I received several responses to my request in last week’s newsletter to share ways in which your sanghas are engaging with some of the challenges facing our countries and our planet.
Misha Merrill, guiding teacher of Zen Heart Sangha in Woodside CA, wrote: “I read your Newsette this morning. I’m glad that so many sanghas are addressing the fear and anxiety that is arising due to the current political situation–it’s a major concern right now for everyone. I just finished a two-part talk on ‘Buddhism and Politics’ for this very reason, and next Monday we will follow up with a discussion about how sangha members are using their practice to deal with anxiety.
“My own view (expressed in the lectures) isn’t popular with those who are eager ‘to do something’, but it’s fundamental Buddhism. Rather than promote political or social change, the Buddha specifically advocated personal transformation as the way to end suffering. As I told my group, that sounds selfish if you do not understand the truth of emptiness, but when you realize the interdependent nature of all things, then personal transformation actually becomes universal–the opposite of selfishness. When something changes, no matter how small, everything changes–but it takes a long time. That’s the real conundrum: we don’t feel that we have that kind of time given the terrible things that are happening right now.”
Chris Fortin (Dharma Heart Zen in Cotati CA) and Doralee Grinder Katonah (Valley Streams Zen Center in Sacramento) CA continue to co-lead a monthly online multi-sangha Racial and Social Justice as Dharma Practice group. A flyer describing the group is attached. Chris and Doralee would be “happy to advise and support others who might want to start similar groups.” Chris can be reached at chris.fortin@comcast.net and Doralee at grindkaton@icloud.com.
Mid City Zen (New Orleans LA) posts on their website’s home page: “Mid City Zen calls for a ceasefire in Palestine/Israel. Read our statement here. And join us for our Ceasefire Sits, each Monday morning at 8am” in person or via Zoom. “Support and join us in our commitment to non-violence in ourselves and the world. We will sit zazen (meditation) and practice loving kindness, dedicated to a lasting ceasefire in Palestine/Israel. All are welcome.”
A Universal Ceasefire sitting was held at Austin Zen Center on July 20, “two periods of zazen dedicated to disarming our hearts and minds and the hearts and minds of others.”
Reirin Gumbel, guiding teacher of Milwaukee (WI) Zen Center, participated in a press conference last week as a supporter of Death Penalty Action. Sangha members canvassed with an interfaith group “100 Women on the Move” during the Republican National Convention.
A query and upcoming classes and other dharma offerings
Hogetsu Laurie Belzer, guiding teacher of Ancient Dragon Zen Gate in Chicago asks: “Are any branching streams sanghas willing to share course plans for an in-person ‘Introduction to Zen Meditation?’ Ancient Dragon is in the midst of developing a 4 session (or so) intro to Zen meditation course with some history of Zen, intro to Suzuki Roshi’s way, and orientation to our temple. Hoping to turn and not re-invent the wheel. Please respond to Hogetsu at: hogetsu.laurie@gmail.com.
Houston Zen Center priest Sengetsu Tricia McFarlin will be teaching a class on The Dream of Gender in the Historical Unfolding of Buddhism, 6 Tuesdays, August 6 – September 10, 6:30 – 8:30 pm CDT. “In this six-week course, we will trace the twists and turns of the identity category of gender in the historical enactment of Buddhism from India to China to Japan to the US. Course readings will be in pdf form, consisting of legends, sutras, and scholarly articles. In person and possibly online as well.
Djinn Gallagher, guiding teacher of Black Mountain Zen Centre in Belfast, Northern Ireland, writes, “we are offering a half-day sitting on Sunday July 28 from 7 am to 1 pm Belfast time in person. It will also be possible to participate online on our usual link. There are still places available for our five-day sesshin with Paul Haller, September 8 to 13.
Ashland (OR) Zen Center is offering a ten day practice period for householders, called Everything Matters, from September 13 – 22. It ends with a three-day sesshin.
Red Cedar Zen Community in Bellingham WA is offering a Mountains and Rivers Backpacking retreat from September 6 to 11. “Inspired by Eihei Dogen’s 1240 AD text the Mountains and Rivers Sutra (Sansuikyo), this retreat includes a day of guided nature awareness and meditation in the front-country followed by four days and three nights of silent backpacking through a beautiful old growth hemlock forest to a seldom-visited base camp at Mazama Park, just south of Mount Baker at the foot of Park Butte. Our days will be interspersed with some social and free time.”
In the last week I noticed that several Branching Streams teachers were giving dharma talks based on Dogen’s fascicle “The Bodhisattva’s Four Methods of Guidance.” One of my favorite lines is “kind speech can turn the destiny of the nation.” May it be so!