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Mt Baldy Zen Center Newsletter
Winter Seichu Schedule
October 04, 2009

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Hello friends,

MBZC is pleased to announce its winter schedule.

MBZC Winter Seichu
December 9th 2009 - March 14th, 2010

December

Seichu Begins: Wednesday, December 9th

Hashinkyuji December 14th (Mon), 2009
Rohatsu@ MBZC December 15th (Tue) - 22nd (Tues), 2009
Jodo E ceremony December 22nd (Tue), 2009

January

This Dai-Sesshin will be held at Rinzai Ji in Los Angeles. Please contact that center at 323-732-2263 if you wish to attend this Dai-Sesshin:

Hashinkyuji January 10th (Sun), 2010
Rinzai Ki ceremony January 10th (Sun), 2010
Rinzai Ki @ Rinzai Ji January 11th (Mon) - 17th (Sun), 2010

February

Hashinkyuji February 7th (Sun), 2010
Nirvana @ MBZC February 8th (Mon) - 14th (Sun), 2010
Nirvana ceremony February 15th (Mon), 2010

March

Hashinkyuji March 6th (Sat), 2010
Dai Sesshin@ MBZC March 7th (Sun) - 13th (Sat), 2010

Seichu Ends: March 14th (Sun), 2010

MBZC is currently hosting a special retreat for Roshi’s European sangha. The participants in this Dai-Sesshin are:

Yokyo: Master Manjusri Daishi, Master Denkyo Kyozan Rodaishi

Members

Werner Ainhirn Kurt Kramer
Yvonne Askins Ryan McMann
Michael Baumgartner (n) Oscar Moreno
Alice Chan (pt) Roshin
Bill Flynn (pt) Sohan
Theodora Francis Christina Stephani (n)
Paul Karsten (pt) Max Tschlatscher (n)
Veronica Katona

Joju

Shika: Gento
Inji-Jii: Hosen
Inji: Kumiko Yasukawa
Tenzo: Soken
Nakaten: Bindu Dexter
Densu: Shingen
Shoden: Myo-on
Translator: Kazumi Tanaka

Donai

Tanto: Seiju
Jikijitsu: Kigen Brauer
Joko: Daijo
Tanto Jokei: Koyo
Jiki Jokei: Soiku (pt)
Shoji: Hogen
Shoshoji: Michael Moscoso

If you wish to participate in a winter Dai-Sesshin at Mt. Baldy, please contact us at 909-985-6410, or office@mbzc.org. To reserve a spot in the Dai-Sesshin send a non-refundable $200 deposit.

We look forward to practicing with you this winter.

Gassho,

Shika, Gento

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Mt Baldy Zen Center Newsletter
Monday, August 10
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Hello Friends,

For starters, a quick correction: the final Dai-Sesshin of the MBZC Seichu will run from August 30th through September 5th, not the 6th, as stated incorrectly in a previous email. Apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.

Secondly, MBZC had as part of its August schedule a Dai-Sesshin at Mt. Cobb. This retreat has now been moved to October. Please contact Mt. Cobb for further details (707) 928-5667.

MBZC has just finished its third retreat of the Summer Seichu season. The 32 officers and participants for that retreat were:

Members:

Alice Chan Cheryl Keating
Douglas Brodley Tracy Keating
Douglas Doerr August Kryger
Dana Dunlap Elaine Mackle
Bill Flynn Patrick Mair
Wen Hsin Monica McTighe
Jennifer Jones Michael Moscoso
Paul Karsten Dylan Raithel
Nate Reynolds
Sally Stein

Donai:

Jikijitsu Daijo
Joko Soiku
Tanto Jokei Gido
Jiki Jokei Oscar Moreno
Shoji Dokuro
Shoshoji Jim Detweiler

Joju:

Shika Gento
Inji Kumiko Yasukawa
Densu Sokai
Shoden Shuko
Shoden Myosen
Tenzo Gyodo
Nakaten Bindu Dexter
Translator Kazumi Tanaka

Myoyu arrived on day six to help out with Roshi, and left this morning. Along with ongoing bags of groceries for Roshi, she recently generously donated a very fine, brand new Canon G3 photocopier to MBZC, which has gone a long way towards making the Sisyphean task of office paperwork a little easier. Meanwhile, Gyodo donated a blender and juicer to the kitchen, along with several food items. We seem to be on a roll, then, so if anyone finds his- or herself thinking: What do I want to do with that new high powered snow-blower gathering dust in the garage…? Seriously, MBZC is the recipient of a steady flow of donated items large and small, which, along with being practically useful, vitalize and inspire the center, and continuously connect us to the sangha at large. We deeply appreciate every one of your gifts.

