Weather's rolling...

Looks like some Weather’s rolling into our region -- predictions of a major snowfall tomorrow and Saturday, with sleet and ice possible. (How like the Full Moon to get dramatic!) So we’re reluctantly canceling our well-attended in-town sitting tomorrow evening. If tomorrow we see that the forecast is at odds with reality and the coast is clear, we’ll send out another email that the sitting’s on. If you haven’t received such an email by 3:30, then the Friday sitting’s not happening this week. We'll do zazen here at Panther Branch.


In the meantime, in the event of another power outage, we’re exercising our special powers by gathering wood and carrying full water bottles down to the basement. (For those of you who weren’t at last Sunday’s teisho, or haven’t read those famous words of Layman P’ang, you’ll find his verse at the bottom of this update.)

This Week’s Schedule

Thursday, January 28 (tonight)

The sitting on Thursday evenings consists simply of 3 full rounds of zazen with dokusan, ending with the Four Vows. 7:00 – 9:00

Friday, January 29 (See above)

Full Moon!

Sunday, January 31

Weather permitting, we’ll hold our usual Sunday morning program: zazen, chanting and teisho, 9:30–11:30, followed by tea, and whatever vegetarian brunch offerings people may bring to share.

Predictions are for a clear but VERY cold Sunday. If you have any questions about road conditions in our area, please just call us at 828-645-8001.

Tuesday, February

On Ground Hog Day, we’ll have our usual evening sitting at Panther Branch: 2 ½ rounds with dokusan, ending with a chanting service, 7:00-9:00.

Layman P’ang’s Verse:

In my daily life there are no other chores than

Those that happen to fall into my hands.

Nothing I choose, nothing reject.

Nowhere is there ado, nowhere a slip.

I have no other emblem of my glory than

The mountains and hills without a speck of dust.

My magical power and spiritual exercise consist in

Carrying water and gathering firewood.