July 21, 2009
Sesshin in Dai Bosatsu Zendo is always magic. During my travel there several times a year I am absorbing different clothes of the nature. Seeing the majesty of environment one is at owe. It is truly a Dharma feast.
While we eat and chew food we do experience different flavors, bitterness, sourness, sweetness’. In sesshin is exactly the same, our experiences are of many flavors. Today I would like to share and write about what I named Dharma dessert.
It is so uncanny how the nature, birds, animals respond and interact with whatever is happening in sesshin. There were two or three very special moments.
One day during zazen after chanting of Ryo Gon Shu birds were singing like crazy. Suddenly, during bird’s symphony there was one very sad and louder sound. I knew this was a small baby dear, lost and calling for her mother. It was running around frantically and came to side of zendo. With the huge door open behind the altar I could notice him. But what was so magic it was when he ran behind the zendo and stood right on the side of mountain looking inside trough the window just across from where I was sitting. I could not help myself but to look up. He made one desperate yell and left. Shortly after, I could hear his mother responding once. He found her.
Couple of days later, I came to zendo much earlier before the Ryo Gon Shu chant. Seigan was offering incense on the altar. Suddenly he run to side corner window and called: Ekyo, Ekyo… There was a mother dear with two babies playing on small meadow just below the zendo deck. It looked almost unreal.
However the crescendo of nature happened on July 4, a day when we celebrated 33rd Anniversary of dedication of Dai Bosastu Zendo. Early morning we walked to Sangha Meadow, our cemetery, to offer chanting to ancestors and deceased Sangha members. It was quite cold and heavy low clouds were just above. It looked that it may rain any moment… Traditionally, after this chanting service we take a walk around Beecher Lake and after some hesitations Roshi decided to continue. Next stop was at the shrine of Benzaiten, our Bodhisattva of protection. This is located at the bottom of Sangha Meadow hill.
I rarely go on this walk and this time did not even have appropriate shoes, but made my mind to go and make it to the end. Path was very wet, with some very unsecure spots. Watching every step for unstable rocks and walking in old slippery sandals required a lot of attention…. From time to time, head up top see unbelievable beauty…
There is a big Buddha sitting on the rock, just opposite form Guest House on the other side of the lake. This was the first stop to do offer chanting and incense.
Just when we chanted we notice a beaver right in front of Buddha swimming in straight line toward the Sangha Meadow end of lake. He than turned around and started swimming back. Suddenly, exactly in front of Buddha figure he dived and disappeared for a moment as if making a bow, and than continue swimming away… This was so uncanny and I watched with tears. Beaver salutation march, as if saying: happy birthday DBZ!
These days many of us who come frequently to Dai Bosatsu Zendo for sesshin are very inspired by very deep and peaceful feeling of the place. The present group of residents and trainees is practicing and working very hard in harmony. It feels really good to come and very hard to leave. No surprise that the nature and creatures respond and salute.
Gassho to everyone for taking good care of this magic place!