Shundo David Haye – Zen Priest

I traded out my rain clothes for cold weather gear – after more drenching, we have had a change in the weather, though not exactly a spring-like turn yet. Last weekend was just about a wash-out, and then I got wet when I was out on Monday afternoon, and also Wednesday morning. On Friday I was able to get out on my road bike for the first time in a week, but needed my thickest jacket for the ride to be enjoyable. I do appreciate that we are nearer the equinox than the solstice, making it light enough to ride at seven, and still light on the way back from work at 5:30.

The final Genjo Koan class went pretty well, and I was able to get through the rest of the text, and talk about a few other things, fielding the questions as best I could; I had a delicate stomach that day, and even after a very restorative afternoon for practitioners at Mukunda studio – getting to meet up with folks from Within and the TendWell Collective in a very open-hearted gathering – I was pretty wiped out, and glad that Sunday was so dreary. We didn’t get as much rain as other parts of California, but it was very windy.

My schedule is more or less back to normal now; I have been putting together ideas for my upcoming dharma talk  – mostly from the exchanges in my regular student group – and I am glad that this weekend is basically free, and sunny. I might not take part in any Lunar New Year parades, but as the Year of the Dragon is my year, I shall certainly celebrate its arrival. I hope it is auspicious for you as well.