Words from the Teachers- October 2024

Dear Sangha friends,

The cool, rainy days of fall are here, leaves are becoming rusty and curled, their colours not as brilliant as last year's. Thoughts turn inward after the activity of summer and it feels like time to strengthen and deepen our practice--time for practice period! In our sangha we are apprentice bodhisattvas practicing in the midst of family and work responsibilities, with an awareness of the turmoil and suffering all around us in the world. How can we navigate the complexities of life in this world and stay clear and kind in thought, speech and action?

The Flower Garland (Avatamsaka) Sutra offers us a path inspired by the vision of Indra's Net, a boundless net, with a jewel at each node, or intersection, which reflects every other jewel. Please join us in exploring the richness of this text along with contemporary teachings that bring this vision into the twenty-first century. And please join us for the practice period opening retreat and ordination ceremony, in whatever way you can. The zoom link will be open for the whole weekend. We wish you a nourishing practice period supported in community. 

Warm bows,
Myōshin Kate and Shinmon Michael