April 17, 2020

Our ZHS on-line schedule (go to our website for more information: zenheartsangha.org)

• Mondays: 7-8:30pm - zazen, short service, lecture/discussion
• Tuesdays-Fridays: 5:30-6:10pm - zazen, offering of merit/bows
• Saturdays: 8:00-10:15am - zazen, short service, tea, discussion/study

Special bows for today:  

• Please offer bows for Nick Battaglia, Camille Spar's father, who died Aprill 13th at the age of 104
• Please continue to offer bows for the family of Alison Templeton, a Peninsula School parent, who died on April 1st after a long struggle with cancer
• Please continue to offer bows for Jeff Ghazarian and his family, friends of Lilliana Mendez-Soto’s nephew who died on March 19^th at the age of 34 from COVID-19
• Please offer bows for Lucille Dacanay's stepson who has tested positive for COVIC-19
• Please continue to offer bows of well-being for:   
• Gil Bergman, Shannon's husband who is recovering from illness
• Rev. Les Kaye, Misha’s Zen teacher, who is recovering at home while undergoing chemotherapy
• Brendan, Kate Haimson’s son, who is recovering at home from surgery 
• Michael Tieri Ricaud, Dainuri Rott’s brother, who is suffering from MS

Wonderful links shared by sangha and friends:

• New tab on Zen Heart Sangha website with resources about COVID-19 (zenheartsangha.org)
• From our dharma sister, Kat Haimson: Great Bell Chant from Thich Naht Hanh: https://youtu.be/F1ZwaEzMtJw
• From our dharma sister, Alisa Tu, an article on grief:  https://hbr.org/2020/03/that-discomfort-youre-feeling-is-grief?fbclid=IwAR2f8ajEFn_MpazcdxvTj8MsuQZ7xlNtS44KG2b0NukPh6K012FWfGCdd8A
• From our dharma sister, Misha, from Joffe Emergency Services: Cooking during COVID The page, Cooking at Home in the Time of Coronavirus takes pride in helping the at-home cook stir up something special with what is hidden in the pantry.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Congratulations to Marya, Nancy, Patty, and Trisha who all received lay ordination 20 years ago 

yesterday, April 16th!  This is from our dharma sister, Marya Shahinian, recalling the anniversary:

Dear Sangha,

April 16, 2020 is an anniversary. Twenty years ago at the Kannon Do Zen Center, in the presence of her teacher Les Kaye, Blanche Hartman from SFZC, many teachers, friends and family members, our Misha-san conducted her very first Jukai or lay ordination. 

Never one to do things in a small way she presented four shaky students with minimal ceremonial instructions, thus ensuring that we experienced not knowing, trepidation, pure attention and deep emotions all at once. Misha's part went off in beauty and heartfelt reverence; mine I don't remember so well.

We were and remain four sisters deeply linked by that moment and commitment: our dear Nancy Leech, Trisha Clifford who pursues her journey elsewhere, Patty Pecoraro, now an ordained Zen priest at Twining Vines Sangha in N.Y. and I. In case you wonder where Jill was, she could not wait and received Jukai earlier from Les Kaye, Sensei.

There is another harmony to this anniversary. While recently sorting through old pictures I came across the tiny black and white photograph taken against a shell-damaged church wall after my Catholic baptism in Europe. The date is April 16, 1946. So I offer a joyful and tender bow to my special sisters and teacher, and much gratitude to all of you who have shared your hearts and lives with me for so long.

(Photo from Vajrapani Retreat, 2014:  Nancy in back row 4th from left, Marya on far right, Patty seated on Misha's right, Jill on Misha's left...as well as many other dharma brothers and sisters!)

______________________________________________________________________________

Many thanks to those of you who are sending me articles to share, links to helpful information, and for making comments…it is a gift beyond measure. Please know that you can either leave a comment on the blog itself, or send something directly to me and I will be happy to paste it in.