or being selfish?” This kind of says knowing is an illusion. In math, we say investigation is important. It is useful to one and one is two. In Zen, we say one and check and re-check our own discernment. Is at a protest downtown trying to pressure one is zero! As seen from the absolute, my response to a particular situation Amazon to strongly support Islamic service everything seen and unseen is a appropriate to the current circumstances? worker’s efforts to have space and time for multidimensional emptiness or vast void Do my actions facilitate harmony and daily prayer. Well, that sounds appropriate, that has no intrinsic form. growth rather than disharmony and conflict? doesn’t it? If fact, the company had already I can tell you unequivocally that sometimes accommodated its own workers to allow my judgment is off and I must work hard to them prayer time, but contracted service Because there is no way to grasp or attain make a course correction. So, when Nansen workers did not have the same access or enlightenment, Joshu at this point may feel says, “How can there be right and wrong in accommodations. Amazon says it has no defeated. Nansen, of course, has no interest the Tao?” he’s not saying, “Don’t examine say over service workers who are sub- in defeating Joshu, but he does want him to your life.” contracted from other companies. So, tell surrender, observe and absorb reality me, who’s right and who’s wrong? I find it without grasping for answers or meaning. In An examined life is a deep life. Nansen is hard to be righteous against the company our practice together, we work to be awake when they have made genuine efforts to and present, to just sit, breathe and listen on saying that all dualities such as up and down, left and right, hot and cold, light and accommodate their own, and yet, there’s all channels of perception. We work to hold always room for improvement. the posture, not slump, sway, move or dark, life and death, male and female, yin vocalize. It is actually a lot of work to listen and yang, right and wrong, are illusions. It and not be caught or lost in our thoughts, is impossible to isolate north from south. If You know, on some level, it’s all good. feelings and sensations. When we feel we go too far north, we’re going to end up Just smell the flowers in spring, feel the ourselves getting caught or lost in our south of our position. Likewise, it is cool breeze in summer, catch a glimpse of discriminating mind, we are taught to count impossible to isolate life from death or right the moon in autumn, or watch snow falling off ten slow exhalations. In time, we from wrong. Without cold, we can never in winter. It’s all perfect; therefore, there is become skillful at not analyzing, defining, know what hot is. Going far into life, we nothing to be angry or righteous about. fixing, repulsing or grasping. In other end up dead, and there is no way to keep True enough, and there’s always room for words, we become skillful listeners of the what is dead from becoming alive. After all improvement. here and now, without generating stories or this is a flowering, expanding universe. It will give rise to life, again and again. We Continued on next page… Page 9 Volume 24.1 Spring 2017

