Dual Ceremonies this Spring

Spring is in the air, and new growth and new beginnings are the hallmarks of the season.  In just a few short weeks, the Order of the Boundless Way will experience a growth spurt of its own, with an ordination ceremony and dedication in the Eastern United States.

On Thursday, May 16^th, Marc Paine of Rogers, Arkansas, Harry Hale of Springtown, Texas, and Ken Zen Bodhi of Winchester, Virginia, will each be gifted the robe and the bowl in a ceremony at Southwind Yoga Studio in Rogers, Arkansas. Having respectively completed their apprenticeships under the tutelage of Koro Kaisan Miles, Steve Hodo Thompson and Ron Muji Brickey, each will be recognized by their teachers, receiving their dharma names and vestments as Wayfarers in the Order of the Boundless Way.

 On Friday, May 17^th, the celebrants will make pilgrimage to the new mountain homestead of Steve Hodo Thompson in Edgar Springs, Missouri, for the dedication of Dragon Fly Hermitage and the future home of Empty Mind Zendo. These will be the first events the Order has held in the eastern U.S., and there will be a number of other related events in the Rogers area leading up to the ceremonies.

As usual, any and all members and friends of the Order are invited and encouraged to attend these events and welcome Marc, Harry and Ken into their new Dharma Family. See the schedule below for details, and direct any questions to: boundlessmindzen@yahoo.com.

 

Tuesday, May 14

7:00pm – 8:00pm Evening Meditation at Southwind Yoga in Rogers

Wednesday, May 15

7:00am-7:30am Morning Meditation at Southwind Yoga in Rogers

11:00am – 3:00pm Meditation, Hiking, and Picnic Lunch at Devil's Den

4:00pm – Tea at Fayetteville Soto Zen Center

6:00pm – Evening Liturgy at Morning Star Zen Center in Fayetteville

Thursday, May 16

7:00am-7:30am Morning Meditation at Southwind Yoga in Rogers

1:00pm Lunch with ATA Martial Arts of Bentonville

8:00pm Ordination Liturgy at Southwind Yoga in Rogers

Friday, May 17

7:00 Leave Rogers for Edgar Springs, Missouri

11:00-4:00 Prepare for Dragonfly Hermitage Dedication

4:00 Dragonfly Hermitage Empty Mind Zendo Ground Breaking Dedication

5:00 Prepare Dinner

6:00 Dinner

7:00 Social Time

Saturday, May 18

Empty Mind Zendo Morning Service

 6:45 Call to Zazen

7:00-7:10 Morning verses (Heart Sutra and reading from the Dharmapada)

7:10-7:40 Sitting Meditation (Zazen)

7:40-7:55 Kinhin (Walking Meditation)

7:55-8:25 Sitting Meditation (Zazen)

8:30-9:30 Tea Ceremony flowed by a Dharma talk and discussion.

Open Gate Zendo Spring Sesshin

It’s Spring again and time for the Open Gatte Zendo 2013 Spring Sesshin. This year’s retreat will be held on Saturday May 11th and Sunday 12th.  Dharma Brother Mike Furst, will be attending as part of  his annual visit from Beijing China, where he leads the Empty Cloud Chan Sangha. Mike will be giving a Dharma Talk and telling us what it is like to be and American Leading a Zen group in China. The Sesshin begins officially on Saturday morning, however anyone attending is welcome to come Friday evening and spend the night in the zendo, otherwise non-resident attendees should try to arrive around 7:00 am on Saturday.

As usual, there will be an informal breakfast with social time Saturday morning, but otherwise we will be following our traditional sesshin schedule and etiquette. There is no fee for attending sesshin, but donations to help pay for food and heating costs are greatly appreciated. Mattresses will be provided for those who wish to remain in residence for the duration of the sesshin, but if you plan to stay you should bring your own additional bedding.

Please e-mail opengatezendo@msn.com to confirm your plans to attend, as we need an accurate head count for buying food stuffs.

