The temple bell stops.

but the sound keeps coming

out of the flowers.

 -   Basho

photos with accompanying poems from Sue Bernstein's

collection in the cherry blossom's shade

 Harbor Island Park,  Mamaroneck

The great poet Basho reminds us that it is possible to hear with our eyes, see with our ears. All the sense-gates, when wide open, are giving to us, feeding us, teaching us. I remember looking up in wonder at these very cherry trees in Mamaroneck and feeling that I was tasting, swallowing, the flavor of their lushness through my eyes.  Allowing our attention to lean on sensation, not conceptualization, we begin to experience wholeness. Do you know Zenkei Shibayama Roshis's famous poem in his book, A Flower Does Not Talk?

Silently a flower blooms

In silence it falls away;

Yet here now, at this moment, at this place,

the whole of the flower, the whole of

 the world is blooming,

This is the talk of the flower,

The truth of the blossom......

For sure, in this season of budding and unfolding there is no lack of opportunity to listen deeply with our eyes.

In response to requests at our recent Annual Community Meeting, we are expanding the weekday morning schedule in hopes that more of you will enjoy starting the day in the zendo. Please come at the time which fits your life, entering and leaving quietly. If you are entering midway, it is easiest to come in during kinhin.  We are adding one hour of practice to what is currently scheduled. The schedule begins on Monday, April 9th and will look like this:

    6:55    doors open

    7:00    Han  -  zazen

    7:30    kinhin

    7:35    zazen

    8:05    kinhin

    8:10     zazen

    8:40    Robe Verse

                Morning Service

     8:55    close

 Sachin Hardas and his parents viewing work by Anne Humanfeld at the Sweetcake Enso exhibit in October of 2010 

In October of 2010, the Empty Hand Zen Center inaugurated a series of Sweetcake Enso exhibits that would travel across the country from zendo to zendo. Works in the exhibits were by Buddhist practitioners, celebrating that they were by and for sangha.   Venues were the Empty Hand Zen Center, Village Zendo, Brooklyn Zen Center, San Francisco Zen Center, Eugene Zendo, Dharma Rain, Garrison Institute, Rochester Zen Center, Zen Monster, and the Wainwright House.  In each exhibit local sangha artists were picked up along the way. Here are some photos more photos of the first Sweetcake Enso exhibit at Empty hand.  This is now the 11th exhibit of Sweetcake Enso as it comes full circle.

There are ten pieces currently hanging at our center, each one $1,000 or less, to benefit Empty Hand and the artist on a 50/50 basis. The exhibit will be up through April, perhaps longer with some rotation of works not yet on display.  For a pdf of thumb nails and a price list of what is currently on view please click here.    Do not hesitate to contact the curator, Catherine Seigen Spaeth, with questions or to arrange to visit during the week, catherine.spaeth@gmail.com  Please also enjoy the essays by American Zen Teachers as well as interviews and essays by artists published on the Sweetcake Enso website:  http://sweetcakeenso.blogspot.com  

We continue to ask that you not come to the zendo if  you are coming down with a cold or don't feel well. I am happy to report that the new Chemo is better tolerated, and that I have been able to participate in zendo life in the second and third weeks of the cycle. Right now there is a bubbling up of gratitude that this new treatment permits practice energy to manifest at least part of the time.  

Cherry blossoms-

under every tree

a Buddha on display

- Basho