Posted on

Newsette 6-5-2024

I returned from Tassajara on Sunday, after attending a deep and delightful retreat with Paul Haller and poet Naomi Shihab Nye. The summer is off to a robust start, with some retreats in addition to the many sangha weeks.

There are several wonderful practice opportunities coming up this week, as well as a leadership transition ceremony and a celebration of life for a long-time sangha member.

Kannon Do Zen Meditation Center in Mountain View CA will host a one-day sitting in their zendo on Saturday June 8, led by Sokaku Kathie Fischer. “If you are interested in attending there is still time to join. Please provide your contact info here  for more information.”

Akazienzedo in Berlin will host Tatsudo Nicole Baden Roshi, who will lead a Zen practice day on June 9, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the topic “Roots of Wisdom – What is the state of Zen practice in the West?” Participation is possible both on site and online. Nicole will become the Abbot of Zen Buddhist Center Black Forest, German in September, succeeding Zentatsu Richard Baker Roshi.

Greg Snyder, co-guiding teacher of Brooklyn Zen Center, will offer an eight week class on Karma and Collective Liberation starting June 13. “The whole of Buddhist ethics is grounded in the teaching of karma and rebirth. The intention of this course is to begin to provide a nuanced understanding of this complex and essential ethical principle.” The class takes place in person at the Millerton Zendo (Millerton, NY) and online, during eight consecutive Thursday evenings from 6:45 to 8:30pm.

San Antonio Zen Center shares an invitation to a celebration of life ceremony on Saturday June 8 for their long-time member Gerald Schulz, who died recently. I met Gerald when he came to Tassajara nearly every summer with his wife Pat and son G.

The transition ceremony at Ancient Dragon Zen Gate, when Taigen Leighton will become Teacher Emeritus and Hogetsu Laurie Belzer will become the Guiding Teacher, will take place on Sunday June 9 at 10:15 a.m. CDT. It’s possible to attend by Zoom, with this link.

The next event in the Soto Zen Buddhist Associations series, Celebrating the Voices of Women in Buddhism features Osho Zenju Earthlyn Manuel on June 30 from 2 to 3:30 EDT online. Her theme will be “A Trace of Mahapajapati: The Elements of Dharma Transmission Woman to Woman

Joan Amaral, guiding teacher of Zen Center North Shore, wrote “I wanted to share this image with you and the Branching Streams Sanghas. I think it uplifts us all. JT was the ZCNS intern this spring as part of finishing his senior year of high school. We met through his World Religions class, which I’ve taught at his high school for the past decade.He learned the role of fukudo and became familiar with the han.” JT shared this image of the cap he wore to his graduation:

It’s Pride month in San Francisco and rainbow flags are flying on Market Street. I will be co-leading a Queer Dharma sangha week at Tassajara next week and will write again the week of June 17.

May you enjoy the long days as Summer Solstice approaches.