Blog Post 9-18-22

“Zuiban nagaku ikasarette itadaire orimasu ne (I have been caused to live by the deep-conditions of the universe to which I am humbly and deeply grateful)” – old Jiko in A Tale For The Time Being, Ruth Ozeki.

After cleaning out a mouse nest, I have finished putting new insulation in the attic. Hot and sweaty. The Sandia Mountains have just finished covering the last rim of today’s Sun. The sun that shines equally on mouse, and scattered bird-now-mouse seed, and insulation and sweat and me. The Sun is gone, and It is somehow seen more clearly. Just where you are, just this moment, how do you respond to this empty sky that is completely, utterly, radiantly full. Quick. Don’t be bashful.

Noah Seltzer’s poem of the week:

The wind 

As she blew the ancient oak down to its 

Death 

Was doing her best 

The water 

That swallowed the homes of those who prayed 

Couldn’t do it any other way 

And I 

In each rhythm of my heart

Meet this moment the best I can

And one day

I will know that this exhausted exhale is the 

Perfect offering to the trees 

In the silent morning 

breeze– 

SCHEDULE 9/18/22-9/2/22 MONDAY, 6:30AM: ZAZEN AT THE TEA HOUSE MONDAY, 7PM, DREAM KOAN AT THE TEA HOUSE OR ZOOM TUESDAY, 6:30AM, ZAZEN AT THE TEA HOUSE WEDNESDAY, 6:30AM: ZAZEN AT THE TEA HOUSE OR ZOOM THURSDAY, 6:30 AM: VAJRAKILAYA AT THE TEA HOUSE OR ZOOM DOKUSAN ALSO AVAILABLE FRIDAY, 6:30 AM: ZAZEN AND DOKUSAN AT THE TEA HOUSE