Likewise, here at Chobo-Ji, we have to We will begin our day by listening to adapt to current circumstances without Closing Incense Poem leaders from several major spiritual losing the parts that have worked for ages. backgrounds. Each presenter will offer the There never has been an intrinsic right way Spring Sesshin 2017 lens through which their spiritual formation to do it. There is “a” way to do it, our way, instructs and guides them to be inviting and and our way must be flexible enough to The jewel is given freely. welcoming of strangers. See the presenters grow and morph with the times and culture. below. If our form and policies are not adaptable, Who is hearing the cries flexible and expandable, then our form and of the thin biosphere? policies will become stale and lifeless. On Following the presentations, we will break the other hand, if change comes too quickly Abundant daffodils blossom in the garden. into small groups facilitated by spiritual we are bound to lose something important. companions to discuss what the obstacles Will mother earth’s voice and challenges around welcoming a stranger sufficiently be heard? can look and feel like, what it might take to “How then can there be right and wrong in step beyond our fears and out of our the Tao?” At these words, Joshu was Know you are the light itself. comfort zones, and which practical tools we suddenly enlightened. Hearing this last line might be able to reach the stranger. from Nansen, Joshu saw that realization was outside the realm of his seeking. There is no right or wrong way to realize that our Lastly, we will end our time sharing with everyday ordinary heart-mind activity is Inviting the Stranger each other across common themes and already the Tao manifested. approaches that may be emerging. Our hope is to build connections in the community June 3, 2017 and begin to answer the question of what is There’s a wonderful ballad from the Seattle First Baptist Church; our call to action? Beatles called, “Let It Be.” I’ve heard some covers of “Let It Be,” where it’s sung as a 1:00–5:00 pm Presenters: gospel song. When it’s sung in the movie, “Across the Universe,” it is very touching. Many of us feel besieged these days, and In Zen, we can expand this to, “Let can fall back on the instinct to build Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian is the go, and let be.” This mantra transcends right barriers, seemingly for protection and spiritual director of the and wrong. This mantra helps us to accept safety, instead of bridges to community and Center for Spiritual that everything is perfectly imperfect, gives understanding. We can feel prompted to act Enlightenment (CSE) us room for perpetual growth and based on our fears, rather than invited to with headquarters in improvement, and allows us to be evermore look beyond them. Spiritual Directors San Jose, California, empathetic and compassionate towards our International is committed to engaging and USA, serving seeking fellow beings. wrestling with these challenging emotions souls since 1981. CSE through contemplative listening to discover is a meditation center Let it be, let it be. Whisper words of how we can respond with greater empathy in the spiritual tradition wisdom, let it be… and peace. of Kriya Yoga that serves people from all faith backgrounds who are seeking Self- With gassho, Spiritual direction has ancient roots across spiritual traditions and offers a way to and God-realization. Yogacharya O’Brian examine life, challenges, and each was ordained to teach in 1982 by Roy Eugene Davis, a direct disciple of Genjo individual’s inner truth. By engaging in peaceful dialogue and contemplative Paramahansa Yogananda who brought the listening—key components of spiritual teachings of Kriya Yoga from India to the direction—we will reflect on the “Other” or West. “Stranger” you have encountered, as well as the inner “Stranger” from which you may have become alienated. Rabbi Ted Falcon, PhD, has been a student and teacher of Jewish meditation and Come join participants from a wide variety Kabbalah for over forty of spiritual traditions and manifestations years. With gentleness who are passionate about spiritual care, and humor, he offers friendship, and cultivating positive change unique insight into in our communities. spirituality while deeply affirming the RSVP to [email protected] by June 1st i n t e g r i t y o f e a c h and join the conversation! No cost. individual being. As part of the Interfaith Amigos, Rabbi Ted

