22 May 2010
calm enough after a day at a zen-do: we meet to share tea and chat this morning. Then silence: 30 minutes silent sitting meditation (zazen), 30 minutes silent walking meditation, 30 minutes zazen, 30 minutes silent walking meditation, 30 minutes zazen, one hour work in silence, lunch together in silence (sound of soup, bread, cheese, pickle, juice), 20 minutes silent walking meditation in the woods.
reading/snooze, 30 minutes zazen, 30 minutes silent walking meditation in the woods, 30 minutes sitting meditation while collectively chanting moo in the lowest tones we can muster, 30 minutes silent walking meditation, 30 minutes sitting, and then at first we are reluctant to talk at dinner but we do.
It’s a vegetarian potluck–orzo salad, pakora, asparagus with almonds, roasted nuts, lemon cake. My offering I’m ashamed to say: Girl Guide cookies (I have a case if anyone wants any.) Our host laughs and asks whether it is animal? vegetable? mineral? But everyone loves the Girl Guide cookies–especially the vanilla. One woman takes extras for the long drive home.
In the car en route home – we notice everything has changed and not.
No Gate No Lock 