2013 Spring Sesshin

Saturday Schedule

7:00-7:15 Arrive for Sesshin
7:15-Call to Zazen (Plank drum (Han) roll)
7:30-8:00 One period of Zazen
8:00-8:05 Incense Ceremony
8:05-9:00 Informal Breakfast in Hojo
9:00-9:30 Break and kitchen cleanup
9:15- Call to Zazen (Han roll)
9:30-10:45 Two periods of Zazen alternated with Kinhin
9:30-10:45 Dokusan (one on one meeting with the teacher) by rotation.
10:45-12:30 Samu (work period- clean up, yard work, meal preparation)
12:30- Call to Lunch (Han roll)
12:45-1:45 Lunch ceremony (Oryoki)
1:45-2:15 Break and kitchen cleanup
2:00- Call to Zazen (Han roll)
2:15-3:30 Two periods of Zazen alternated with Kinhin
3:30-4:30 Angya practice. (monk procession walk)
4:30- Call to Zazen (Han roll)
4:45-5:15 One period Zazen
5:15-6:15 Dinner ceremony (Oryoki)
6:15-6:45 Break and kitchen cleanup
6:30- Call to Zazen (Han roll)
6:45-8:00 Two periods of Zazen alternated with Kinhin
8:00 -8:50 Tea ceremony & Teisho (teaching)
8:50- Closing ceremony
9:00- Prepare for bed or leave for the night.
9:00 Konsho (striking the evening bell)

Sunday Schedule

7:00-7:15 Arrive for Sesshin
7:15-Call to Zazen (Plank drum (Han) roll)
7:30-8:00 One period of Zazen
8:00-8:05 Incense Ceremony
8:05-9:00 Breakfast ceremony (Oryoki)
9:00-9:30 Break and kitchen cleanup
9:15- Call to Zazen (Han roll)
9:30-10:45 Two periods of Zazen alternated with Kinhin
9:30-10:45 Dokusan (one on one meeting with the teacher) by rotation.
10:45-11:45 Samu (work period), meal preparation and/or exercise.
11:45- Call to Lunch (Han roll)
12:00-1:00 Lunch ceremony (Oryoki)
1:00-1:30 Break and kitchen cleanup
1:15- Call to Zazen (Han roll)
1:30-2:45 Two periods of Zazen alternated with Kinhin
2:45-3:00 Short Break
3:00-3:55 Tea Ceremony, Teisho/Group Discussion
3:55 Closing ceremony
4:00 Konsho (striking the evening bell)

Open Gate Zendo Winter Sesshin

Open Gate Zendo Rohatsu/Winter Sesshin

This years Open GateWinter Sesshin starts at 7:30 Saturday January 19th and runs through Monday, January 21st. Our three day practice schedule will include the 6th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Silent Peace Walk around Olympia’s Capitol Lake (beginning at Marathon Park at noon on Sunday).

Anyone wanting to arrive early is welcome to come Friday evening and spend the night in the Zendo. Attendees arriving in the morning should try to arrive by 7:00.  There will be an informal breakfast with social time Saturday morning, but otherwise we will be following our traditional silent sesshin schedule and etiquette.

There is no fee for attending, but as usual, contributions for food and to help pay for supplies and heating costs would be greatly appreciated. Mattresses will be provided for those who wish to remain in residence for their duration at sesshin and showers will be made available.

    

Please e-mail; opengatezendo@msn.com with any questions and/or to confirm your plans to attend, we need an accurate head count for buying food stuffs.

2013 Winter Sesshin

Saturday Schedule

First Morning Session

6:30 Wake-up bell

7:00 Non-residents Arrive (Chosho -morning bell tolled 9 times)

7:15-Call to Zazen (Plank drum (Han) roll)

7:30-8:00 One period of Zazen (Chosan- first morning meditation)

8:00-8:05 Incense Ceremony

8:05-9:00 Informal Breakfast and kitchen cleanup (in Hojo)

9:00-9:15 Sesshin Introduction and Instructions

Second Morning Session

9:15- Call to Zazen (Han roll)

9:30-10:45 Two periods of Zazen alternated with Kinhin

9:30-10:45 Dokusan (one on one meeting with the teacher) by rotation.