Our numbers are high on camp right now! For the rest of Seichu we plan to have Soiku, Gento, Daijo, Myosen, Oren (arriving today) Jim Detweiler, Kumiko Yasukawa, Bindu Dexter, Michael Moscoso, and Elaine Mackle. For those of us slow in math, that puts MBZC at eleven full-timers, with several participants coming and going over the next few weeks. This means that we will have momentum to get several projects going, including robe mending, stonework around the paths/driveway, cabin maintenance, and the occasional rattlesnake-caching-and-releasing (we’re at three or four now, for the summer). Meanwhile, in other good news, Kumiko has tendered her resignation at her job in Canada, and has decided to stay and practice at MBZC indefinitely.

We’re halfway through our summer Seichu, and no doubt everyone would like to know about Roshi’s health. This is a difficult topic to comment on, as it’s always hard to gauge exactly how he’s doing, and what standards we should even apply when talking about a 102 year old man who works as hard as he does. He missed two sanzens due to tiredness this past Dai-Sesshin, but was generally genki (strong), and mentioned to the Inji that the newer students were good, and helped keep him lively and active. Ultimately, the best way to find out how Roshi is doing is to come and see for yourself, if you can. Again, we have our final Seichu retreat from August 30th-September 5th. MBZC will then be hosting a special Dai-Sesshin for Roshi’s European students from October 4th-10th. European practitioners will be given priority for this retreat, but everyone is welcome depending on space.

We hope to see you soon.

Gassho,

Gento, Shika

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Mt Baldy Zen Center Newsletter

May 18, 2009

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Hello friends,

We find ourselves, here at MBZC, in the thick of our spring Seikan practice. We’ve hosted several workshops (Unfettered Mind, Bodymind Institute, and Enlightenment Intensive), hiked Mt Baldy (ok, only halfway), hosted a work party (where we dai-cleaned the Zendo, sutra hall and dining hall), removed the carpet from cabin 4 (and with it, the ungodly stench afflicting that cabin) and sent a couple staff members to a Dai-Sesshin at Bodhi Manda.

Some of you have inquired into Roshi’s health following his flu-induced hospital stay in Los Angeles. After scaling back his participation in a Sesshin at Rinzai-Ji and a Dai-Sesshin at Bodhi Manda, Roshi gained much of his energy back as he participated fully (four sanzens a day, and teisho) in the following Bodhi Dai-Sesshin. Two of our staff members, Jim Detweiler and Bindu Dan Dexter, attended the retreat and reported back positively on Roshi’s vitality and overall health.

MBZC’s fulltime staff members are Gento (Shika), Daijo (Jikijitsu), Jim Detweiler (Shoji), Kumiko Yasukawa (currently at Bodhi serving as Roshi’s Inji) and Bindu Dan Dexter (Tenzo). Daijo, formerly a fulltime monk at Bodhi Manda and a student of Roshi’s for over a decade, joined us a little after spring semi-formal training began. Aside from being an all-around nice guy and a sincere Zen practitioner, Daijo plays a mean mandolin. (No word if he’s learned the Heart Sutra on it yet.) We’re delighted to have him as a fulltime MBZC monk.

As for staff, we can’t forget the center’s mascot, Kara. Dizzy with what must be spring fever (and, apparently, an identity crisis), our cat has taken to fetching and retrieving her mouse toy as though she’s a dog. This is what happens when you spend your entire life indoors. Outdoors, we’ve caught an incredibly ornery rattlesnake and have had to slalom around coyote droppings on the kinhin path. There are lizards, finches, squirrels, ants, flies, hornets and crickets aplenty. The air is scented with the opening of flowers that are coloring the rocky hillsides yellow and blue.

Much of this vibrant spring life will be dried up and dead, of course, by the time you arrive here in July for our summer Seichu practice — but we extend the invitation nonetheless. MBZC is fortunate to have a busy Seichu cued up, with Roshi scheduled to participate fully for two plus months. The slots are filling up fast, however, and so we urge you to (a) send us a $200 non-refundable check to secure your place in any of our summer Dai Sesshins, (b) buy your plane ticket and forward us the info and (c) join us for the increasingly rare and precious privilege of practicing with a 102 year old Zen master.

