Dear Sangha:
My apologies for such a long time between posts but now that the Tassajara brochure is well on it's way (I cannot say "done" yet--not for quite a while,) there a little more space and time for this. The posts I dream of doing these next 10 days before sesshin:
On Why I Didn't Shave My Head
On Giving My First Dharma Talk
Is it a Form or a Pet Peeve?
Raising the Bar on Chanting the Women Ancestors
10 Things to Do Before Rohatsu Sesshin

But today is Thanksgiving and the pies (six pumpkin pies make with burnt sugar caramel and fresh ginger) need to be decorated and the heavy cream whipped, and there's a little art project I'm working on for the sangha, and it is a stunningly beautiful clear blue day (walk to the park) so I'll just leave it at this for now. May your day be warm and abundant and may you feel deeply the gratitude that comes from a full belly and good company.
Love and gassho,
Your Shuso

Keigaku and Ninsho in the kitchen (top) Vicki poaches pears and the Benji gets her nursing license the same day she gets her student loan bill (bottom)

(clockwise from top: The Ino, the Abbot and Jisha, the King and his subjects. Sejiki 2006)

Dear Sangha--It's been a while since I've been able to post and I'm very sorry for that. And until I get the Tassajara brochure further along, it may be even longer before I can get some free time. So until then, enjoy these photos.

Miniature Earth
Visit this link for one of the most compelling (very short) films I've ever seen. Thank you Norbert for sending this.

Spiders
Does anyone know where the spiders are coming from? Last count I found 11 webs just like this one around the exterior of 300 Page Street. What does this mean? Personally, I kind of like it. I've been enjoying watching them, especially the ones outside the front office window where there are three big webs just a few inches apart from each other. For some reason this gives me a feeling of safety and protection. But then again, they're not in my room.

Here's another bit of fun for the knitters in the sangha--a genuine monk's hat pattern made for a "Busshist monk in Japan" ! (I'm not that great of a typist myself and it's only because of Tanya's keen eye that there aren't more typos in this blog.)

9 odd and interesting Buddhist links
Doggy Buddha
Chocolate Buddha
If only the Buddha had one of these
Lighter Side of Buddhism (although many sites listed are expired)
64 quotes from Buddha
Blogmandu
Buddhist Stuff
Rahula Flash
Jakata Tales--Monkey Heart