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Zen Center News

Shukke Tokudo - Ordination

On Sat., June 19, Kenryu Jeffrey Binns was ordained as a novice priest by his teacher, Kyogen, after serving as a postulant for over a year. His parents, Paul and Joyce Binns of Winterset, Iowa, and many sangha members attended, including members from area sanghas and other guests from near and far. Indeed, the Zendo was filled to capacity, with many people taking their place on the floor to observe the ceremony. Afterward, a long line of friends welcomed and congratulated Kenryu into this new stage of practice and service. (See the "Transitions" article in this issue for more information.) Kenryu joins Getsushin Brox, Domyo Sater and Kakumyo Lowe as ordained trainees at DRZC. Congratulations, Kenryu!

Top photo: Kenryu is congratulated by the Sangha after his ordination

Bottom photo: Kenryu's family came to witness the ordination.


Hugh Rinchen Dorje Draney Joins the Peaceful Sangha

Our dear friend and Sangha member, Hugh "Rinchen Dorje" Draney, passed away at the Zen Center on June 22, 2004, from lung cancer. (See the "Transitions" article in this issue.) Rinchen was a long-time practitioner of Buddhism and a member of the DRZC Sangha for 4 years. He received a diagnosis of terminal lung cancer shortly after being accepted for residency at the Zen Center 6 months ago. Rinchen, the Residential Review Committee and the Sangha Support Network discussed his residency, and all involved decided that it would be an enriching and positive experience for everyone if Rinchen lived at the Zen Center as long as possible — up to and perhaps including his death. It was very important to Rinchen to spend time with community during this time of transition.

Rinchen’s dying process was fairly private up until Denkoe in May. He attended the entire retreat, and sat almost every zazen period. The effort may have worn him out, though, as he felt quite exhausted after the sesshin. He began to be concerned that Zen Center residents and the Share the Care support group that was formed for him would not be able to meet his needs; we are all very busy, and Rinchen spent lots of time in his dark basement room. However, as the needs became clear, the ability to meet them arose, much to the gratification of all involved.

Over his last two weeks, Rinchen declined rapidly. His hospice program brought oxygen and a hospital bed, and a nurse and bath aid visited regularly. We moved Rinchen upstairs to the sitting room, which was full of sunlight, nearer to people, and afforded a view of the sky and trees. During the last two weeks, while Rinchen struggled with a declining capacity to breathe, someone was nearby 24-hours a day. On June 21, our friend’s body started giving up the physical struggle, and he became increasingly more relaxed and less responsive. Throughout the last day and night, someone periodically whispered our traditional exhortations in his ear, encouraging him to let go of his karma and take the next step without fear or regret. At 5:30am on June 22, he appeared to do exactly that.

Our full traditional Soto Zen memorial and funeral ceremonies followed, and Rinchen’s family contributed beautifully to the remembrances at the funeral, allowing us all to know Hugh a little better. Afterwards we shared cake and ice cream in accordance with his request, where (as he put it) we could spend time with people who "count [him] among the living." He is greatly missed.


On-Line Purchases

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.


Operations Corner

Work continues in the basement and soon we will begin adjusting the stairway and making an addition to the entryway. This will bring the space up to code. A few weeks ago the city dropped by with news that we need to fix the sidewalks, so we have been working on that.


Newsletter Submissions

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


Electronic Pledges

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 Robert Flory for blueberries; Yuetsu Wolf for watermelon; Shari Hammel of Autumn Funerals and Cremations for homemade strawberry jam; Nancy Gonzalez for raspberries; Shisei Niski for clippers and a ladder; Rich Mackin for fresh pasta, veggies, and bread; Seido Martin for organic veggies from the farm; Mal Grange for plums; Lisa Anjozian for figs and bowls; Anonymous for sheet sets; Myojin Greisman for chocolates; Shin’ei Brown for zucchini; and Zenkatsu for zucchini.

 

 

 

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STILL POINT edit of 3 September 2004
Dharma Rain Zen Center Newsletter
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