Dear zen friend

1)   March sesshin:    from   03/08  to  03/12.  

      April sesshin:       from.   04/12  to  04/16. 

2)   Just after 4 pm on 01/01/2024, M7.6 earthquake rocked Noto Peninsula in Japan. There are many earthquakes in Japan, so people call their nation earthquake super power or a nation of natural disasters. Yet the quake this time was unforgettable. 

The Noto Earthquake happened in the midst of New Year holidays. Everyone was relaxed and enjoyed refreshing new year day. The holiday turned into hell. The land instantly rose at most 4 meters, sea water receded from beach.  There were small ports where fishermen going and coming. Suddenly, boats located on a dry land and waterways lost sea water.  Good news was that damage by tsunami was not reported. 

Roads were broken and twisted everywhere. Many houses collapsed due to the quake and the rise of land. Houses were built  with strict building codes. Those codes have prevented houses from fall when earthquakes occur. Houses, however,   could not stand the power of shaking this time. Beautiful coast lines extended far out at sea. New roads, ports, water supply pipe lines, and sewage system must be rebuilt as soon as possible.  What a disaster! 

Historically Noto Peninsula was the birthplace of Japanese Soto group second to Eiheiji. There are some large temples older than 700 years. Prominent Soto priests studied and practiced there, then moved to other areas all over Japan for centuries. Each temple has a unique story. Those stories have collectively made the history of Sotoshu. 

7 years ago I visited temples in Noto Peninsula. One temple was under repair work. There was an earthquake in the previous year. In February a letter arrived from the same temple. Pictures showed fallen roofs and collapsed buildings. The director of the temple was a friend of mine at Kyoto Antaiji. All personnels have survived, but he must be in charge of rebuilding the temple.  He cannot retire until the completion of  the new job. 

Volcanic activities along the pacific rim have been strong recently. Eruption of volcano and earthquake come from the same cause, motion in the deep earth. 

You know Iojima where Americans and Japanese fought at the end of WWII. Several  American war ships tactically sunk under sea at that time. Now the ships sit on the beach showing rusty bodies. Thus, Iojima has been on the rise. Last year a tiny island appeared close to Iojima. Then both became one. Iojima has ever been expanding. 

About 100 miles southward  Iojima, a new island was born a few years ago by volcanic eruption. A natural disaster may be accompanied by natural reconstruction. 

Regards. 

Valley Zendo

Eishin Ikeda