Author Archives: rtdgba

Dear zen friend 1)  June Sesshin :  from  06/19  to  06 /20  for 2 days.  Sitting starts at 4:10 am, ends at 9:00 pm on Saturday.  Sitting starts at 4:10 am, ends at 5:00 pm on Sunday.  Many things have … Continue reading →

Dear zen friend 1)  The first notes about Daffodil 200 were sent on 21st of March. I wrote that they would fully bloom soon. My expectation was wrong. Today 95% of daffodil finally have bloomed.  They are in full bloom … Continue reading →

Dear zen friend1)  It is spring. A week ago daffodils started coming out. I thought they would have bloomed last Sunday. I was wrong.Not a single flower appears yet. Temperature will go down below zero for the latter half of this week. They may bloom … Continue reading →

Dear zen friend １）A foot deep snow remains around valley zendo. It is snow white as far as eyes can see. Maple sugaring begins. Daytime becomes longer and brighter. Spring has come. In a few weeks daffodil and more flowers will bloom.  2)   Since … Continue reading →

Dear Zen friendIt was -6 degree Fahrenheit this morning, coldest this winter.The stove needed 2 times more firewood to heat zendo.One foot snow has stayed for 2 weeks.Yet, mild weather is expected to be back after Monday.The bottom is over, … Continue reading →

Dear zen friend1) Sesshin is not scheduled in November.  2)  Corona pandemic has been a dominant issue this year.We are told to stay home and socially be distant from people.At a burial site today, everyone wore a mask in blowing … Continue reading →

Dear zen friend1)   No sesshin is scheduled in October. Reopening is near.A few months ago, people expressed fear under a mask.Now the fear has been fading.Be patient (one of the deepest values of Mahayana Buddhism). 2)  During the Labor Day … Continue reading →

Dear zen friend 1)  September sesshin was discussed for long. Comfortable temperature is expected. Some are eager to do sitting practice. Yet corona pandemic dominates our lives. Manner of social distancing must be respected. Even the Bridge of flowers is … Continue reading →

Dear Zen Friend 1)  Zendo is surrounded with most comfortable environments these days.      It is warm, is sunny most of days, and rains occasionally.     These are best conditions for sesshin.      Yet social and medical uncertainty is … Continue reading →

Dear zen friend 1)  I’d like to reopen Sunday zazenkai from 8 am to noon on Sundays. It is easy to sit in summer, in warm and breezing days. We sit while windows are open. We have to gradually restart … Continue reading →