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by Faddah Yuetsu
During a blustery January weekend (the one where Portland got the thrill of an ice storm), Gyokuko-sensei and I drove to Great Vow Zen Monastery for the calligraphy workshop with Zen translator and Calligraphy Master, Kaz Tanahashi. As we drove listening to recordings of humorist David Sedaris, my mind wandered into trepidation. Gyokuko and others had done this workshop with Kaz twice before, and were accomplished artists. A gigantic, beautiful ocean-colored enso by Kaz adorns the Great Vow dining hall (entitled "Oceans Within"). And I had just purchased a large home for a co-housing project, and there was so much to do. Why was I taking the weekend off now, for something I previously had no interest in, when there was so much to do at home?
While many of those thoughts floated back to me, I found following Kaz's simple directions to make the various characters relaxing yet focusing. My favorite we kept coming back to was "human," two simple lines almost forming a "tee-pee." Simple, yet so hard to get the ending stroke correct, where the brush gently spreads to make the wide final stroke. Kaz reminded us the whole weekend to, of course, continue breathing. And that whenever we picked up the brush, we should smile, not only with our mouth, but with our whole body. He would look around the room as we were all so concentrated on making the strokes correctly, and say, "Are you smiling?" In the end, my favorite drawing I did with a huge brush was of the combination of "human" with "heart," which I think will adorn a wall somewhere in the new home.
On Sun., Jan. 30, Fall Term officially closed with the annual Shuso Hossen. During this ceremony, the sangha and visiting teachers formally tested the understanding of the past year's shuso (chief junior), Domyo Sater, using the Mondo, or dharma combat form. Domyo was passed with flying colors, and the entire sangha is grateful to her for her year of service. (See pictures below. Click on any picture to get a larger version. Use browser back button to get back to this page, or back link.)
Our new Shuso, Tom Zenkyo Howard, was installed on Sun., Feb 6. Good Luck in the year ahead, Zenkyo!
On Fri., Feb. 4 at 7:30pm, five sangha members made a formal commitment to study with one of the Center's teachers, either Kyogen or Gyokuko Carlson, and became lay disciples at DRZC. Sangha members and visitors were witness this important step. Congratulations to Joan Anraku McKenna, Sabra Chi´su Larsen, Carlene Zoki Orwan, Anne Suiho Jensen, and J.D. Onryu Devros. Click on any picture to get a larger view.
Childcare is available at the Dharma House during Sunday morning zazen and service from 8:30am to 10am, on Dharma School Sundays only. This permits parents to participate in services at the zendo before Dharma School begins. Children not enrolled in Dharma School can also attend child-care, but parents need to pick up their kids immediately after service, as the child-care attendants miraculously transform into Dharma School teachers or high school students.
The Operations Committee is moving along as usual. We are plugging away at the Building Permit project list at the Dharma House; there are still a few big projects left but there is an end in sight. We are turning our attention to garden and yard care as spring is near. The main priority recently has been getting the Sangha House ready to be put on the market. We have a lot to do so if anyone can volunteer to help out with painting, cleaning, yard work, etc., we would appreciate it. No skills required, but gladly accepted. Thanks to those who volunteered time over the last few months.
There are several openings for residency at the Center. DRZC members who have been actively involved in the Center for at least 6 months to a year are eligible for residency. Practitioners associated with other teachers and Buddhist groups may be considered for residency, but only if they and the residential review committee determine that a full commitment to DRZC residency is compatible with any obligations and involvements they already have. For a booklet describing residency and an application, call the Center at 503/239.4846.
Kim Deckman and Sierra Moon will begin residency at the Dharma House beginning in March. Welcome!
DRZC continues to grow as more guests and regular attendees become supporting members. Thank you to all who have made a commitment to practice, share and grow with Dharma Rain. If you have any questions regarding membership, please contact Kakumyo Lowe at staff@dharma-rain.org or 503/239.4846.
Joanne Sigmund and Doug Rogers welcome!
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 the above e-mail address.
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.
Thanks To:
Thank you to all who give and support the stability and growth of the Center. Gassho to Zenkatsu for tea and anonymous donations of pinapples and mandorin oranges.
STILL POINT edit of 1 March 2005
Dharma Rain Zen Center Newsletter
Copyright Northwest Zen Sangha.
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