Term Intensive Begins October 8

Our first online TI will begin a week from Thursday at 8 pm EDT (on Zoom just after the evening sitting). We’ll have a few changes from our old format:

• We won’t attempt formal opening or closing ceremonies. Our first session will be an opportunity to share our commitments, and the last will be for our final reports.
• Because living out of town is no longer a barrier to attending the meetings, out-of-towners will not be asked to email their reports to Roshi as in the past.
• TI participants are expected to attend every meeting, but may not get a chance to report at every meeting. Since we do want to maintain accountability, if at any particular meeting you don’t get a turn to report live on Zoom, please send a report to Trueman (trueman@rzc.org), and we’ll send out minutes as we’ve done in the past.
• If you’d like to participate, please email your TI form to Trueman by 4:00 pm EDT on Thursday, October 8.

As always, the core commitment of any TI is to step up your zazen, since “upholding the precepts, repentance, and giving, the countless good deeds and the way of right living all come from zazen,” as Zen master Hakuin reminded us. Within that context of sitting more, you may, as always, choose any number of secondary commitments as outlined in the instructions on the website. For this TI, the Seeing Through Racism group has offered some suggestions for those who would like to look more closely into the issue of racism, and you can check them out here.

Online Introductory Workshop: October 10

During the pandemic, we’ve been unable to hold regular workshops. The last one took place on Saturday, March 7. Since it may be a while before in-person workshops can resume, we’re going to offer one via Zoom and see how it goes.

On Saturday, October 10, we’ll begin at 10 am EDT and hope to wrap up around 2:30. Center members are welcome to join for free. If you’d like to attend, fill out the application on our website, here.

Flora Smith, 1928-2020

Longtime Sangha member Flo Smith passed away quietly at home last Friday, September 25, at age 92. It was a peaceful death, eased, no doubt, by her experience of having attended many 7-day sesshins. She was closely attended to the end by her daughter Loretta together with Loretta’s husband Ingvar Olsson, both longtime Sangha members with long sesshin experience of their own. Future sesshins will not be the same without this family trio from Delaware.

This Thursday, October 1, at 1:00 pm EDT there will be a memorial service (prelude about 12:45 pm), for Flo in Pike Creek, Delaware. Due to COVID restrictions, the service will be limited to family; however, others may watch at this site.

Heartfelt condolences to Loretta and Ingvar. May all beings attain buddhahood!

How to Fight Racial and Social Injustice Without Hating

Together with the Blooming Lilac Sangha and Dharma Refuge, the RZC is hosting an online evening with Dharma Teacher, Valerie Brown, Wednesday, October 21, 6:30 – 8:30 pm EDT. The program will offer meditation, a short talk by Valerie, Q’s & A’s, and sharing in small groups, including teachings on the skillful handling of strong emotions to bring about more inner peace and calm. For more information, click here.

Sitting in Solidarity

A small group of Sangha members have been sitting at the Rochester Public Safety Building in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Currently they are sitting in the evenings, but are open to sitting at different times of day as well. If you would like to join in, contact Tara Nelson via email: brendamerenda@gmail.com. A picture is here.

Roshi’s Talk on Climate Change for the RAICA

Roshi was invited to record a short video for Rochester Area Interfaith Climate Action, and they have posted it on their website. If you’d like, you can watch it here.

Sensei Gerardo Gally and Eric Higbee: Election Results

The ballots for the trustee election were counted and the result announced at the Annual Meeting: incumbent trustee Sensei Gerardo Gally was re-elected to a 3-year term.