Sunday, February 28, 2021

February 28, 2021

Congratulations to Sue Jensen on her Jukai Ordination! 

On Saturday, February 27, 2021, Jill Kaplan transmitted the precepts to Sue Jensen. The Jukai (lay) ordination ceremony was held in Jill Kaplan's and Rick Moss's front yard, the first ever ordination ceremony to be done in person during this COVID year in our sangha.  It was shared via Zoom with the rest of the sangha--a major achievement both in  planning the in-person event, as well as the technical requirements needed to share the event!

In the presence of her family, Sue received the precepts, her lineage papers, and her new dharma name from her teacher, Jill.  Her Peace Name (An Myo) is Kai Getsu Kan Shin (Ocean Moon, Generous Heart)  Alisa Tu acted as her assistant, Misha assisted Jill as Tanto, and  Rick was the videographer for the event.


This was not only a special day for Sue, but also for Jill as it was the first time that she transmitted the dharma to a student--an event significant not only for her, but for her teacher and for her sangha.  


Great congratulations to both Sue and Jill on this very special occasion!

108 bows, Misha





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Special bows for today: 

  • Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
    • Hank Wesselman, brother of Chris Wesselman, who died on 2/15/21
    • Roshi Mel Weitsman who died on 1/7/21
    • Tim Doherty, Chris Doherty's brother, who died on 1/8/21
  • Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
    • Misha's cousin, Kenny, who has been diagnosed with ALS
    • Shannon's husband, Gil, who is slowly recovering
    • Flip Dibner, dharma brother and friend, who is more than halfway through  chemotherapy treatments while at home 
    • David Shaw, who is continuing the process of PT after a stroke
__________________________________________________________________________

Wonderful links shared by sangha members and friends:
_____________________________________________________________________
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Friday, February 26, 2021

February 26, 2021

 A bad sit

What does it mean?

I don't think I've ever had one 

What would it look like?

Remaining still with mind racing?

Sounds like Discipline to me


Staying calm as demons come pouring into the room?

Seems like Courage

Quietly weeping on my cushion?

Isn't that what I'm supposed to be doing?

A Bad sit

I'll have to sit with that

I don't think I've ever had one


 - by Aaron DeNardo


__________________________________________________________________________

Special bows for today: 

  • Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
    • Hank Wesselman, brother of Chris Wesselman, who died on 2/15/21
    • Roshi Mel Weitsman who died on 1/7/21
    • Tim Doherty, Chris Doherty's brother, who died on 1/8/21
  • Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
    • Misha's cousin, Kenny, who has been diagnosed with ALS
    • Shannon's husband, Gil, who is slowly recovering
    • Flip Dibner, dharma brother and friend, who is more than halfway through  chemotherapy treatments while at home 
    • David Shaw, who is continuing the process of PT after a stroke
__________________________________________________________________________

Wonderful links shared by sangha members and friends:
_____________________________________________________________________
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Wednesday, February 24, 2021

February 24, 2021

 Submitted by Dainuri Rott:

As a baptized member of the Catholic church (I have a wonderful Swiss Godmother, Tanti Heidi, who was present at the baptism, now 93!), I have contemplated the Lord's Prayer, especially that haunting line, "Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."  Here is one rendition:


Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and forever.

 

Contemplating the differences between Christianity (as in the Catholic church, a Religion with a capital R), and Buddhism which I experience as a spiritual practice, I came up with a Buddhist version of this prayer/ not a prayer. (And this is version 7 or 8 and I am still working on it.)   It borrows heavily from our Zen liturgy:

 

Our buddha, whose path we follow, revered is the world honored one!
Immersing body and mind deeply in the way, we awaken true mind and thus heavenly nirvana is illuminated.
We vow to take its light to all sentient beings, bringing peace, harmony, and loving kindness to the world sangha.
Thus we enter the merciful ocean of Buddha’s Way.

