Windhorse Update: July 27-August 3

Greetings, all! And warm greetings, also, from our sister sangha in Poland. Another member of that sangha has come back with me: Magda Kadlubowska (aren’t you glad we’re all on a first-name basis). She’ll be staying and training here at Windhorse for the next few weeks.

Also just arrived today is Meredith Rolley, recently of Florida, but who lived for years in New Mexico. She too will be living here in training and attending the upcoming 5-day sesshin.

And after several weeks once again hiking the Appalachian Trail, former and periodic resident John Swart is back in town. He will also be staying with us through the August sesshin and perhaps longer. This weekend, more guests will be staying here for the workshop and teisho. A lively place, this 580 Panther Branch!

Wonderful to look down yesterday early evening, in the last leg of our long trip, and to see these beloved mountains. It brought to mind those words engraved on a bench at the UNCA botanical gardens – the words of a local poet, Christine Lassiter, who died in 2001 at the age of 50:

I go home to North Carolina wet with the mist of trees breathing life, each mountain singing into the next, green ridges rolling into blue -- softer, softer, then silent.

Yes, good to be home! -- Sunya

Tuesday, July 27

Our weekly Tuesday schedule includes 3 rounds of zazen with dokusan (both teachers) and chanting; 7- 9 at Panther Branch.

Thursday evening, July 29

We’ll resume our usual schedule: 3 full rounds of zazen with dokusan.

Friday, July 30

We’ll hold our in-town evening sitting at the rented zendo on 12 Von Ruck Court: 5:30 – 7:15, with 3 shorter rounds of zazen followed by chanting.

For the sake of getting along with neighbors there, many of whom have no garage and need to park their cars on the street, please remember to park your vehicle in the driveway if at all possible.

If you arrive late: Please park in the driveway anyway, enter quietly, and simply do zazen in the entrance room until kinhin.

Saturday, July 31

Lawson-sensei will be leaving early Saturday morning to visit his mother in Albany.

Because of the workshop from 9:45am – 2:00pm, our morning sitting this Saturday will be from 6:30 – 7:30am.

Cost of this workshop, including a vegetarian lunch, is $25 for those who preregistered and $35 at the door.

Sunday, August 1

We’ll have our usual Sunday morning program with chanting and teisho from 9:30–11:30, followed by tea and whatever vegetarian brunch offerings people may bring to share.

Tuesday, August 3

Same schedule as usual -- see above.