Shundo David Haye – Zen Priest

Overall I was happy with how the talk went on Saturday. It was a lovely morning; I made an early visit on foot to the Ferry Building Farmers’ Market before riding over to Zen Center. Arriving in the Buddha Hall I was pleasantly surprised at how full it was, and when I sat down, I noticed a lot of familiar faces: one of the early YUZ cohort sitting next to one of the group who came to Tassajara; various lang-standing members of Saturday Sangha.

I get less and less anxious about giving the talk; I knew I had some good material, with lines that had come up in the gestation process, which I had printed out in full to catch the exact words I wanted to use. I also manage to speak a little more slowly, especially this time so it didn’t feel like I was just reading off the page. I kept an eye on the time, and it was a little over half an hour, which is ideal in my book. 

This was the first time since the remodel that I have gone to the dining room afterwards for the question and answer session. There were only a handful of people on the couches, but they all had good and involved questions about that I had said, as did a number of the online participants who were on the screen of a laptop in front of me – also full of familiar names and faces. 

By the end of that session, I was really feeling quite tired. As I was discussing afterwards, saying what you have prepared to say is one thing, but then being on the spot for the same amount of time – or even a little more – and having to respond as closely as you can to whatever is asked is a different challenge. 

In any case, I hope to have this posted online before too long should you wish to listen to it.

I ended up talking a fair amount the next day with the mindful hike for Alchemy Springs, telling stories and answering questions, but this time I got to hang out in the sauna before riding home. I did three cycles of the sauna and cold plunge, which was my intention, and was then ready to go home for lunch.

With such a busy weekend, I have been noticing how tired I have felt during my zazen this week, even though I have been sleeping well enough. On Friday we have nothing on the calendar except an invitation to our neighbour’s book launch at a nearby gallery, so I will enjoy the spaciousness going into the weekend. It is also supposed to be sunny and warmer that day, which will be welcome after the drizzly clouds have found their way back to the city in the mornings and evenings.