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Special bows for today: 

  • Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
    • Hank Wesselman, brother of Chris Wesselman, who died on 2/15/21
    • Roshi Mel Weitsman who died on 1/7/21
    • Tim Doherty, Chris Doherty's brother, who died on 1/8/21
  • Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
    • Misha's cousin, Kenny, who has been diagnosed with ALS
    • Shannon's husband, Gil, who is slowly recovering
    • Flip Dibner, dharma brother and friend, who is more than halfway through  chemotherapy treatments while at home 
    • David Shaw, who is continuing the process of PT after a stroke
__________________________________________________________________________

Wonderful links shared by sangha members and friends:
_____________________________________________________________________
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Sunday, February 21, 2021

February 21, 2021

Instructions to the Cook 

- article by Kathleen Dickey

Over the winter break, Jill Kaplan gave me the book,  Instructions to the Cook by Bernie Glassman and Rick Fields, which uses cooking as a metaphor for studying Zen.  Bernie Glassman was known for his extensive community activism, including founding the Greyston Bakery in Yonkers, New York and the Zen Peacemakers.  In it, he says,

"The accomplished Zen cook is something of an alchemist. He or she can turn poisons into virtues. [They] don't do this by adding a secret ingredient but by leaving something out:  attachment to the self. For example, anger is considered a poison when it is self-motivated and self-centered. But take that attachment to the self out of anger, and that same emotion becomes the fierce energy of  determination, which is a very positive force."


In the chapter called "Basic Ingredients", Glassman says, "According to the way of the Zen cook, Beginner's Mind has three basic ingredients: doubt, faith and determination."  

What I love about these passages is their paradoxical nature, that challenges me to wonder: how can my negative emotions be transformed?  My personal demon I call "self-doubt" - so I am intrigued by the idea that doubt could be an essential ingredient.  Glassman addresses this: "Doubt is a state of openness and unknowing. It's a willingness to not be in charge, to not know what is going to happen next."   This is interesting - because if I examine my "self-doubt" it is totally connected to wanting to be in charge. What a concept: to let that go!                                Photo by Kathleen Dickey


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Special bows for today: 

  • Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
    • Hank Wesselman, brother of Chris Wesselman, who died on 2/15/21
    • Roshi Mel Weitsman who died on 1/7/21
    • Tim Doherty, Chris Doherty's brother, who died on 1/8/21
  • Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
    • Misha's cousin, Kenny, who has been diagnosed with ALS
    • Shannon's husband, Gil, who is slowly recovering
    • Flip Dibner, dharma brother and friend, who is more than halfway through  chemotherapy treatments while at home 
    • David Shaw, who is continuing the process of PT after a stroke
__________________________________________________________________________

Wonderful links shared by sangha members and friends:
_____________________________________________________________________

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Saturday, February 20, 2021

February 19, 2021

For Zen students, a weed,

which for most people is worthless,

is a treasure.

With this 

attitude, 

whatever you do, 

  life becomes 

an art."

- Shunryu Suzuki, 

Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind

Photo by Sylvia Hawley

________________________________________________________________________

Special bows for today: 

  • Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
    • Hank Wesselman, brother of Chris Wesselman, who died on 2/15/21
    • Roshi Mel Weitsman who died on 1/7/21
    • Ian Hass, Kathleen Dickey's cousin, who died on 12/28/20
    • Tim Doherty, Chris Doherty's brother, who died on 1/8/21
  • Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
    • Misha's cousin, Kenny, who has been diagnosed with ALS
    • Shannon's husband, Gil, who is slowly recovering
    • Flip Dibner, dharma brother and friend, who is more than halfway through  chemotherapy treatments while at home 
    • David Shaw, who is continuing the process of PT after a stroke
__________________________________________________________________________

Wonderful links shared by sangha members and friends:
_____________________________________________________________________
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Wednesday, February 17, 2021

February 17, 2021

To Be of Use 

The people I love the best
jump into work head first
without dallying in the shallows
and swim off with sure strokes almost out of sight.
They seem to become natives of that element,
the black sleek heads of seals
bouncing like half-submerged balls.

I love people who harness themselves, an ox to a heavy cart,
who pull like water buffalo, with massive patience,
who strain in the mud and the muck to move things forward,
who do what has to be done, again and again.

I want to be with people who submerge
in the task, who go into the fields to harvest
and work in a row and pass the bags along,
who are not parlor generals and field deserters
but move in a common rhythm
when the food must come in or the fire be put out.