10:45-12:30 Samu (work and/or exercise/rest period)

12:30- Call to Lunch (Han roll)

12:15- Kitchen aids prepare Genkan for lunch- bring out trays

12:45-1:45 Lunch ceremony (Oryoki)

1:45-2:10 Break and kitchen cleanup

Afternoon Session

2:00- Call to Zazen (Han roll)

2:15-3:30 Two periods of Zazen alternated with Kinhin

3:30-4:30 Angya practice. (monk procession walk)

4:30- Call to Zazen (Han roll)

4:45-5:15 One period Zazen

5:15- Kitchen aids prepare Genkan for Dinner- bring out trays

5:30-6:15 Dinner ceremony (Oryoki)

6:15-6:30 Break and kitchen cleanup

Evening Session

6:30- Call to Zazen (Han roll)

6:45-8:00 Two periods of Zazen alternated with Kinhin

8:00-8:10- Kitchen aids prepare Genkan for tea, bring out trays

8:10 -8:50 Tea ceremony & Teisho (teaching) and/or Dharma Discussion.

8:55- Closing ceremony

9:00- Daily Closing- Konsho (striking the evening bell) tolled 9 times

9:00- Prepare for bed or non-residents leave for the night.

Sunday Schedule

First Morning Session

6:30 Wake-up bell

7:00 Non-residents Arrive (Chosho -morning bell tolled 9 times)

7:15-Call to Zazen (Plank drum (Han) roll)

7:30-8:00 One period of Zazen (Chosan- first morning meditation)

8:00-8:05 Incense Ceremony

8:05- Kitchen aids prepare Genkan for breakfast - bring out trays

8:15-9:00 Breakfast ceremony (Oryoki)

9:00-9:25 Break and kitchen cleanup

Second Morning Session

9:15- Call to Zazen (Han roll)

9:30-10:45 Two periods of Zazen alternated with Kinhin

9:30-10:45 Dokusan (one on one meeting with the teacher) by rotation.

11:15-1:15 Angya practice. (MLK Silent procession walk Capitol Lake)

1:15-2:30  Hosted Sangha Lunch in Olympia.

Afternoon Session

2:30- Call to Zazen (time adjusted to return time)

2:45-4:00 Two periods of Zazen alternated with Kinhin

4:00- 4:30 Work and/or exercise/rest period (may be adjusted for schedule)

4:30- Call to Zazen (Han roll)

4:45-5:15 One period Zazen

5:15- Kitchen aids prepare Genkan for Dinner- bring out trays

5:30-6:15 Dinner ceremony (Oryoki)

6:15-6:40 Break and kitchen cleanup

Evening Session

6:30- Call to Zazen (Han roll)

6:45-8:00 Two periods of Zazen alternated with Kinhin

8:00-8:10- Kitchen aids prepare Genkan for tea, bring out trays

8:10 -8:50 Tea ceremony & Teisho (teaching) and/or Dharma Discussion.

8:55- Closing ceremony

9:00- Daily Closing- Konsho (striking the evening bell) tolled 9 times

9:00- Prepare for bed or non-residents leave for the night.

Monday Schedule

Morning Session

6:30 Wake-up bell

7:00 Non-residents Arrive (Chosho -morning bell tolled 9 times)

7:15-Call to Zazen (Plank drum (Han) roll)

7:30-8:00 One period of Zazen (Chosan- first morning meditation)

8:00-8:05 Incense Ceremony

8:05- Kitchen aids prepare Genkan for breakfast - bring out trays

8:15-9:00 Breakfast ceremony (Oryoki)

9:00-9:15 Break and kitchen cleanup

Second Morning Session

9:15- Call to Zazen (Han roll)

9:30-10:45 Two periods of Zazen alternated with Kinhin

9:30-10:45 Dokusan (one on one meeting with the teacher) by rotation.

