Monday, June 14, 2021

Shimmering Silence Sesshin


Happy Faces from the Shimmering Silence Sesshin on Zoom

Our Beginner's Mind Distant Temple Bell Sesshin ended yesterday at 12:30 pm, and the faces in the screen shot tell the tale best.  The sesshin is our shortest, one full day plus two evenings and a morning, but it went deep.  As we investigated the Buddha's silence when asked a question by a visitor, we enjoyed our own capacity for silence and stillness.  David Dae An Rynick, Roshi and I were the lead teachers, assisted by Senior Assistant Teachers Michael Herzog and Alan Richardson.  Our sesshin registrar Jenny Smith made her debut as tanto (head seat), assisted by Senior Assistant Teacher Rev. Paul Galvin, and a crack team of officers:  Adam Monty, Rev. Corwyn Miyagishima, and Assistant Teacher Pierce Butler.   People came from all over, across the US, Cypress, Denmark, Austria and Wales.  I am filled with gratitude at the opportunity the pandemic has given us all to connect and support each other's practice.  Many bows, much joy!