Dear SMZC Friends,
How do you envision Sonoma Mountain Zen Center in 5 years...in 50 years?
An important council process regarding this question will be held from 9 am - 3 pm Saturday, April 27th. (more below)
We want to hear your voice!
Coming Together in Community!
Activating Wisdom!
Sustaining Lineage Manifesting Vision!
Nine deep bows,
Sonoma Mountain Zen Center
WHERE ARE WE GOING? – ZEN CENTER’S TRANSITION AND THE COUNCIL PROCESS
Everything is constantly changing.........Fall becomes Winter and Winter becomes Spring, leaves fall to the ground and flowers bloom.
This summer marks the 40th anniversary of the Zen Center. For 40 years the Zen Center has relied upon an organizational structure and decision‐making processes which have served our community well. Looking back it is quite remarkable on what has been established and accomplished in this time since Roshi and Shinko first came to Sonoma Mountain with a vision to establish the Zen Center in honor of their teacher Shunryu Suzuki‐roshi. Now it is time to reconsider the organizational structure and decision-making processes and transform it so that it can serve the Zen Center and Sangha for the next 40 years and beyond.
To begin this transition process Kwong‐roshi has entrusted Cam Shunryu and Demian Nyoze with the title of “Kanin,” Executive Director, to fulfill his vision to sustain authentic Zen practice for future generations and to lead the Zen Center through this unfolding transition process. As Kanin they will make all the daily decisions in every aspect of the Zen Center that both Roshi and Shinko have made in the past. In this shift of responsibilities Roshi will remain as the spiritual leader and teacher of the Zen Center. This shift will free up Roshi’s schedule so that he can engage in further study, explore other areas of teaching and work on his many projects. Roshi is moving up and he encourages everyone to move up and support this transition.
Essential to the Zen Center’s transition process is its Sangha and Community. Its voices are necessary to inform the future direction of the Zen Center. The Zen Center will host a series of councils to manifest these voices and the answer to the question, “How do we honor the wisdom of this ancient Dharma transmitted from Shunryu Suzuki‐roshi and Jakusho Kwong‐ roshi, our teachers, to practitioners far into the future?” It is essential that each one of us attends these councils so that the true voice of the Sangha and Community can be heard. We are the “One Body Moving Forward.”
Roshi invites you to participate in each of the councils as we embark on this wonderful journey of transition together.
These council gatherings will be facilitated by Zenobia Barlow who has been a longtime supporter of the Zen Center and who received Jukai in 1985. She is the Executive Director and co‐ founder of the Center of Ecoliteracy. Each council will be different from each other and will consist of short projects, dialogue, communication and listening exercises. Each council will build on the previous one culminating in a collective response to Roshi that will help him set the path of the Sonoma Mountain Zen Center for future generations. Not only will the voice of the Sangha and Community be heard but the councils will help to cultivate a community to sustain the Zen Center over time.
The councils will be held at the Zen Center from 9 am to 3 pm and a delicious potluck lunch will be served, so bring your favorite dish. The council dates are:
Spring Council ‐ Saturday, April 27, 2013
Summer Council ‐ Saturday, July 20, 2013
Fall Council – Saturday, October 26, 2013
Winter Council – Saturday, January 11, 2014
email: smzc@smzc.net • Sonoma Mountain Zen Center
