Photo by David D’Agostino
Happy New Year dear friends!
Continuing our blog this week with reflections of our sangha members whom are engaged in exploring the journey of Tokudo. Today we are presenting the photographs of David D’Agostino and the written reflections of Kurt Jokai Wulfekuhler.
Here are David’s photos:
David is having an opening reception for his art show:
Here is Jokai’s reflection:
My dad was the editor and publisher of a small town newspaper. Of course, I have a trove of memories, positive and negative, of my dad, who I love dearly.
One positive memory: every Saturday night my dad could be seen at his desk in our house preparing his Sunday School lesson. He taught the Men’s Sunday School class for over 30 years.
Another positive memory: when I was younger, the newspaper was in the middle of the downtown area of our small town. My dad’s office was in the middle of the building with glass sliding windows on either side. The windows were always open, as was his door. I frequently went to the newspaper to see my dad. His office had visitors from all walks of life: bankers, the city mayor, the town drunk. He was the editor and publisher; I saw him as the town Counselor.
One not pleasant memory: my dad and I were in a car together; he was driving; we were delayed by road construction. My dad yelled at a construction worker; he yelled back. My dad got out of the car and yelled at the man, “Don’t you know who I am?”
Sensei Zendo spoke this morning at breakfast about Guy (Gee). Sensei spoke of Guy reaching out to him in a time of need; Zendo’s 8 year old self was not up to the request and pulled away.
This triggered a memory for me: I had a really good friend when I was in college. Several times after lunch I saw him off to himself reading a letter of some sort. One time, for some reason, I grabbed the letter out of his hand; it was a letter from his Dad who had died a few years before. My friend never forgave me.
Another series of memories: arguments with my ex-wife; arguments predictably ending with, “It’s not always about you!”
TOKUDO: It’s not about me.
SCHEDULE 1/1-1/7
SUNDAY, 7:00AM: Samantabhadra Recitation ZOOM ONLY https://www.google.com/url?q=https://us04web.zoom.us/j/78335966515?pwd%3DEvWprb07NkMZxfHA28GLRayeivgfnD.1&sa=D&source=calendar&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw1hm0FErAnuptPg58EoUINF
MONDAY, 6:30AM, ZAZEN AT THE TEA HOUSE, IN PERSON, DOKUSAN WITH ISSAN SENSEI
MONDAY, 7PM, DREAM KOAN AT THE TEA HOUSE OR ZOOM https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81182899201?pwd=UVU4MnJhMG1ZUGJaOHhaSndwQ2dYQT09
WEDNESDAY, 6:30AM: ZAZEN AT THE TEA HOUSE OR ZOOM https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89605039197?pwd=VTVubW5pUnBCNFBqQjBieERvNDd5QT09
*THURSDAY*, 6:30AM: *TOKUDO CLASS* AT THE TEA HOUSE OR ZOOM https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87672161959?pwd=NXhhTkhncWdkbnM4VU16YnM1ZDk4UT09
DOKUSAN WITH ISSAN SENSEI
FRIDAY, 6:30AM: ZAZEN AT THE TEA HOUSE
DOKUSAN WITH ZENHO SENSEI
Here’s Noah’s poem this week:
There are the beckonersÂ
they are dressed in glitter
they live within their bodies
and sing to me in my dream
And whisper me into the
becoming
the vibrating aliveness of my gentle pace
as I walk down the chilly sidewalk in the
middle of the day
Deep peace, great love,
Issan & Zenho
No Gate Zen Center 