Dear Zen friend

1)     No Sesshin in August

        September Sesshin:    09/12, 09/13, 09/14 

2)      Chanting and Dharma Discussion:  August 16th (Saturday)  1 pm.   Guest speaker:   Rev. Seiso Paul Cooper

          Rev. Seiso Paul Cooper is co-founder of Two Rivers Zen Community in Narrowsburg, NY,  director and guiding teacher. 

          He looks like in lineage of Dainin Katagiri Roshi, and has studied with Rev.  Shohaku Okumura, too. He also has studied and practiced psychoanalysis.            

          I think,  for establishing American zen,  America needs all kinds of stories about enlightenment and delusion, devotion and failure for five hundred years. We are in confusion in many ways because we don’t have enough experiences about Buddha Dharma.  Attempt of Rev.  Seiso may be one of those important experiences.  I’d like to hear and discuss Dogen Zen and Buddhism in America. 

He plays shakuhachi, too.   

         Chanting and Dharma Discussion:  September 20th (Saturday)  1 pm.   

3)  It was fine on the day of wood splitting (07/18),  not too hot, not too cool. For amateurs, wood splitting is a complicated operation. Woods are heavy. easy to hurt us. Motion of blade is fast and  strong, is possible to give us damage any time. It is necessary for all attendees to be alert as long as the engine is running. Such situation is not experienced in the city.  Thank you for people who came and helped. The work went off without mishap within 3 hours. 

In the afternoon we felled 2 trees with chains and chainsaws. Chain operation was also tricky. It was fun to solve problems together.  These trees are good for wood splitting. 

Some mowed lawn, some cut fern,  it was like picnic. 

There was no damage nor accident.  I dream to have another event next year. 

Regards. 

Eishin Ikeda

Valley Zendo