I am in Chicago, working on this Newsette on 9/11, a day of remembrance and mourning for many. These words from Kate McCandless and Michael Newton, co-guiding teachers of Mountain Rain Zen Community in Vancouver, BC, resonate with me, and may perhaps resonate with you:
“We are living in deeply troubled times and the dharma offers us a scaffolding of practices, with the strength and suppleness of bamboo–to give us the capacity and resilience to live in these times, to walk the bodhisattva path with the compassion of Avalokiteshvara (Kannon), the wisdom of Manjusri (Monju), the appropriate action of Samantabhadra (Fugen), and the boundless vow of Ksitigarbha (Jizo).”
In a few days the 2025 Branching Streams Gathering co-hosted by Ancient Dragon Zen Gate in Chicago and Milwaukee Zen Center will begin. Forty-seven participants from twenty-three Branching Streams affiliates will come together to explore the theme, Bridging and Belonging – Living a Zen Life in the Midst of Conflict. We will share a report with you after the Gathering.
Several Zen Centers have reported milestones and rites of passage:
Heart of Compassion (Pt. Reyes CA) is celebrating its ninth anniversary and their newly designed website, writes founding and guiding teacher Jaune Evans.
On Sunday, September 7, Black Mountain Zen Centre in Belfast, Northern Ireland celebrated the shukke tokudo (priest ordination) of Mary Price by their guiding teacher and founder, Ryushin Paul Haller. Abiding teacher Djinn Gallagher notes: “This is a momentous occasion for us as it’s the first time a priest has been ordained in our lineage in Northern Ireland, and we are all delighted and deeply grateful that Mary has taken up this role. May her thoughtful and gentle practice continue to inspire and support the sangha.” Mary’s name remains Um Mon Yu Do (Cloud Gate Fearless Way).

Red Cedar Zen Community in Bellingham WA celebrated a priest ordination: “August 10th, 2025 was a glorious day as we joined and supported Seishin Mitsusan Tyndall as they received their robes and bowl and started a lifelong journey as a Soto Zen priest. It was a packed house at a venue in the country, complete with bright banners–which could have been prayer flags–adorning the ceiling of the retreat center. Seishin will be leaving for their 3-month monastic stay soon to Tassajara Monastery, in the heart of the Ventana Wilderness. Many blessings and bows, Seishin!”

“In a joyous ceremony, witnessed by many family and friends, four students of Sonoma Valley Zen’s Guiding Teacher, Myogen Kathryn Stark, received the precepts on August 24, 2025, at Stone Creek Center in Graton, California. They are: Constance Cote, Kan Ō Ho Shin – Patient Falcon Sustaining Truth; Nan Perrot, Jin San E Dō – Compassionate Mountain Wisdom Way; Mary Jue, Shō Shi Shin Dō – Shining Branch Heart/Mind Path; and Marilyn Gohl, Un Sen Shu Ken – Gentle River Source Revealed.”

Arcata Zen Group in Arcata, CA is seeking a part time Head Teacher who can provide spiritual care and
leadership for their Sangha as their current teacher, Gene Bush, moves into retirement. See the attached flyer for more information.
Celebrating new books by Zen friends:
Shodo Spring ‘s book Open Reality: Meeting the Polycrisis Together With All Beings, was recently published by Seacroft Press.
Florence Caplow’s new book, Tend to Your Spirit, Mindful Living with Chronic Illness, co-written with Julianne Lepp, will be published by Skinner House Books on October 7.
Ben Connelly’s most recent book is Inside the Flower Garland Sutra, published by Wisdom.,
The Soto Zen Buddhist Association’s Series Actualizing and Sustaining Healthy Zen Communities is offering a discussion of Zen in Public: Social Action and Community Care on Saturday, September 20, 2 – 3:30 p.m. EST. “Hear from panelists with deep experience organizing public rituals and meditations to support social justice, creating cultures of sharing of food and material resources, deepening community relationships, standing in solidarity with folks who are marginalized, and finding creative public ways to manifest our bodhisattva vows.”
Crystal Johnson, who has offered trainings for Branching Streams and the SZBA, writes: “We are thrilled to let you know that we will be offering an updated version of East Bay Meditation Center’s White and Awakening in Sangha course, beginning September 28, 2025. It will be available both live at EBMC and online. You can find more information here.” Crystal will co-facilitate with Kitsy Schoen and Heather Lear.
May you and your sangha thrive in this challenging time in the U.S. and the world.