10:45-11:45 Samu (work and/or exercise/rest period)

11:45 Han Roll

12:00-12:30 One Period Zazen

12:30- 12:40 Kitchen aids prepare Genkan for lunch- bring out trays

12:40-1:30 Lunch ceremony (Oryoki)

Afternoon Session

1:30-2:00 Break and kitchen cleanup

1:45- Call to Zazen (Han roll)

2:00-3:15 Two periods of Zazen alternated with Kinhin

3:15-3:30 Short Break

3:30-4:30 Tea ceremony, Teisho/Group Discussion

4:30-Closing - Konsho (striking the evening bell) tolled 9 times

Happy New Year!

Meet Trey Grubbs

Greetings,

My name is Trey Grubbs.  I was born in the Ohio River Valley in 1991 and have lived in the Maritime Northwest since 2010.  A horse lover, avid walker, bird watcher and recent dabbler in the way of tea.

Early first encounters with Zen came as a teenager through the writings of Alan Watts.  I was inspired by the example of Japhy Ryder when a friend loaned me her copy of Kerouac's "Dharma Bums".  This led me to the poetry of Gary Snyder and Philip Whalen, Han Shan and Stonehouse (in translation).  Once I discovered sumi-e ink painting, I immediately signed up for local classes.  I was amazed at how much they were "like" nature!

I stick with Zen for its practical way in dealing with everyday life. Most of our suffering arises from not paying attention to what we have right in front of us, the three mysteries: body, speech and mind.  Zen allows me to bring awareness to mind through zazen; awareness to speech through poetry and song; awareness to body, whether riding my bike or cleaning horse stalls.  And back to zazen.

I began practice at Open Gate around a year ago.  I plan to continue to develop my practice of awareness on the present moment.  I hope to become a member of the Order, for the benefit of all sentient beings.

Sentient beings are numberless; I vow to save them.

Consuming desires are endless; I vow to stop them.

Bio-relations are intricate; I vow to honor them.

Nature's way is beautiful; I vow to become it.

Trey

Akiko’s Way of Zen



Welcome to Akiko's Full Service Dhama Station



As many of you know, Jean-Luc and Valerie left Olympia, Washington earlier this year. Since July 2012, Jean-Luc has lived and worked in Christchurch New Zealand, at the University of Canterbury. He is also an active member of the local Diamond Sangha and the hiking club. Valerie moved to Corvallis, Oregon in September, 2012, works for the Department of Transportation and is sitting with the Corvallis Zen Circle. In November, the two were reunited for a visit in Hawaii. During that time they spent three days at a retreat known as "Akiko's Buddhist bed and breakfast" …



Wailea Village Hawaii



Wailea Village is a village of 7 houses that once was central to the sugarcane industry. Now bypassed by the highway, there are more pedestrians and cats in the street than cars.  The “Buddhist B & B” is located in an old service station.  The garage bays serve as an art gallery and also accommodate the weekly Wailea Farmers Market if it rains.  It's new function reflects the motto posted on the front of the garage gallery: "Rooted to the source, Be of service to humankind."  On the patio, a cat lounges on drying coffee beans that Akiko has collected from the neighbor’s yard. The beans will be roasted and served to guests. The garden and grounds are simple, artful and eclectic. The zendo is located upstairs from the service bay. 



Zendo Upstairs

We are shown to a one-room open air screened structure, surrounded by a jungle of exotic trees, flowers and vines - the "Mango Tree". There is a footpath used by local wild pigs. Solar power allows the use of two lamps at a time; It’s simple and sustainable. The bathroom facility is partially open-air with an "on demand" hot water system.

As darkness falls, we notice mosquitoes lurking nearby. Having failed to heed the advice to "bring a good mosquito repellent" we start to panic. Truth be told, Jean-Luc would prefer to face a bear than a swarm of mosquitoes. Our retreat suddenly looks like a serious mistake… What are we doing HERE?  It doesn't help that our first week on the Big Island was spent at a timeshare with all the resort amenities on the sunny Kona Coast. 

