Saturday Dokusan, May 20, 9:00 am

Saturday-morning dokusans are offered to accommodate members who can’t make it to the regular dokusans held during the week. To participate, take a seat on the left side of the Arnold Park zendo, near the Kannon Room, any time before 9:00 am. An announcement will be made before dokusan with Donna-sensei begins.
Teisho on Taking the Precepts by Donna-sensei, Sunday, May 21

At 8:30 am, we’ll have one extended round of sitting with a bell at the half-way point for a posture change, followed by kinhin, a short chanting service, and then Sensei’s teisho. All will be broadcast on Zoom.

Buddha’s Birthday Weekend, May 26-27

Our annual celebration begins with Temple Night, which includes the Taking-the-Precepts Ceremony (Jukai) in the Buddha Hall on Friday, May 26. It will also be broadcast on Zoom (same meeting ID and passcode as used for sittings and sesshin).

The festivities on Saturday, May 27, include music, storytelling, a parade led by an elephant – not to mention a potluck vegetarian lunch and birthday cupcakes! The full schedule is here.

Calling all musicians! If you play an instrument, we invite you to the Center’s library on Saturday, May 27, at 10:00 am for a music rehearsal. The talented Phil Swanson will help lead the parade with his trombone.

For the vegetarian potluck picnic that follows the parade, the Center will provide veggie burgers and “not dogs,” beverages, and dessert (featuring a tower of cupcakes!). Please bring either a main dish or a salad (fruit salad counts). Remember to take your dishes home with you when you leave. Please, no meat, poultry, or seafood, and size your dish to serve eight.

If you’re a parade veteran and would be willing to miss it this year to help with food setup, let our Head Cook Bidu Kharel know. You may free up a staff member who hasn’t yet had the opportunity to participate in the parade and follow in the footsteps of the elephant!

In fact, volunteers are also needed to help set everything up during the workday on Friday, May 26. The workday begins at 8:00 am, and we usually end with a pizza lunch at 12:30. If you can volunteer, contact Trueman.

John-sensei Recovering Well

John-sensei’s knee-replacement surgery went very smoothly, and he’s recovering so well that he spent this morning at the Center, even playing a bit with Enso, the financial office’s resident canine aide-de-camp.

Other Upcoming Activities

Saturday, May 20: 

Sunday, May 21:  

Thursday, May 25: 

  • Application deadline for June 10-17 seven-day sesshin (led by Donna-sensei)

Sangha Members Looking To Buy a House

Longtime Sangha members Jane and Ross Keptner are relocating back to Rochester from Washington State, where they currently reside with their two kids. They’re looking to purchase a four-bedroom house in the Pittsford or Brighton area. If you have any leads, please contact Jane.