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Newsette 4-25-2025

Welcome to a new Branching Streams affiliate, Jissoji Zen Ann Arbor in Ann Arbor, MI. Jissoji was established in 2016 by guiding teacher Marta Dabis. Marta is a student of Koji Acquaviva Dreher, who practices at Clouds and Water Zen Center in Minneapolis MN and often leads retreats at Jissoji.

Earth Day has been celebrated widely this month, including ceremonies at City Center, Enso Village, and many Branching Streams groups.

This photo shows Austin Zen Center’s heritage oak tree encircled with ema, paper strips inscribed with “words of gratitude, intention, and vow to our Mother the Earth.” The ema were hung around the tree in a ceremony this week led by guiding teacher Choro Antonaccio. Photo by Chris Azbill.

Valley Streams Zen Sangha in Sacramento CA celebrated Earth Day on April 21. Their newsletter includes these words of Joanna Macy:

“Of all the dangers we face, from climate chaos to nuclear war, none is so great as the deadening of our response.”

They write, “During our Earth Day celebration we will awaken our care for the earth and our essential connection to the natural world. We will begin with a sitting meditation and service, chanting Dogen’s Self-Receiving and Employing Samadhi, followed by outside walking meditation. We will return to the zendo to listen to the words of Black Elk and form a practice circle to discuss our commitment to the great Earth.”

Red Cedar Zen Community in Bellingham, WA is offering a Backpacking Mountains and Rivers Retreat from September 6 to 11. “Inspired by Eihei Dogen’s 1240 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.”

At Berkeley Zen Center, Linda Galijan and Greg Fain will be installed as Abiding Teachers in a ceremony on May 2 at 5:45 p.m., in person and online (see the BZC website for the online link). They will co-lead BZC’s spring practice period and co-teach a class on the Lotus Sutra.

Many of you signed a letter of support for Mohsen Mahdavi. Mahdavi is a Palestinian Columbia University student, a Green Card holder and permanent resident, who was arrested and detained by ICE officials in mid-April. The letter (attached), drafted by SF Zen Center’s Abbot Mako Voelkel, was widely circulated and as of 4/27 had 170 signatures. If you wish to sign the letter it is here.

The letter was made available to Mahdavi’s legal team. It was posted, along with a letter of testimony for Mahdavi by Bikkhu Bodhi, in Lion’s Roar. Tricycle also posted the letter as well as an article, “Mohsam Mahdavi, the Buddhist: understanding and responding to the latest college student abduction by ICE,” by Michael Santi Keating, which explores Mahdavi’s commitment to non-violence.

I continue to settle into Enso Village, meeting people who share my love of practice, music, art, and social activism.

May you find peace, ease, and joy in the midst of changes and challenges.