Gassho,

Gento, Shika

Hello Friends,

thanks for your patience re: MBZC’s summer schedule, which is as follows:

July 1, Seichu begins
July 5-11, MBZC Dai-Sesshin
July 19-25, Rinzai Ji Dai-Sesshin
August 2-8, MBZC Dai-Sesshin
August 15-21, Mt. Cobb Dai-Sesshin
August 30-September 5, MBZC Dai-Sesshin

MBZC has finished its winter Seichu training period, and Roshi is now leading a Dai-Sesshin in Puerto Rico. It was a winter fraught with snowy weather here at MBZC, necessitating several emergency measures, such as shoveling snow off the roofs for fear of collapse, and hiring Evan Chapman, a local with a large snowplow, to clear the driveway (twice!). The weather seems to be getting balmier, though Roshi assured me before he left that it will at least snow again in May (as it did last year) if not sooner.

We were fortunate to be joined by several students and a nun this winter during non-Dai-Sesshin periods, including Oren, Susan Linnell, Gabriel Lucero, and David Seaman. They helped round out our healthy fulltime Seichu staff/student participants: Soken, Gento, Jim Detweiler, Deva Graf, Kumiko Yasukawa, Kazumi Tanaka, Goran Nillson, and Bindu Dan Dexter. Gary Galsworth attended several Dai-Sesshins this winter, and made some serious headway on several plumbing projects; he fixed many of the plumbing problems we knew we had, and many more we didn’t even know were there. He’s saved the Zen Center countless thousands of dollars over the years.

MBZC’s Seikan scholarship students are Gento, Jim Detweiler, Kumiko Yasukawa and Bindu Dan Dexter. Both Jim and Kumiko are on their family visits, with Kumiko in Tokyo and Jim in Philadelphia. Goran Nillson has returned to Europe and his wife and son after putting in a solid eight month stint at MBZC as a scholarship student and winter Shoji. We already miss his work ethic, sense of humor and Swedish smile. As for Seikan officer positions, Bindu is in the kitchen learning the ropes as Nakaten or Tenzo-in-training, with Jim filling in as Shoji, Kumiko continuing her duties as Inji, and I am Shika. We have several projects around camp that we will focus on this Seikan, as well as some of our regular workshops (Aikido Ai, Ken McLeod, Marvin Treiger etc.), a Zazenkai and a sangha appreciation pot-luck dinner.

We hope to be receiving your $200 deposits soon for summer Seichu Dai-Sesshins.

Gassho,

Gento, Shika

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Mt Baldy Zen Center Newsletter
February 17, 2009
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Hello Friends,

MBZC recently completed its 2/8-14 Dai-Sesshin retreat, wherein we were beset by several challenges by way of a stomach virus and snow. The Joju end of camp was active in receiving and caring for students, monks and oshos knocked out from a powerful stomach virus that left its victims feverish, nauseous and occasionally vomiting. The virus hit hard, but fortunately its duration was brief, and those afflicted were in and out of the infirmary within two to three days.

The first several days of Dai Sesshin also brought some snow — exactly how much, I can’t recall right now, as a post-Dai Sesshin storm beginning two days ago has added close to four feet to this existing layer. We have abandoned our typically stern adherence to form and custom and are bending the schedule to the demands of the weather, eating informal, protein-rich meals in the dining hall and working around the clock to make the grounds navigable for the upcoming retreat starting this Saturday. This includes shoveling walkways and roofs, and praying for the arrival of Evan Chapman, a local with a very large snowplow. (I told him that we would greet him like the French greeted the Americans at Normandy.)

Roshi is not on camp right now (though he’s been checking in with us by phone, concerned as he is about the weather). He’s down in LA getting a cortisone shot in his lower back to mitigate some deep leg pain. He was quite robust this past Dai-Sesshin, and an Osho noted that he seemed to be pacing himself. Nonetheless, a senior Inji made a point of letting me know recently that Roshi’s body has indeed changed in the last few months, something I’ve noticed in his increased use of a wheelchair to travel to and from the sutra hall. As I was sitting before Roshi the other day in sanzen, clueless (as usual) but inspired, it occurred to me that each sanzen with this teacher is like a piece of fruit from a very rare and precious tree that is the last of its kind. Once he’s gone, the world will never experience a living embodiment of ancient wisdom quite like this one again. It was about then that he rang me out, of course, leaving me to querulously ponder why our numbers are so low for the final Dai-Sesshin of our winter season (low 20s). Let this be a call to arms, then, for those of you still on the fence about this retreat! Over four feet of snow, icy paths, grey skies, endless white in the mountains and valleys, as well as a 101 yr. old Zen Master await you here at MBZC. BYOB — bring your own boots — and RSVP ASAP.