The rain falls on the tin roof as we take a hasty "on demand" shower.  We dash off to the service station for the 5:30 PM sitting. Akiko sits beside an altar complimented by simple statuary, photographs and art.  The service includes zazen, interspersed with "standing qi gong” and kinhin.  We both relax into the familiarity of traditional zen form and enjoy "just sitting" after so many days of overactive vacationing. The sounds of frogs and crickets chorus while the occasional rain shower passes. To close, we chant the heart Sutra in Japanese, followed by three bows. Akiko provides clear instructions for how to complete each bow. We stand and say the closing gatha of Akiko's zendo in unison:

"Every moment is an opportunity
to deepen our practice and ourselves
to be better human beings
and to be of service."



Akiko makes mochi



Each morning we watch Akiko prepare breakfast. She answers questions with stories, tells stories to teach, and if you listen carefully she teaches each of us about living a full life. This is a Dharma breakfast.  She tells us about a friend who has a gift for Japanese cooking and serves "old-style" foods to the elders of local villages. Akiko now contributes her monthly Social Security check so that these meals can be offered at a local temple. She describes with joyous enthusiasm how the elders are revitalized with social interaction around the family table. We are overjoyed that we stayed, have grown from the experience, and now reflect on how we almost missed a powerful lifetime experience because of some pesky mosquitoes.





Akiko began her zen practice at Chozen-Ji International Zen Dojo near Honolulu, Hawaii.  She received intensive Rinzai training for more than 10 years.  By her own account, the Roshi spoke no more than 18 words to her.  She eventually left – somewhat frustrated by the apparent lack of interest by her teacher.  Rather than giving in to discouragement, Akiko has crafted her own path. Within the walls of the zendo above the service station, she borrows from tradition, adding her own touches. Wearing her characteristic head scarfs and aprons, she serves her community with grace, energy and unique zen spirit grounded in the strength of her daily practice. The results speak for themselves, no “transmission” (or oil change) required. We deeply bow to the zen spirit of our dharma friend Akiko!



Valerie captures the elements of Akiko's in water color



Submitted by Valerie and Jean-Luc Devis

Open Gate Rohatsu Zazenkai

In the Japanese Zen tradition, Rohatsu is the day celebrated in recognition of the Buddha’s enlightenment. The word Rohatsu means the eighth day of the twelfth month and was originally tied to the Chinese lunar calendar. Due to the misalignment of lunar months with the solar year, this typically places Rohatsu in early to mid January. However, due to the adoption of the western calendar by the Japanese, the day of Rohatsu is most typically celebrated on December 8^th as the eighth day of the twelfth solar month.

Nevertheless, many traditional temples, monasteries and modern Zen Centers still observe (or have returned to observing) Rohatsu in January, according to the original lunar tradition. Sometimes this is done because of tradition, while at other times it is a return to the original time frame based more on modern calendar conflicts. For those of us living in the West (or heavily influenced by the Western culture), December is a very busy month with the eighth day of the twelfth month landing smack in the middle of the Holiday Season.

For the last few years, this clashing of cultural traditions has led to the reconfiguration of Rohatsu recognition at Open Gate Zendo. In order to allow those of us who have friends and family who are fundamentally “not Buddhists” to participate fully in the Holiday Season, we have moved our Rohatsu Sesshin to mid January. Typically, this Winter Sesshin coincides with the Martin Luther King three day weekend and the Sunday afternoon silent peace walk around Olympia’s Capitol Lake (as it will again this year).

However, in observance of the December tradition, we continue to recognize “the eighth day of the twelfth month” with a full day practice session (Zazenkai) on Saturday December eighth. Those wishing to come Friday evening are welcome to stay overnight in the Zendo, as well as, Saturday night if needed. There will be no scheduled practice on Sunday.

