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Ekyo's Blog Sharing form the heart
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Golden Wind |
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October 16, 2007 The first sesshin of fall kessei at Dai Bosatsu Zendo is called Golden Wind Sesshin. The expression Golden Wind comes from case 27 from The Blue Rock Collection. The koan reads: A monk asked Ummon, “What will happen when the leaves fall and the trees become bare?” Ummon said, “Golden Wind!” In Japanese Ummon’s answer is tairo kimpu. I am always waiting in anticipation to see Dai Bosatsu Mountain when arriving to this sesshin. Usually the trees are yellowish but this time mountains were covered with colorful brocade. Breathtaking! This is a view from the road leading to Monastery. Dai Bosatsu Mountain is on the other side of Beecher Lake.
I was also very much looking forward to meet all the people who are in this big kessei, two Polish among them. As I arrived it was good to see the full zendo. And immediately I was informed that last day on Sunday there will be celebration of Roshi’s Birthday. Somehow this news was kept secret from me until arrival… And with my incredibly busy time before sesshin I did not know that it was such important 75 Birthday. It is always so good to meet Seigan, my friend who is Zen monk, one of two people I remember from my first sesshin who is still there. He shared with me all plans and also informed me that there might be some “disturbances” during sesshin, since on the fifth day six women are arriving from Japan from Urasenke School of Tea Ceremony. He was assigned a job of Jisha to care for and host these Japanese women. Seigan was a little concern since he does not know Japanese and did not know if these women would sit with us in sesshin. Well, I am thinking, so they are preparing me for sesshin with a lot of happening behind the scenes… preparation for celebration, arriving guests etc. This is not going to be a very focused sesshin…
January 1, 2008 This essay is waiting a long time to be finished… While I was traveling back to USA from Poland, I had to board over Atlantic plane in Frankfurt. My carry on piece of luggage was a bit too wide to roll it in the narrow aisle on the way to my seat. As I was pulling it behind and struggling suddenly I felt that someone lifted the bag… Turning back I did notice a small Japanese woman helping me. No surprise, I thought... And she was perhaps the only Japanese on this plane. This reminded me of Japanese women in Golden Wind sesshin… On the fifth day they join our sesshin and continued till end. It was very inspiring to see them in zendo, and how quickly they were able to melt into sesshin spirit and participate fully. Apart from strict training in Tea Ceremony I do not think they did sesshin ever before. Last day of sesshin the zendo was rearranged and sits added for many more people, who were coming from New York Zendo. Even with all “behind-the-scene” activities sesshin was very strong. Everyone was waiting for last day to celebrate Roshi’s 75th Birthday. Golden leaves dropping…
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