Opening Day- a Celebration, a Cultivation
Opening Day- a Celebration, a Cultivation
By Blair Mushin Withcomb
We have had this house for a couple years now, but the “plague” kept it out of reach. gradual lifting of that heavy cover allowed us to “Open” the “Gate.” We proclaimed May 21, 2022 as our official day of opening. As the day approached, a mixture of feelings, a lot of not knowing circled around our heads. Expectations, something we’re often reminded to refrain from building, became, in this case, nearly impossible. Shinzan had begun, and we followed, mildly, gently putting out the word, inviting friends and others to join us in an official opening. Some ideas for reaching out further to attract others at large remain still to be developed today. So now, we three stood near the entry, wondering who and how many would show. And they arrived, in twos, many singly, forming and reforming groups, gleaming and hugging, looking on one another, some since only yesterday, some yester-years. Many old friends, some brand-new meetings. Thus emerges our theme of today. This will be about deep roots, and new beginnings.
The rooms fill with us, and our eager voices. We sally forth. We find cushions or chairs, all in abundance. Knowing our way, we choose our zabuton, arrange our zafu. Some help another to find theirs and settle. The arrivals keep coming and we spill over into the adjacent room, Dojin and Anzan making more seats. Others, including Ji Hyang join online, along with long time adherents of our immediate sangha, a couple friends and family members, Kym and Kosei join from Sweetwater, Doshin returns from north of us, and her friend Quince from nearer in San Diego. Shinzan sits, the bell brings us all to attention, feeling all our energy resonate within these high walls. We sit. We listen to dedication and hope and aspirations in dharma talks by Shinzan and Ji Hyang. The celebration rises, the voices fill the kitchen and these rooms, Food is opened, feelings and disparate stories exchange over and over. Now the whole place pulses with excited palpable energy.
We look back , now, on a fine day. All that energy gathered momentum in a uniquely Zen expression- a gentile explosion. It is one that reaches out colorfully, gleefully as well as meaningfully. We’ve gathered strength, and go now, forward, confident, eager to build, provide more… bodhicitta, bodhisattva.
A New Offering: Buddhism and Recovery
Born immediately following the Opening Day, we began our offering of this refuge for all who are/have suffered, made suffering for others, as results of various addictions. We have a handful of meetings under our belt. From the opening on, there is a strength, a real and nurturing energy. We have a few who are coming live from local residences, others now joining online from the Recovery Dharma network. Experienced ones are helping newcomers get a foothold on the path toward renewal and the ongoing tasks in developing lives of integrity. With more information available on the Open Gate website, ogzen.org, We invite you to join or drop in, invite friends in need. We are in the serious yet joyful business of saving, rebuilding lives.