If you plan to attend, please contact us at: opengatezendo@msn.com

Below is the practice schedule for this year’s Rohatsu Zazenkai:

Saturday December 8^th
7:00-7:15 Arrive for Zazenkai
7:15-Call to Zazen (Plank drum (Han) roll)
7:30-8:00 One period of Zazen
8:00-8:05 Incense Ceremony
8:05-9:00 Informal Breakfast in Hojo
9:00-9:30 Break and kitchen cleanup
9:15- Call to Zazen (Han roll)
9:30-10:45 Two periods of Zazen alternated with Kinhin
9:30-10:45 Dokusan (one on one meeting with the teacher) by rotation.
10:45-12:30 Samu (work period- clean up, yard work, meal preparation)
12:30- Call to Lunch (Han roll)
12:45-1:45 Lunch ceremony (Oryoki)
1:45-2:15 Break and kitchen cleanup
2:00- Call to Zazen (Han roll)
2:15-3:30 Two periods of Zazen alternated with Kinhin
3:30-4:30 Angya practice. (monk procession walk)
4:30- Call to Zazen (Han roll)
4:45-5:15 One period Zazen
5:15-6:15 Dinner ceremony (Oryoki)
6:15-6:45 Break and kitchen cleanup
6:30- Call to Zazen (Han roll)
6:45-8:00 Two periods of Zazen alternated with Kinhin
8:00 -8:50 Tea ceremony & Teisho (teaching)
8:50- Closing ceremony
9:00- Prepare for bed or leave for the night.
9:00 Konsho (striking the evening bell)

The Open Gate  Rohatsu/Winter Sesshin will be held on the Martin Luther King Weekend, January 19^th – 21^st 2013.

  

A long time in coming . . .

Photo by Gansho Lenny Reed

Many of you know (or know of) Kobai Scott Whitney, a long-time Buddhist teacher, author, and extended OBW sangha member.  For those of you who don’t know him, Kobai is the guiding teacher of Plum Mountain Buddhist Community in Aberdeen, Washington, just an hour west of Open Gate Zendo in Olympia, Washington.  That sangha works “especially with the marginalized and the recovering–from trauma, homelessness, divorce, domestic violence and losses of various sorts.”  Plum Mountain members are active in the community, working to “partner with the 12-Step communities, jails, prisons and services for the hungry and the mentally ill.” Kobai is especially well-known for his Prison Dharma work, having spent many years teaching Buddhism to incarcerated men and women.  He has even written a book, “Sitting Inside: Buddhist Practice in America’s Prisons”, which is a very interesting and informative guide for those interested in and involved with Prison Dharma work.

Kobai’s Buddhist path has been a long and fruitful one. He practiced Zen for many years with Issan Dorsey at San Francisco Zen Center and Robert Aitken Roshi at Honolulu Diamond Sangha (it was Aitken who gave him the Dharma name “Kobai”, or “Old Plum Tree”).  Since moving to Washington State, he has practiced with the Olympia Zen Center and Cloud Mountain Retreat Center, and has in recent years been exploring Buddhism’s roots by practicing and studying in the Theravadin tradition.  In the years since he came to Aberdeen, he and Plum Mountain have become a good friend and brother Sangha to the Open Gate community. Kobai attends all of the OBW’s ordination ceremonies, and several members of the Order of the Boundless Way, namely Jisen Seido Jean-Luc Devis, Gansho Lenny Reed, and Hadashi Jeff Miles, have also studied and ordained under Kobai.

Moving further along his well-traveled path, Kobai recently began working with Kozen Sampson (Thich Minh Tinh), a monk and teacher in the Vietnamese Zen tradition.  Last Monday, October 15^th, Kobai underwent ordination to join this newfound Buddhist family. He was ordained as a novice monk in the Linchi (Rinzai) line of Vietnamese Zen, or Thien.  Due to his extensive life experience as a Buddhist practitioner and teacher, he will spend only a year as a novice before being ordained a full monk.  In the meantime, he’ll be run through a crash course of koan study, instruction in ceremony, services, and forms, and possibly an occasional beating with a Zen stick. :-)

The ceremony was performed at Chua Lien Hoa, a Vietnamese Buddhist temple in Olympia, Washington.  Presiding over the ceremony were Thich Minh Tinh Kozen Sampson of Mt. Adams Zen Center in Trout Lake, Washington, Master Nguyen Kim of Co Lam Pagoda in Seattle, Washington, Phra Ratsamee Chutintharo and his associate, both of Buddhangkura Thai Buddhist temple in Lacey, Washington, as well as the abbot of Chua Lien Hoa, a visiting grandmaster from Vietnam. Also present were Kobai’s son, Stanley, and a half dozen or so of Kobai’s peers and associates from the Christian ministry.  There as well were our own Gansho Lenny Reed, Hadashi Jeff Miles, and Koro Kaisan Miles, on hand to witness Kobai’s initiation into his newest family.

