Shundo David Haye – Zen Priest

The highlight of the week was undoubtedly going down to Tassajara on Monday for the Shuso Ceremony. After being caught out by the rain when we last did this in December, with a similar forecast for the day, I brought my umbrella with me this time – and of course it kept the rain at bay. We did drive through several bands of rain, and wet roads, but once in the valley it was a fine spring day, with intermittent sun lighting up the lush profusion of greenery, which was accented by a number of blossoming redbud trees. 

Naturally there were people to catch up with, hugs given and received, news shared. While the practice period was small, as most others have been since the pandemic, there was a strong attendance of former shusos; the zendo looked quite lopsided. Several of the elders realised they had all been at Tassajara together in 1973 – two years before Leslie arrived, even – while others banded around sitting tangaryo together in 2000; David, Mako, Erin and I were there representing 2002.

Kristin handled everything admirably, with her typical poise and thoughtfulness, but also plenty of care and warmth. I had been thinking of a question as we drove down, and did ask it in the end: that her heart had been shining out during her answers, but I suspected that deep inside her heart was a lion’s roar waiting to be expressed. There would be no better time or place, I added. She took a moment to gather herself, and let out a big roar.

Afterwards, we noted that the former shusos had not given her a hard tiime about anything, which is always due to a sense that the shuso has answered earlier questions clearly and authentically. As usual, I got to boss everyone around for the photos, and then hung around chatting while we waited for lunch, while regretting that I had decided not to make a dash for the bathhouse.

The weekend had been quite full, though not with riding, as the rain had kept rolling through in short bursts. We were able to spend a nice afternoon in Golden Gate Park looking at the cherry blossoms and the bison, and ate out locally as well, which meant I felt quite tired at the end of the day. Knowing that I would have to get up at five on Monday for the fourteen hour round trip, and then six on Tuesday to be ready for the meditation and a full day of work, I had felt very weary. In the end, I woke up before my alarms on both mornings, though I missed the spaciousness I usually have on a Monday to catch up with all my admin and background work, and that left Wednesday busier than usual as well. At least it looks like the rain is over for the time being, and the temperatures will rise – perhaps the strong chill winds will finally shift.