Dec 8-March 4 will be another email-less Seichu period – probably more exhausting than the last one as I’ll probably be nakaten, that’s tenzo (cook) in training, and on my feet instead of my bum most of the time. However, I will do morning chanting, and evening tea with everyone else, and of course sanzen (interviews with Roshi) 4 times a day. They say Eshin (my first teacher) will be dai-ten (head cook) – so I’ll be under the thumb all day – whew! Of course Roshi might change those roles any time up to Dec 8 – and come to think of it he could change them anytime – Zen practice, uncertainty, OK.

I’m having a great time during the last part of Seikan (less intense practice – Roshi away) as we take time to goof off, drink beer and wine, watch movies, read, etc. Roshi gave us a sweet schedule this time – up at 5:30 instead of 4, because we had to host so many retreats by other groups. Next time – less hosting, more of our own meditation, and back to being up at 4 most days. Well, we are all happy and relaxed up here right now. When I say goof off – well we do, but we are up at 5:30 or earlier every day, always start with chanting and sitting, so we don’t forget what we are here for.

There has been a lot of coyote activity but the bears have stopped harassing us since we got a bear proof trash can and improved our composting. We have a couple of very well fed raccoons hanging around as well, but the lizards and scorpions are hibernating all ready. There are so many blue jays - and they are so noisy! Humming birds have left – but lots of hawks and eagles remain. Deer and squirrels abound. The neighbors drop by, we get comparative religion students staying overnight so they can write a paper, and an occasional zen student comes up for a while. But since Gento left in the middle of last Seichu with a bad case of pancreatitus there are only 4 of us here. Gento is at the zen center in new mexico and will be back for Seichu. Seichu includes 5 week long sesshins with up to 40 students, but between those there will likely be 10 or fewer of us up here – it will be intense, wonderful to practice with Roshi for 3 months – until he starts kicking butt – then it’s wonderful but – whew, hard!

I’m going to LA for my benji days (3 days off) then back up here to help get ready for Seichu, i.e. mass clean up, make up beds in cabins, and do some cooking ahead of time (frozen cookie dough etc.) ready for sesshins.

Well, as you can see, things are much the same here.