Page 10 Volume 24.1 Spring 2017 explores the frontiers of interfaith background, is Native American, and spirituality. speaks several languages. She has worked Sex Offenders Update with persons from diverse socio-cultural, linguistic, racial, and ethnic backgrounds in by Chris Zenshin Jeffries Miriam Frey enjoys teaching and serving government, public, and private sectors. She as a spiritual director to adults of all ages holds numerous and spiritual traditions. She delights in degrees including a In the fall of 2015, Genko Blackman Ni- watching others come home to the divine doctorate in special Osho and the Program & Practice within themselves; to education from Committee convened a Sangha Council find themselves during George Washington meeting to provide information and invite a spiritual direction University. She is a feedback in response to the knowledge that session; and during Native American at least one convicted sex offender, who retreats, among other traditional would likely soon be released from settings. She has practitioner and incarceration, was looking for a Buddhist training and experience ordained interfaith community in our area to practice with. i n d r e a m w o r k , minister from All This is an issue which many congregations enneagram personality F aith s S emin ar y are facing: how do we care for those who s t y l e s , a n d International. Maria is currently assigned to are most in need. In the case of high-level contemplative prayer. provide ministry in state and federal prison sex offenders, there are legal reporting She is a trained supervisor in spiritual facilities in the Washington, DC, area, and requirements involved, that also require direction through Regis College in Toronto, is Spiritual Directors International’s first communities to appoint people to be trained Ontario, Canada.A graduate of the Ontario ever Ambassador. and dedicated to monitoring and supporting Jubilee Program, Miriam is the Spiritual such individuals. We recognize the Directors International Canada Coordinator. importance and validity of making such extra efforts, but as a small community, we Imam Jamal Rahman is a popular speaker lack the resources to make this type of on Islam, Sufi spirituality, and interfaith arrangement function safely and effectively Genjo Marinello Osho is the current Abbot relations. Along with his Interfaith Amigos, for all concerned. of Chobo-Ji in Seattle, WA. Genjo Osho has he has been featured in the New York Times, served the greater Seattle community as an CBS News, BBC, and Adjunct Faculty member at Antioch v a r i o u s N P R The Chobo-Ji Board recently realized that University Seattle in , a programs. Jamal is co- the wider sangha had never been updated on volunteer Buddhist pastor for the founder and Muslim the outcome of those explorations. Here Washington State Department of Sufi minister at then is our temple’s current policy on this Corrections, and has Interfaith Community subject: worked repeatedly with S a n c t u a r y a n d the Church Council of adjunct faculty at Former sex offenders who wish to practice Greater Seattle in Seattle University. He here who do not need court ordered interfaith trauma is a former co-host supervision, and who are free to response to tragedies. of Interfaith Talk communicate with whom they wish, are Currently, Genjo serves Radio and travels nationally and welcome at Chobo-Ji, and always have o n t h e b o a r d o f internationally, presenting at retreats and been. If they are required by law to first Patacara Community workshops. report information about themselves, Services, which strives contacting and consulting with Genjo Osho to provide community can meet that requirement. services inspired by the A nil Singh-Molares, MTS, is the philosophy and teachings of Executive Director of Spiritual Directors At this time, Chobo-Ji is not able to train Buddhism. Genjo also serves on the Faith International and a veteran of numerous the necessary companions needed to Action Network Interfaith Leadership interfaith and interspiritual efforts over the supervise high-level sex offenders, for the Council and with the Faith Action years, including Seeds of Compassion, years it takes to integrate into a community Network’s Interfaith Network for where he was one of the chairs, and as such as ours. As our sangha grows in Indigenous Communities. In addition, he is Executive Director of the Compassionate numbers, we may be able to take on this a member of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship Action Network. He commitment in the future. and organizations where formerly served as he has received Witness Council training Chief of Staff to the Please feel free to talk to anyone on the and participated in international Bearing noted religious author Witness retreats at Auschwitz/Birkenau, Chobo-Ji Board or Genjo Osho if you have Karen Armstrong, is a questions or concerns regarding this matter. Rwanda, and the Black Hills, SD. motivational speaker and university lecturer, and was a Microsoft The Reverend María R. Barrera, EdD, executive in a previous LPC, CRC, comes from a multi-cultural life.

Page 11 Important Dates to Remember Daily zazen: M-F, 5:30-6:30 AM; Sat. 7-8:30 AM; M & W, 7:30-8:30 PM; Sun. 6:30-7:30 PM Dharma Talks, Sundays, 7:30pm: 5/21, 5/28, 6/4, 6/18, 7/16, 7/30, 8/6, 8/27, 9/3, 9/17 Zen Intro: Tuesdays, 7:30-8:45pm (except 6/27 & 9/26)

Seattle University Odayaka Sesshin ... May 20, 7:00am - 8:00pm Rev. Seiho Morris Gives Senior Dharma Talk... May 21, 7:30pm - 8:30pm Eight week Tue. night INTRO TO ZEN series concludes… May 23, 7:30pm - 9pm Shobogenzo Reading Group ... June 1, 7:00pm - 8:30pm 100 Meals a Month – cook party ... June 2, 9am - noon 100 Meals a Month – cook party ... June 10, 7am - 10am Mini-Sesshin with meal, Dokusan and Dharma Talk ... June 11, 5am - 11:15am Shobogenzo Reading Group ... June 15, 7:00pm - 8:30pm Summer Sesshin ... June 23 – June 30 Mini-Sesshin with meal, Dokusan and Dharma Talk ... July 9, 5am - 11:15am Board Meeting ... July 9, 11:30am - 1:30pm Shobogenzo Reading Group ... July 13, 7:00pm - 8:30pm Writing from the Heart Workshop ... July 15, 9:00am - 2:00pm Shobogenzo Reading Group ... July 27, 7:00pm - 8:30pm Gestalt Communication Workshop ... Aug. 5 & 6, 9:30am - 5pm

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