The work of the world is common as mud.
Botched, it smears the hands, crumbles to dust.
But the thing worth doing well done
has a shape that satisfies, clean and evident.
Greek amphoras for wine or oil,
Hopi vases that held corn, are put in museums
but you know they were made to be used.
The pitcher cries for water to carry
and a person for work that is real.

by Marge Piercy

________________________________________________________________________

Special bows for today: 

  • Please offer bows for:
    • Hank Wesselman who died on February 15th
  • Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
    • Roshi Mel Weitsman who died on 1/7/21
    • Ian Hass, Kathleen Dickey's cousin, who died on 12/28/20
    • Tim Doherty, Chris Doherty's brother, who died on 1/8/21
  • Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
    • Misha's cousin, Kenny, who has been diagnosed with ALS
    • Shannon's husband, Gil, who is slowly recovering
    • Flip Dibner, dharma brother and friend, who is more than halfway through  chemotherapy treatments while at home 
    • David Shaw, who is continuing the process of PT after a stroke
__________________________________________________________________________

Wonderful links shared by sangha members and friends:
_____________________________________________________________________

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Monday, February 15, 2021

February 15, 2021

In this world...

there are three things of value 

for one who gives.

What are these three things?


Before giving, the mind of the giver is happy.

While giving, 

the mind of the giver is made peaceful.

After having given, 

the mind of the giver is uplifted. 


- The Buddha's teachings (An 3.6.37)


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Special bows for today: 

  • Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
    • Roshi Mel Weitsman who died on 1/7/21
    • Ian Hass, Kathleen Dickey's cousin, who died on 12/28/20
    • Tim Doherty, Chris Doherty's brother, who died on 1/8/21
  • Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
    • Misha's cousin, Kenny, who has been diagnosed with ALS
    • Shannon's husband, Gil, who is slowly recovering
    • Flip Dibner, dharma brother and friend, who is more than halfway through  chemotherapy treatments while at home 
    • David Shaw, who is continuing the process of PT after a stroke
__________________________________________________________________________

Wonderful links shared by sangha members and friends:

_____________________________________________________________________

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Tuesday, February 9, 2021

February 9, 2021

 Daily Life is the Way


A monk once asked his master, 

"No matter what lies ahead, what is the Way?"

The master quickly replied, "The Way is your daily life."

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Special bows for today: 

  • Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
    • Roshi Mel Weitsman who died on 1/7/21
    • Ian Hass, Kathleen Dickey's cousin, who died on 12/28/20
    • Tim Doherty, Chris Doherty's brother, who died on 1/8/21
    • Nora Hayes-Roth, a dear friend of Misha's, who died on 11/25/20
    • Dan Pomeroy, a friend of dharma brother, Dainuri Rott, who died on 11/20/20
  • Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
    • Misha's brother, Duane, finished his radiation this week--thank you for your bows! 
    • Misha's cousin, Kenny, who has been diagnosed with ALS
    • Shannon's husband, Gil, who has returned home and is slowly recovering
    • Flip Dibner, dharma brother and friend, who is 1/2way through his chemotherapy treatments while at home 
    • David Shaw, who is continuing the process of PT after a stroke
__________________________________________________________________________

Wonderful links shared by sangha members and friends:

_____________________________________________________________________

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Monday, February 8, 2021

February 7, 2021

While we practice conscious breathing, our thinking will slow down, and we can give ourselves a real rest.  Most of the time, we think too much,  and mindful breathing helps us to be calm, relaxed and peaceful.  

It helps us stop thinking so much and stop being possessed by sorrows of the past and worries about the future.  

It enables us to be in touch with life, which is wonderful in the present moment.

Excerpted from Peace is Every Step  - Thich Nhat Hanh

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Special bows for today: 

  • Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
    • Roshi Mel Weitsman who died on 1/7/21
    • Ian Hass, Kathleen Dickey's cousin, who died on 12/28/20
    • Tim Doherty, Chris Doherty's brother, who died on 1/8/21
    • Nora Hayes-Roth, a dear friend of Misha's, who died on 11/25/20
    • Dan Pomeroy, a friend of dharma brother, Dainuri Rott, who died on 11/20/20
  • Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
    • Misha's brother, Duane, finished his radiation this week--thank you for your bows! 
    • Misha's cousin, Kenny, who has been diagnosed with ALS
    • Shannon's husband, Gil, who has returned home and is slowly recovering
    • Flip Dibner, dharma brother and friend, who is 1/2way through his chemotherapy treatments while at home 
    • David Shaw, who is continuing the process of PT after a stroke
__________________________________________________________________________

Wonderful links shared by sangha members and friends:

_____________________________________________________________________

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Saturday, February 6, 2021

February 5, 2021

I roll over in bed

The alarm hasn’t sounded 

but I’m awake

Meditation starts now

Where else do you have to be?

