[Discussion-AZC] thoughts

[Barbara Kohn]

Dear Sangha,  I am going away for 12 days - vacation and meetings.

This morning in the zendo, I was enjoying listening to the sounds of  
the fountain, birds, the
occasional car, the other's breaths and realizing how precious this  
morning opportunity
is, as well as how hard it is for many of us to adjust our lives to  
the early hours of rising and
early hours of going to bed.  And yet, I have never enjoyed my  
sitting practice as much as
during those early hours when the dark fades into light and the  
sounds of other species
change from the night sounds to the day sounds.

So may I encourage those of you, who have been staying in bed, to  
consider a life of
encouraging your fellow practitioners by joining them in the sitting  
and chanting and simple
temple work and breakfast.  And I especially encourage you to come  
while I am away - each
single one of us makes a difference in the experience of the others.

And if you cannot sit in the early morning and your work situation  
makes the evening sits
difficult also, are there times when you would commit to regularly  
come and sit with others
if only we had formal sittings at that time?  We have experimented  
over the years with
different times.  Mon and Wed at 11:30 we usually sit together very  
informally.  Sunday at
11:00 the Dharma Punx meet.  Rinshin often leads a sitting on Sat.  
afternoon.  We'll have
a women's  1/2 day sit coming up and more one day sittings.  In July,  
after the class series
ends,  we'll resume some evening sittings.  I have sometimes thought  
that sitting at 7:30
or 8:00 a.m. might work for some folks.  I am open to finding ways to  
sit together, as I so
deeply value the power of group practice.  It is so easy, when we  
practice zazen together,
to feel how we are sitting for other than ourselves alone.  So let  
Kojin know if you would
commit to a different time and if we have a few people who agree to  
another time we can
give it a try.

For some of you who are newer to practice, I want to let you know  
that you are welcome to
learn to strike bells and the han, and care for altars.  Simply let  
Kojin know and we'll set
at time to teach you.  If you don't want that mindfulness practice,  
that is ok too. Come and sit.
  "Different strokes, for different folks."

Support each other while I'm away and even when I return.

Gassho, Barbara Seirin