This is one spring event you don’t want to miss! You’ll laugh, you’ll eat great food, you’ll see food demonstrations from our sangha cooks, you’ll support a worthy Zen center, and you might even sing (singing encouraged, but not required). Highlights from last year: women priests dancing while belting out a girl group song, a serious Zen guy channeling Johnny Cash, and a father-son duo singing Beatles songs. What will be the highlights from this year? That’s all up to you! Event will be held at Clouds in Water. Please register by April 10.

Saturday, April 17
5:30–9:00 pm
$15 suggested donation per adult, or $25 per family

With Tenshin Reb Anderson.
During this retreat in an environment of stillness and silence, teachings will be given on the nature and dynamics of enlightenment, with special emphasis on delusion within the non-dual dance of delusion and enlightenment. This is an Intersaghna Event. Participants must attend the entire sesshin. (Photo by Ulla Mostrom.)

by Byakuren Judith Ragir

In studying the Four Divine Abodes this winter, I was struck with an aphorism of Thich Nhat Hanh on the Abode of Joy:

May I know how to nourish the seeds of joy in myself every day.

This simple sentence seemed like an antidote to complaint. What actually nourishes the seeds of joy in myself regardless of the current circumstances?

The Allies of Joy seemed to be that which is capable of generating and increasing my happiness. They are:

• generosity
  
• gratitude
  
• simplicity
  
• beauty

To water the seeds of joy in myself is to water these qualities listed above. When I find the environment of my mind to be that of complaint, I look at watering these seeds of joy through joy’s allies. Can I notice the simple beauty of life or can I produce some small thing of beauty? Can I dwell with all the gratitude and abundance I actually am receiving if I switch my gaze? Can I choose to live simply so my desires are lessened? Can I do a small act of generosity which makes me smile?

Nourishing the seeds of joy in myself can be done with a light heart and with a sense of fun. It is such a simple question: What will nourish the seeds of joy in myself today?

Everyone is welcome to attend this gentle, healing and restorative ceremony, Sunday, April 25 at 10:40–11:10 am, after the morning service. More information.