Gassho,

Gento, Shika

Hello friends,

MBZC put on its January 11-17 Dai-Sesshin with the following members and officers:

Members

Bindu Dexter Ryan McMann
Bill Flynn Michael Moscoso
Gary Galsworth Emily Robinson
Susan Linnell Julie Sprott
Gabriel Lucero Seisen

Joju

Shika Gento
Densu Myosho
Shoden Oren
Dai Ten Gento
Tenzo Jim Detweiler
Tenzo Helper Deva Graf
Inji Jii Hosen
Inji Helper Kumiko Yasukawa
Translator Kazumi Tanaka

Donai

Jikijitsu Soken
Joko Seiju
Tanto Jokei Gido
Jiki Jokei Oscar Moreno
Shoji Daijo
Shoshoji Goran Nilsson

Roshi was vital and strong for the retreat, but within new parameters: we used a wheelchair borrowed from Rinzai-Ji to take him from his cabin to the Forester, and from the Forester to the dining/sutra halls. For several days we were treated to sanzens that lasted three plus hours as Roshi put forth a great deal of time and energy on our behalf — efforts which were humbly reciprocated by the Zendo during the long sits during sanzen.

The Mount Baldy crew is currently down at Rinzai-Ji, where it is day five of a seven-day retreat. I’m joined right now at Mt. Baldy by longtime sangha member Gary Galsworth, who has come to the rescue yet again for another plumbing emergency. A recent cold snap caused one of the water pressure regulators to blow, creating a small but steady flood outside the kitchen. MBZC is the constant and hopefully thankful and gracious recipient of many kindnesses — usually in the form of donations — from sangha members. Aside from the flood of support flowing in in the form of memberships and financial donations, Myoyu recently donated a fridge to the Inji cabin, Ruth Parker donated a rice cooker, and John Dumbrille and Michelle Meyrink sent us three pairs of winter mittens. It must also be noted that Kurt Uchtman from Rinzai Ji donated a bottle of wine to MBZC, which we plan on uncorking March 1st, the day winter seichu officially closes.

Other than exploding water pressure regulators, things have been pretty calm at MBZC. After a vicious opening to our winter seichu, with enough snow to impel a senior osho to remark, “this will be one of those retreats you talk about decades from now,” we’ve experienced little drama, weather-wise. Heavy winds have been consistent, and we’ve gotten some rain. It snowed a few inches the other night.

Our ranks are swelling: on camp for the rest of winter seichu are: Soken, Deva Graf, Jim Detweiler, Kumiko Yasukawa, Kazumi Tanaka, Oren, Gabriel Lucero, Susan Linnell, Goran Nilsson, Bindu Dan Dexter and myself. Daijo will soon be joining us from Bodhi to finish off the winter training season here. Sesshin numbers are looking decent for the rest of the winter training period as well, though we still have room in both the Feb. 8-14, and Feb. 22-28 retreats. Please contact us and send a $200 deposit to reserve a slot.

That’s all for now.

Hope to practice with you soon,

Gento, Shika

Hello friends,

MBZC’s winter Seichu is officially in full swing.

On camp fulltime right now:

Soken, Jikijitsu
Goran, Shoji
Gento, Shika
Tenzo, Jim Detweiler
Inji Helper, Kumiko Yasukawa
Joju Helper, Deva Graf
Translator, Kazumi Tanaka

Bindu Dan Dexter is MBZC’s current fulltime Seichu student (a former three-year resident at Zen Mountain Center, he comes to us by way of Kigen’s West Hollywood Zen Center). Susan Linnell joined us recently and plans on staying for the rest of Seichu.

That puts us at nine people on camp until March 1st — solid numbers for fulltime Seichu attendance, by our standards.

Though we’re on the cusp of another Dai-Sesshin (today is Hashinkyuji) it seems like we only just completed Rohatsu. The following people attended that retreat:

Members

Bindu Dexter Oscar Moreno
John Carbone Michael Moscoso
Nora Haenn Cesar H. Plaza
Paul Humphries Wen Rong Hsin
Paul Karsten Julie Sprott
Susan Linnell Anneliese Zobl

Joju

Shika: Gento
Densu: Soiku
Shoden: Deva Graf
Dai Ten: Koyo
Tenzo: Jim Detweiler
Inji Cho: Hosen
Inji: Eko
Inji Helper: Kumiko Yasukawa
Translator: Kazumi Tanaka

Donai

Tanto: Seiju
Jikijitsu: Soken
Joko: Daijo
Tanto Jokei: Gido
Jiki Jokei: Genshu
Shoji: Sokai
Shoshoji: Goran Nilsson

The first day of Rohatsu brought a great deal of snow — and it kept coming. One foot became two, and two grew to nearly three. Students, officers and the Roshi worked tirelessly to practice amidst the challenging drifts, icy walks and pounding sleet; eventually the skies cleared, and the second half of the retreat was mercifully weather-free.

