Author: SMS Editor

September 2021 Newsletter

Dear Friends, This image from inside a dandelion blossom ready to go, but not yet gone–still there, catching droplets–reminds me of this time, and of this koan about the Pang Family, our early ancestors in the Zen tradition. The Layman was…

Koan Ancestors – Wednesdays

Please join us for a weekly study and practice series exploring the teachings of many of the ancestors of our Zen tradition from China and Japan. Each Wednesday evening this fall, we will take a deep dive into the life,…

Koan Meditation Tomorrow Morning

KOAN INQUIRY TOGETHER, TOMORROW SATURDAY, AUGUST 14, 10:00 AM to NOON Zhaozhou’s Three Turning Words A mud buddha can’t cross through water,  A gold buddha can’t cross through a furnace. A wooden buddha can’t cross through fire.   Friends, One…

Open Source Autumn Meditation Retreat

“In the morning we entangle eyebrows, in the evening our shoulders rub. Who is it?” -Daito Kokushi The 2021 Open Source Autumn Retreat is fast approaching.  It will begin  Tuesday evening, October 19th  and end Sunday evening, October 24th New news! …

August 2021 Newsletter

Dear Friends, I’ve been thinking about twirling, and refuge. When I was a little girl I loved to twirl, and I loved to swing on the wooden seated swing under the tall tall tree in the woods behind the house. …

July 2021 Newsletter

Dear Friends, Here comes July!  Creek Bend is cooler than many parts of the Springs, but even here, peas and strawberries are ripe for the picking, and the sunflowers ringing the terrace are hip high. The beautiful perennials Debbie Stavish…

June 2021 Newsletter

Dear Sangha and Friends, This morning I attended a monthly Repentance Ceremony at the Dharma Rain Buddhist Temple, where our friend Rev. Pho Khai is Abbot. It’s a very beautiful service, with chanting in Vietnamese and 108 bows. The chants…