What else is so important?


What is so bad about here and now

That drives you tail between your legs

Running back to your mind?


God is calling you

Come back

There’s no time to waste

Take your Noble Seat

And let’s BE together.


- by Aaron DeNardo


__________________________________________________________________________

Special bows for today: 

  • Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
    • Roshi Mel Weitsman who died on 1/7/21
    • Ian Hass, Kathleen Dickey's cousin, who died on 12/28/20
    • Tim Doherty, Chris Doherty's brother, who died on 1/8/21
    • Nora Hayes-Roth, a dear friend of Misha's, who died on 11/25/20
    • Dan Pomeroy, a friend of dharma brother, Dainuri Rott, who died on 11/20/20
  • Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
    • Misha's cousin, Kenny, who has been diagnosed with ALS
    • Shannon's husband, Gil, who has returned home and is slowly recovering
    • Misha's brother, Duane, who is almost done (!) receiving radiation for cancer 
    • Flip Dibner, dharma brother and friend, who is 1/2way through his chemotherapy treatments while at home 
    • David Shaw, who is continuing the process of PT after a stroke
__________________________________________________________________________

Wonderful links shared by sangha members and friends:

_____________________________________________________________________

Posted by at No comments:

Wednesday, February 3, 2021

February 3, 2021

The Profound Musings of a Mother

In a profound moment --- common, but no less a miracle -- my son Mitchell was born. And in that precious moment, time softened its relentless cadence and enabled the pendulum swing representing my life to remain at center. I am surprised at how frequently I now draw serenity from that moment; its recall assuring me of my course.

Not visible to me at the time, I am now able to acknowledge the situation's humorous fraction. My husband, every bit "the man's man," losing all color and crouching at my feet in a modified three-point stance, his hands open wide to catch the game winning pass; is forever etched in my memory. The recollection of myself at the point of parturitional insanity, demanding a mirror to witness the blessed event, has assumed its permanent placement on my top ten best performances list.

I remember the moment I first held my son. The feelings are still so overwhelming that I am unable to put them into words. And I believe some events are so inspiring they defy language, only to touch your soul. So it is my truth, for no day before or since holds the power that this day does for me.

Yet when I think about Mitchell's birth as the one day I would want to relive, I realize that it's not that day, but those after that have been witness to magnificent change. His birth -- and I am certain I am not single in this phenomenon -- catalyzed my launch from adulthood into maturity.

Nature is a sagacious muse. And although not forgiving, she isn't without compassion and a fertile sense of humor. She weaves into each human being a stratagem upon receipt of parental title that completes an indestructible bond -- a sharing of feelings ending in divine empathy for the child. Ingenious! For my growth now occurs in conjunction with my son's -- nature's largesse. And I realize that what began on that day as the fruition of my most selfish desire has thankfully been recast into my most selfless acts.

- Shannon Bergman

__________________________________________________________________________

Special bows for today: 

  • Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
    • Roshi Mel Weitsman who died on 1/7/21
    • Ian Hass, Kathleen Dickey's cousin, who died on 12/28/20
    • Tim Doherty, Chris Doherty's brother, who died on 1/8/21
    • Nora Hayes-Roth, a dear friend of Misha's, who died on 11/25/20
    • Dan Pomeroy, a friend of dharma brother, Dainuri Rott, who died on 11/20/20
  • Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
    • Misha's cousin, Kenny, who has been diagnosed with ALS
    • Shannon's husband, Gil, who has returned home and is slowly recovering
    • Misha's brother, Duane, who is almost done (!) receiving radiation for cancer 
    • Flip Dibner, dharma brother and friend, who is 1/2way through his chemotherapy treatments while at home 
    • David Shaw, who is continuing the process of PT after a stroke
__________________________________________________________________________

Wonderful links shared by sangha members and friends:

_____________________________________________________________________


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