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Kenryu Jeffrey Binns will be ordained as a novice priest by his teacher, Kyogen Carlson, on Sat., 19 June. The ceremony will begin at 7pm in the Zendo. All sangha members are encouraged to attend and witness as Kenryu takes this important step. The timing of this ordination falls between our printing cycle, so please look to the upcoming issue of Still Point for news and photos of the event. .
Please keep in mind that although summer has arrived, we must continue to be mindful of what is worn in the Zendo. We request that people not wear shorts or tank-tops in the Zendo, even on warm and hot days. Clothing should be comfortable and loose but not be so sloppy as to be disrespectful or distracting. It is best to wear subdued clothing: since we sit in rows, bright colors and patterns, tie-dyes and slogans may distract someone sitting behind you. The Zendo is a place for meditation, reverence and mindfulness. It takes each of us to create and sustain this special space for others. If you have any questions or concerns, please refer to the Zen Center's blue book, pages 27-28, or speak with a senior member.
On Sun., April 25, the high school Dharma School group hosted Noah Levine, author of Dharma Punx: A Memoir. The high-school group had spent many months reading and discussing Noah's book, which chronicles his descent into crime and drug-addiction during his teen years and his subsequent struggles to work the twelve steps and redirect his life through spiritual practice. The book is exciting and challenging, and sparked many interesting discussions in the high school group.
During his visit, Noah led the discussion and the kids got a chance to ask him questions. Questions ranged from inquiries about Noah's many tattoos to how he felt when his best friend died from an overdose to why he still felt a connection to punk rock. Noah responded with honesty and respect, and clearly enjoyed just spending time with the teens and getting to know them. Among other things, Noah stands as a testament to teens that a Dharma practitioner doesn't have to be square.
Photo: The home altar of one of our long-time Dharma School kids and aspiring punk, Ellen. (To see a complete photo of her altar, click on the picture. Click your browser's back button to return to this page.)
The Wesak Festival on May 9 went well, beginning with a ceremony and procession in the Zendo. Each year the Dharma School children make a bower out of flowers that encases a small statue of the baby Buddha standing in a bowl of sweet tea. During the procession each person ladles tea over the baby Buddha's head. After the ceremony, everyone headed downstairs for tea and cake, while the kids took turns at the "zen-ata" elephant, this year crafted by Kakumyo. This festival of Shakyamuni Buddha's birth is often the most light-hearted ceremony held every year, and judging by the huge turnout this year, one of the most popular as well. Some photos of the ceremony appear below. Click on any picture to see a larger view.
DRZC now has the capability to accept payment for many goods and services on-line through our web site. You can sign up and pay for retreats, subscribe to Still Point, and purchase Zen Center publications. To purchase publications, point your browser to: http://www.dharma-rain.org/StillPoint/pp/pub.html.
Spring Term ended on Sunday, June 6 with a closing ceremony. In the ceremony, those present made statements on what they had learned and experienced during the term and voiced their intentions of practice during the summer months. Afterward, the Dharma School kids and teachers entertained us with skits. There was much joy and laughter as we watched and sang together. This annual event is a great launch into our lighter summer practice period.
Brendan Castricano moved in during Spring Ango and has elected to stay on as a full-time resident at the Dharma House. He joins fellow DH residents Kyogen and Gyokuko Carlson, Kakumyo Lowe, Kenryu Binns, Suiho Jensen, Rinchen and Mike Sapiro. There have been no changes at the Sangha House, where Domyo Sater and Yuishin and Ellen Clark continue to live.
Work on the Dharma House is progressing rapidly, and we will soon begin work on improving the side door to make the basement stairwell safer and legal. This will be the main summer project, although there are always miscellaneous repairs and improvements required. The grounds at all three buildings are a work in progress, but spring's artistry has made a big difference.
Gay Kei'un Lewis and Steve Tai'an Blackwood have bought a new house and moved to Oregon City. Joe Shisei Niski has also bought a new house. Mark Sosetsu Stauffer proposed to Alyssa Hartman on Sat., May 8, and surprised her later that evening with an engagement party attended by relatives, friends and several Sangha members. Congratulations, Sosetsu and Alyssa! There was a naming ceremony on Sun., May 30, for Heinrich Paul Madden, son of Jerome Madden and Jennifer Wentzien. This ceremony welcomes Heinrich into the protection of the greater Sangha.
Dharma Rain Zen Center Board Meeting The Board met on Thurs., May 20 and there was not enough time to approve the minutes and write a summary for this printing. Check www.Dharma-Rain.Org soon for the posted minutes of this meeting.
The newsletter is assembled and edited during the first week of every other month. Submissions are very welcome: short or long articles, which can focus on any point of practice, including travel, research or personal experience; descriptions of events we've had; the occasional poem or drawing. We do not print anonymous articles. Please submit typed submissions if at all possible, and by e-mail if you can, to: newsletter@Dharma-Rain.org. (This saves the newsletter staff from having to re-type the work.) If you have questions, contact Choten at 503/234.3813.
Deadlines and possible topics:
January-February (New Year's eve, precepts study, Hossen): December 1
March-April (Jukai, spring term): February 1
May-June (Denkoe, end of term, summer): April 1
July-August (summer practice): June 1
September-October (fall term, term student program, Segaki): August 1
November-December (Founder's Day, Rohatsu, Christmas): October 1
Please consider having your monthly pledges to DRZC automatically withdrawn from your personal checking account. DRZC has entered into an agreement with an accounting service to process the monthly withdrawals from the checking accounts of participating members and deposit them in our account for a monthly maintenance fee charged to DRZC. In additional to saving everyone paper, this process will save time for our treasurer and will conveniently reduce each participating members monthly "To Do" list by one item.
Sign-up forms are available at the Center; just ask one of the priests or Board members, or call or drop us a line. When you complete the form, just return it to the Center with a voided personal check and sit back and relax; well take it from there.
Another kesa is finished up after Denkoe.
Thanks To:
Thank you to all who give and support the stability and growth of the Center. Gassho to Michael Sapiro for groceries and bread; Bill Frazier for veggies; Dosho for a box of food; John Rippey for a gallon of honey; Rich Mackin for bread; Kim Deckman for strawberries; Erin and Linda Kaeil for bagels; Patrick Finneran for an issue of National Geographic's 100 Best Photos; Faddha Yuetsu Wolf for donating a book on the history of Zen in India and China; Greg for potted plants; and Genko Rainwater for potted plants.
STILL POINT edit of 26 June 2004
archive edit 30 October 2004
Dharma Rain Zen Center Newsletter
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