Words From the Teacher - June 2025

Dear sangha friends,

Summer is here. When we went out for a walk to one of our local waterfalls on Canada Day the parking lot for Hayward Lake was full already at 9:30. People were swarming out of the city to lakes and trails and picnic spots. Over the pandemic city folks discovered the nearby nature of the Fraser Valley, and how could we begrudge them time outdoors with friends and family? It was a diverse demographic on the trail, and everyone was friendly, greeting each other with: Happy Canada Day! and Enjoy your walk!

It's probably no exaggeration to say that many of us are relieved and grateful to be living in Canada right now, but for the indigenous peoples of this land, Canada Day is often not a day for celebration, but for reflection on painful memories and present day realities. We are reflecting that two ways to work towards truth and reconciliation are to support indigenous efforts to care of this land we all inhabit, and to take a seven-generation view of the future ourselves. 

Let's let our time in nature not be just another way of consumption, but a way of learning from the plant, animal and elemental realms of the web of interconnection--earth systems, upon which our lives and the lives of those to come utterly depend. Let us make wise choices and exercise restraint, individually and collectively so that all beings to come, will have a beautiful and habitable earth. 

Please join us at Mountains and Waters sesshin, even if you cannot attend in person, just to sit with us a while at home, or listen to dharma talks, and if you are able, to sit, walk, stand or lie down outdoors and receive the teachings of the wild, as we will be doing at sesshin. Our theme will be Wild Mind, Wild Nature. The wild is not just in the wilderness, but all around and within you,

Warm bows,
Myoshin Kate and Shinmon Michael

News from Bright Stream Temple 

This month we will welcome Yuki David Burke from Calgary for the two weeks before Mountains and Waters sesshin, and Patrick Griffin, also from Calgary and Jason Found from Victoria, for a few days each around sesshin week. We're grateful that Kate Siddall from Penticton and resident Jessica Klassen will tend the temple during sesshin. 

Based on two years' experience of running a small residential program at Bright Stream Temple, the residential program advisory group is reviewing and refining our application process, requirements for residency, and guidelines for temple living (shingi). We hope to make these available to the sangha soon. This is a separate process from the larger BST review and evaluation that will unfold over the coming months. 

Garden coordinator: We are grateful for all the volunteer work that has gone into the Bright Stream garden already this year. It would be helpful if there was someone willing to coordinate garden volunteers and work-times. If you are interested please contact guidingteachers@mountainrainzen.org or speak to one of the teachers.