Shundo David Haye – Zen Priest

It doesn’t feel that there has been much to write about; maybe that is just a function of the fog rolling in ffor a stretch. I have had several Sunday rides without seeing a single patch of blue sky. Other times, like most of this past week, it has been sunny and pleasant, and again, we have been able to roam under clear skies at least part of the time.

I have been enjoying my teaching recently; good conversations with the Monday Suzuki Roshi group, the Thursday Zen Center online gathering, the Mukunda live meditations, and a private session for a small team of mostly beginners last week. It’s always salutory to be reminded that for some people, being in silence with their thoughts is quite a challenge. I recommended to one person, who confessed to needing constant fodder for their mind in terms of audiobooks or podcasts or music or television, that they could try one activity during the day where they just focused on the activity, for ten minutes. Maybe it will stick, maybe not.

While I am at Tassajara next week, in addition to giving a talk, I will also be helping with the Full Moon Ceremony on Tuesday night, and Obon on Saturday, so I will get a full dose of formality, and will doubtless be getting pretty hot in my robes.