April 25, 2020

HAPPY EARTH WEEK!

Our ZHS on-line schedule (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 Donald Kennedy, former president of Stanford University, who died from COVID-19
• 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 offer bows for Claudio Pannunzio, dharma friend of Twining Vines Zendo, who is undergoing chemotherapy for cancer
• Please offer bows for all those in residence at Gordon Manor diagnosed with COVID-19
• Please continue to offer bows of well-being for:   
• 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 
• Mario Dacanay, Lucille Dacanay's stepson, who has tested positive for COVID-19
• 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, Lucille, for a little humor on 'What You Should and Should Not Do": https://youtu.be/wVs5AyjzwRM
• From our dharma sister, Jill: Poet and essayist, Wendell Berry, being interviewed by Krista Tippet and reading aloud his poetry: podcast can be found at onbeing.org, show #827. 
• From our dharma friend, Mary Hofstedt:  Earthday 72 hour live stream (performances, panels, trainings, conversations with elected officials) a massive live stream and online mobilization event, Earth Day Live
• From our dharma friend, Mary Hofstedt: UNESCO virtual tours of world heritage sites (Pompeii, the Taj Majal, Stonehenge, Great Pyramids, etc)  Unesco is providing virtual tours of world heritage sites 

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From our dharma sister, Hau

A Novel Guest

Hau at ZHS party 2001

On Tuesday, April 7th, at 7:20am, I entered a lucid dream.  I was in deep sleep, yet I was in a dream state.  I was in my bed and I heard some voice from the floor talking to me.  I realized that it was the voice of the corona virus.  I was aware of checking if I was afraid of it or not.  To my surprise, I had no fear because it didn’t do any harm to me.  It was pouring out its heart to me about how vulnerable it felt and with all sincerity, it just needed me to listen.  I was surprised that it showed its vulnerabilities to me so openly, without any demands.  It just needed to be listened to.  I was aware of its unwanted presence in this world and its dangerous nature, yet, here it was telling me about how raw & vulnerable it felt.  I was still surprised how not scared I was, yet, I really wanted to listen to what it had to tell me.  

My alarm went off.  Time to get up to take the trash out.  I hit the pause button on the dream.  I wanted to sit and really listen to this novel guest.  I would make tea.  I love to use my dream work to explore myself deeper over the years.  They are like koans to me.  I had a few dreams that still reveal themselves to me after years of being with them.  I got all excited that this dream got added to my internal landscape. My first knee jerked reaction was how come I was not scared, running away, avoiding it.  Yet, I am going toward it, willing to wholeheartedly listen to what it wants to tell me.  “Tell me more”.  “I am here with you”.      Deep gassho, Hau

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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.