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Dear summer sitters I very much enjoy meditation as a group

I am still with you

but I am sitting in the evenings.

I spent much of the morning sessions

nodding off Zazzzzzzen.

So I have returned to my usual evening practice for now.

At our Sunday gathering, some of you asked about the first vow in Great Vows for All -

"The many beings areanumberless, I vow to save them."

How can I save the many beings?

Susan Murphy Roshi in her book "Upside- down Zen" tells us that the translation word 'save' could also be rendered 'wake'. What is it to wake the many beings? Can we wake them if we do not acknowledge them and welcome them in our world? Awareness, then, has something to do with saving the many beings. When 'We put down our sticks' as Susan Griffiths shares in her poem; wow, here we are, and the many beings are numberless.

After sitting this morning, I went for my usual walk around McLaren Dam - just a pond really-and I noticed the ducks- 2 different species- the swamp hens and the cormorants all enjoying the early sun together.…

With many thanks to Bob for his wonderful work for Sangha,

Here is the link for last Sundays recording. Enjoy or enjoy it again

https://soundcloud.com/zen-open-circle/big-summer-sit-18-jan-26

()

Dave

Tomorrow afternoon at 4 pm we have our next scheduled gathering of the Big Summer Sitters. We will be discovering, and re-discovering, the form of our Zen practice as Sangha. Of course, Sangha cannot be separated from Buddha and Dharma, but this session will look at how we support each other in our practice in our everyday lives, in our online gatherings and in those very special times when we come together in person, in one place with our teachers to explore the Dharma. Each of us, unique, each of us a vital part of one whole.

You are very welcome. Your questions are also very welcome. I hope you can join me

()()() Deborah

Hello

Big Summer Sitters

I am camping by the Murrumbidgee and just as I peace walk with the long Peace Vigil in America with the group of Venerables . This morning as I sat in zazen beside the river i wanted to share my offline solidarity sit with you all.

Deep throated ducks and squawking parrots that shriek and ignite the air with their wing fury.

The river gums continue their awake zazen for us all.

The birds are as raucous as Dave's local birds that i have heard on line.

Breathing in ... breathing out... do you notice the pause that completes the "one"? This 'no-breath' pause; what do you experience here? When that pause is not so easy, what do you notice? Enjoying each breath, just as it arrives and leaves ()()()

sometimes I get to 10 with the bird chorus carrying me

sometimes I get to 10 but drifting and the birds come & go

sometimes I get to 2, before I sail away on some epic thought bubble

but “one” is always there, whatever came before, whatever comes after….

Just this one breath, in and out

yes, I feel at home with “one”

Hi group I am enjoying the morning sitting together. During the heat wave I’m watering garden and attending to my animals needs early in the morning and siting later in the day. I’ll be back as soon as the weather cools down. Looking forward to it. K