Dear Zen friend

1)         December sesshin:           from 12/07   to   12/09

             Year end sesshin:             from 12/27   to   12/31

             January sesshin:               from 01/18   to   01/22

2) November is in winter with half foot snow. Snow this year is wet and heavy, fallen near 32 degree temperatures . Many branches and tree tops were broken. How long would this season last?

Snow used to be dry and light here under cold temperatures near zero Fahrenheit. The difference between heavy snow and light one may be caused by the warmth of air.

3)  10 years ago, 3 adult deer ran around the land of Valley Zendo. They were young, healthy, and strong. Their violent running was noisy and somewhat harmful. They were shot one by one by a neighbor hunter.

In the meantime a baby deer, fawn is born every June in the zendo land. A fawn is middle dog sized and accompanied by its mother deer. They eventually walked away in a month.

This year a fawn was born in June. A sesshin participant took a picture. In a month I found the fawn hiding in fern. Fern may be favorite food and a shelter for a fawn.

In August two fawns came to eat grass together while two mother deer were watching them. Since then the four deer have been seen frequently. They look good friends and enjoy calm environments.

They eat grass while looking outwards. If they were anxious, their heads turn towards zendo with caution.

Once met a mother deer on the road, she greeted me by waving her tail.

Now is hunting season. I wish they would survive.

Regards.

Eishin Ikeda

Valley Zendo