Board of Directors Service as a Spiritual Practice

On Sunday, August 24, I introduced myself to the Sangha as the newly elected chairperson of the Clouds in Water Board of Directors. I was caught off guard by the warm reaction of the members present in the zendo that morning—thank you very much!

Jinzu Minna Jain and Keika Karin San Juan led a discussion of their spiritual paths as teachers and priests in training for the dharma talk that morning. However, not everyone who practices Sōtō Zen Buddhism is going to find themselves on the path of becoming a priest or a teacher. There are many ways to begin a Buddhist practice, such as becoming a greeter, an attendant, or any other type of volunteer at Clouds in Water. Of course, this also includes becoming a member of the Board of Directors.

Often, people refer to being on a board of directors as a service. Clouds in Water’s board members are indeed serving the sangha by doing all the behind-the-scenes work that helps keep the center going. As the chair, I believe that I am serving the rest of the board by being a resource for them. But it is more than that. Being on the board is also my spiritual practice because it connects me to the Eightfold Path. Certainly, service to others is Right Intention, keeping ethics top of mind could be considered Right Action, and the continuous learning that happens when one steps into a leadership role is Right Effort. 

To be sure, I am not a Zen teacher with years of study on the Eightfold Path. So perhaps I can make this simpler just by acting with compassion toward Clouds in Water and its Board of Directors as I serve as the chair and be open to the learnings that I will no doubt gain with this experience. Any service can be a spiritual practice if you remain in the moment with compassion and remember that we are all interconnected.

Learn more about becoming a Board Member by clicking here. Or, email board@cloudsinwater.org

by Nicole Alleva-Dickey, Chair of the Board of Directors, Clouds in Water Zen Center