The retreat was brought to a close with our Jodo E ceremony, which Roshi did not attend (the first time this has ever happened at MBZC, according to a couple senior oshos). All week the snow proved to be quite a challenge for Roshi, as it necessitated his getting in and out of the truck in order to travel to the sutra hall for Teisho. Twice, he had great difficulty walking up the wooden steps we provided to facilitate his travel. He is tireless in his efforts to teach us, and informed me today (as I took notes during a lengthy meeting about the upcoming Rinzai-Ki death/funeral ceremony) that we should all make it our “koan this year” to help Roshi “manifest the dying activity by manifesting the zero state.” He said, “this is the true help… when I see that kind of activity… man and woman working together… it makes me feel happy.”

There is still room in the upcoming MBZC winter seichu retreats (Feb 8-14; Feb 22-28), so send us a $200 deposit to secure a slot.

Gassho,

Gento, Shika

Hello friends,

MBZC is beginning to shift its attention from Seikan semi-formal training to formal training and winter Seichu. Goran, acting shoji, has turned his efforts to a Dai (super) clean of the cabins, and Jim Detweiler, acting tenzo, has a freezer stock full of lemon juice for Shoji and Densu tea. The cars are getting winterized (along with the students—Goran got a scarf and gloves in the mail last week), and we’re in the process of getting a large pile of gravel up here to combat icy steps. This is an exciting time of year for us, as it means Roshi will soon be returning, and camp will transform into a place of formal practice that includes sanzen.

Last night the MBZC staff enjoyed our traditional Harmony Day dinner, a chance for us to come together and celebrate the bonds we’ve formed through practice. I couldn’t help but put a damper on the occasion when I confessed that I was worried about our attendance numbers for the winter Dai Sesshins, especially with regards to the ordained. As Shika, I know the drill: a day or two before Hashinkyuji I will go into Roshi’s cabin with a list of people attending the upcoming Dai Sesshin. At the top of the list are Oshos, then monks and nuns, then students. For every Dai Sesshin retreat this winter save Rohatsu (which is also currently pretty light in attendance) the top two categories will be almost entirely blank. I’ll say something typically numbskull-ish, such as, “bad economy” in explanation, to which Roshi might reply “bad monks,” with a grin. Then there will be an awkward moment as he readjusts his expectations to fit the lower numbers. I don’t mean to try and guilt anyone into coming to Dai Sesshin this winter… well, actually, yes I do. APB to all oshos, monks and nuns: We’ve got a hundred and one year old Zen master putting forth a herculean effort to help us learn this practice! Join us for Dai Sesshins this winter if at all possible. Transformation of consciousness guaranteed or you get your hanryo payment back!

In all seriousness, we are very much looking forward to practicing with you this winter. Please do come, if at all possible.

Gassho,

Shika
Gento

Hello friends,

With some very much appreciated help from Dokuro Osho, MBZC is back online with some belated updates! (All hail computer literate oshos!)

MBZC continues its fall Seikan training season at a swift clip, with all the traditional benchmarks: a Zazenkai weekend (rounded out with a session of Pilates generously hosted by Myosho), a couple workshops (Ken McLeod and Marvin Treiger), plenty of O-samu work days, an evening of submarine sandwiches at Charles Towle’s (”Chip’s”) house, and an afternoon at Sangha member Ruth Parker’s, wherein we did some damage to the weeds that thought they’d found a home in her copiously botanical front yard.

Seikan is the time of year to process everything that happened during the Seichu training season; to unwind a little and see what comes up inside (within the semi-formal training format, of course). In anticipation of the upcoming Seichu, I, for one, have discovered that there is only one season at MBZC: winter. You’re either preparing for it or recovering from it!

Indeed, we were fortunate enough to experience our first snowfall of the year yesterday, which can only mean one thing: that the kitchen is leaking again? No! Well, yes, but also — winter Seichu is nearly upon us!

If you’ve checked out our winter schedule on the website or from previous emails, you are aware that Roshi has graciously once again committed to a full winter Seichu schedule, despite the fact that winter Seichu can be very hard on his body. For this, we at MBZC are deeply grateful, and are committed to working harder than ever so that together we can realize his vision for a serious and sincere place of practice.

