Dear Sangha and Friends,
The brilliance of persimmons dazzle in brisk morning shafts of sunlight. As autumn turns into winter, continuous practice of the Great Way is realized on Sonoma Mountain. Like a flash of lightning, another year has come and gone; this life is extremely precious. We are fortunate to have Sonoma Mountain Zen Center as a place of refuge that allows us to step back from the busy and chaotic lives we lead. Through the practice of Zazen “just sitting,” we return 100,000 times to the instant before the present moment, and simultaneously we are illuminated with a deep desire to share kindness, compassion and equanimity.
We are deeply grateful for all your hard work and ongoing support in maintaining Sonoma Mountain Zen Center. Because of you, SMZC continues to shine its wisdom and cultivate deep peace in these dark times of war, escalating violence, social conflict and economic crisis. We anchor our lives in “continuous practice;” cutting vegetables, offering meals, working garden soil, replacing leaking roofs, chainsawing to relieve diseased oaks, upgrading septic systems, and administering organizational strategies, all of which keep this Dharma container vibrant and alive. When we let go of the small self, Mind and Body drop off and the “total dynamic working” of the universe appears.
Entering 2022, we sounded our great bell 108 times, purifying our bodies and minds for the New Year. Connecting with Rinso-in, our mother temple in Japan, Hoitsu Suzuki-roshi gave an online Dharma talk welcoming in the year of the Tiger. In Spring we celebrated the return of our Saturday Community Program, Shakyamuni Buddha’s Birthday ceremony, and the release of Jakusho Kwong’s new book, Mind Sky. Our Summer Ango Practice Period was full with students participating from Iceland, Poland, Canada, Denmark, Japan and the United States. Two senior students from SMZC’s affiliate Warsaw Zen Center in Poland received Tokudo (monk/nun ordination) revitalizing our Wisteria Wind Sangha connection worldwide.
Looking forward to 2023, we invite you to join us once a month for the Fusatsu Full Moon Ceremony, one of the most important ceremonies in our Soto Zen tradition for atoning and renewing our Buddhist vows. Furthermore, returning from our pandemic closure, we are now revitalizing the Sonoma Mandala fundraising efforts with the goal of completing Phase I (Abbot’s Studio remodel) then moving forward to begin Phase II – remodeling the existing Sangha House, constructing our new Community Building (Wisteria House) and Zendo (Manjusri Meditation Hall).
Sonoma Mountain Zen Center relies on your support to sustain this place of authentic Soto Zen practice. It is extremely important that everyone gives from the heart in their own way towards this collective endeavor. It is said, “that a monastery is like a charcoal fire in a hibachi. If you put in just one little coal, it will go out right away. But if you gather many small coals, each glowing just a little bit, then the fire will flare up.” The ripple effect of synergy created from many hearts and hands coming together to express a common goal, blooms and pervades everywhere. For half a century SMZC has been a home for the practice and promotion of Zazen throughout the world. Please make your donation to SMZC’s Annual Fund today so that our community may thrive and share this authentic Soto Zen practice far into the future.
Nine Bows,
