In June, Shugen Roshi & Zuisei Sensei met with staff at the new Middle Way school, a Buddhist-oriented school serving Hudson Valley families, including several sangha members. Zuisei Sensei also traveled to New Jersey to offer beginning instruction at the invitation of a parents group there. Also in June, Hojin Sensei met with residents at the Brooklyn YWCA for beginning instruction in zazen, and the group is excited to continue practicing together on a regular schedule.
In July, Shugen Roshi & senior monastic Yukon Grody traveled to New Zealand for several weeks of teachings, study, and to add to the celebration of the Kiwi sangha’s 30th anniversary as an Affiliate of the Mountains & Rivers Order. While in NZ, Roshi led workshops in several locations, a full-week sesshin with fifty participants, gave the precepts to three MRO students (see more below), and welcomed one new training student.
Also in July, Zuisei Sensei gave a talk on Buddhist practice at the Refuge Recovery meeting in Kingston, NY, a Buddhist-based support group for recovering addicts and alcoholics, their friends and family.