Balancing financial and family concerns with the need to continue a serious formal practice is a koan-like problem facing those of us who are not fortunate enough to live fulltime at a practice center like MBZC. I would be remiss in my duties as Shika, however, not to remind you of the profound affect that formal practice has on our lives; how deeply the changes we experience during an MBZC Dai-Sesshin penetrate and transform us. And so, as a reminder, the following is Roshi’s winter schedule, 2008-09:

Dec 8th, 2008 — Winter Seichu begins

Dec 8th - Dec 12th, 2008 –Jidori Sesshin

Dec 14th — Hashinkyuji

Dec 15th -Dec 22nd, 2008 — Rohatsu Dai-sesshin

Dec 22nd, 2008 –Jodo E Ceremony

2009

Jan 1st, 2009 — New Year’s Day Ceremony (at Rinzai-ji Zen Center)

Jan 10th, 2009 — Rinzai-ki Ceremony

Jan 10th, 2009 — Hashinkyuji

Jan 11th - Jan 17th, 2009 — January Dai-sesshin

Jan 24th, 2009 — Hashinkyuji

Jan 25th - 31st, 2009 — Rinzai-ji Zen Center Dai Sesshin

Feb 7th, 2009 — Hashinkyuji

Feb 8th - 14th, 2009 — Mt. Baldy Dai-Sesshin

Feb 15th, 2009 — Nirvana Day Ceremony

Feb 21st, 2009 — Hashinkyuji

Feb 22nd - 28th, 2009 — Mt. Baldy Dai-Sesshin

Mar 1st, 2009 — End of Seichu

To reserve a space for Dai-Sesshin please contact the Zen Center through email (office@mbzc.org) or at 909-985-6410.

We look forward to practicing with you soon.

Gassho,

Shika,
Gento

Hello Friends,

It has been a long time since the last update, but here we go. Summer seichu ended on September 13th, and it was eventful. Perhaps most notably, Gento the Shika came down with an unexpected bout of pancreatitis that forced him to leave in July. During this time, Mt Baldy was at Rinzai-ji for the Dai-Sesshin that took place to commemorate Roshi’s 45th year of teaching in America. Although pancreatitis can be fatal, Gento is okay and plans to rejoin us this fall to regain his strength for Winter Seichu. Chizo is now at Rinzai-ji to help with building repairs at Genroan and to fill in for Sohan who, for family reasons, had to leave his position as Rinzai-ji’s Shika.

The day after September Dai-Sesshin, on September 9th, Reuben Litten who has lived here for a year and a half, was ordained as Tsuo, and now fills the Jikijitsu position. The other staff members include Judith Johnson as Tenzo, Fred Martinsen from Norway as Shoji, and Deva Graf as Densu. Deva returned with her husband Soken, who finished Rolfing school and is now Shika.

Shortly after seichu, Chizo came up to fortify the free standing upper toilet septic tanks by adding wood and steel bracing to make up for the ground that would otherwise support them. During seichu we were also helped by Soiku from Vienna who served as Tenzo, as well as Gyodo Jim Shapiro, a middle school director and long time student of Roshi’s who comes regularly from New York City to spend his summer vacation practicing here. Other seichu students inculded Rick Anderson from Colorado, who recently retired and has chosen to follow Roshi and fill his days wth the study of Tathagata Zen. We were also joined by Myoko Maureen Vivino from Ithaca. Myoko is a member of Moosewood restaurant and regularly attends seichu when she is not publishing cook books or teaching Tai-Chi. Susan Linnell, a former resident and staff member at Bodhi Manda Zen Center, was also with us. Susan and Myoko spent a lot of time sewing robes, repairing cushions, cleaning, organizing and revitalizing the sewing cabin. We were also joined by Oren Beth Schaefer, who helped with sewing and served as Densu in the last weeks of seichu.

Currently we are working on ways to electronically distribute this update as well as announcements and acknowledgments. If you are interested in receiving such information and you are not already, please send us your email address to office@mbzc.org with a note that you would like for us to put you on the mailing list and we will do so.

Well, it is getting colder and darker outside. The cat needs to be let into Roshi’s cabin to continue to keep out the mice, dinner needs to be made, and I need to gather the various requested articles for the early drive to Rinzai-ji tomorrow morning and Day 7 of the Daruma-ki sesshin.

Thank you all for your support and interest in Mt Baldy Zen Center.

Soken