Please join us in congratulating Kobai!

Photo by Gansho Lenny Reed

Meet Stuart Tennis

Greetings,

I have been a Buddhist for six years with several of those years as a student at a Tibetan Sangha in Seattle. I have also done many years of independent Buddhist study with meditation at the core of my practice. While a Buddhist I am also a Christian; in my spiritual journey through these years I came to realize that these two worlds deeply enrich and clarify my life. Continuing my Buddhist journey at the Open Gate Zendo, I am drawn toward doing bodhisattva work as I deepen my Zen Buddhist practice. Further I hope to have the opportunity to join the Order and one day be ordained. I was lead to the Order of the Boundless Way through the chance meeting of a soon-to-be ordained member of the Order. Our afternoon discussing dharma and the Boundless Way over tea inspired me to send a letter of introduction to Koro Kaisan Miles.

Having explored many Sanghas and spoken with many Buddhist practitioners over the years I had been seeking a Buddhist tradition which would allow me to maintain my Christian roots while affording me the space and guidance to deepen my Buddhist practice and meditation. In the beginning of this journey I decisively knew that I could not be a Buddhist for the sake of myself alone. Rather as a Buddhist I desired, and still do, to engage with the world and want to help those in it instead of cloistering myself from that world.

One of the many blessings in my life for the past 16 years is my full-time work as an American Sign Language interpreter. As an interpreter I have seen all of the joys, sufferings and seasons of the lives of others and in part all that I have seen has drawn me toward bodhisattva work and to deepen my Christian and Buddhist practice. I am also an artist, photographer, keyboard musician and lover of the arts and all things creative. Be it spiritual or "foot to the path" I am a traveler at heart. Born in England, I was raised in the States and I visit my family in England twice yearly as well as exploring Europe and having time with my friends there.

Sending a letter of introduction to Koro Kaisan Miles and our following correspondence gave me a good sense that the Order of the Boundless Way might become the sangha and Buddhist tradition I'd long been seeking. After my first meeting with Koro Kaisan Miles and first time at the Open Gate Zendo I saw that the Boundless Way answered my search.

Stuart Tennis

Rosslyn Zendo

Anjin Jimon

 

The Rosslyn Zendo, in Arlington Virginia, is officially open.  Led by sangha member Anjin Jimon (Alex Yuan), the group meets in the Arlington Methodist Church.  Anjin has been attending the church for two years now, and approached the pastor a year ago about the idea of using the prayer room for meditation.  The pastor, a big supporter of meditation for Christians and Buddhists alike, was very receptive to the idea, so after a year of preparation, making the website, and posting flyers in the neighborhood, the Zendo is officially open.

Situated on top of the Rosslyn Metro Station, which is the main metro connection in Virginia for commuters going to Washington, D.C., Rosslyn Zendo is ideally located for people to stop in for a morning meditation on their way to work.  Anjin says:

“Today we have a solid group of about 2-3 people that show up every morning (including me) for 25 minutes of silent meditation. Although I meditate in the Zen tradition, others use chairs and meditate on bible verses. The impact on my daily routine has been amazing. I wake up much earlier and my mind seems less impulsive. It also helps me to be consistent – I get up early and unlock the church doors every morning, since I never know who might show up!”

Check out their website at www.rosslynzendo.com.

 

Also, check out the following video to see Alex interviewed at a Buddhist event in Arlington:

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/by-topic/american-buddhism-on-the-rise/11475/