Headed to the Farm

Although I've only just started this blog (there's only two other posts) and can't gauge what my posting consistency is, I will be taking a leave from posting any blogs from January 5-27, 2013. I'm heading off to Green Gulch Farm-Green Dragon Temple (http://www.sfzc.org/ggf/default.asp) for the annual January Intensive. This is three weeks of a monastic Zen Buddhist schedule, the third week of which is a seven-day sesshin, or completely silent, introspective practice (no talking, no reading, no writing, no computer, no phone). I won't have time or means to post regularly while I'm there. Although not far from the hustle and bustle of city life, Green Gulch Farm is in Muir Beach, and although a lovely, short hike to the beach, it's situated mostly in the woods. And if you've ever seen the height of a redwood tree, let alone a whole forest of redwoods, you'd understand how cell reception and connectivity could be spotty to nil. So, during this month, I'll be very quiet blog-wise as well as otherwise.

However, during the first two weeks of the Intensive schedule, there is a study period and there will be some personal time. I will continue to write in my sketchbook, ask questions of my practice, and sincerely investigate the way. I can share this with you when I return.

What is this Intensive and what do I hope to accomplish by participating? I've heard some refer to it as a meditation retreat, and as there is a lot of sitting meditation in the schedule, and it is located away from the busy-ness of life and in the beauty of nature, I don't consider it a retreat. The daily schedule is very full starting with the wake-up bell around 4:25am. One period of zazen is about 40 minutes long, with about six periods throughout the day. There are also classes, lectures, and study periods; services and chanting; breakfast and lunch as formal meditative meals (Oryoki); a two-hour work period; and a couple of breaks for personal time. The end of day, or fire-watch is at 9pm. A sixteen-hour day full of inactivity and activity, presence, and practice is physically and mentally challenging. For me, this is not a time to relax and sit back from my life. For me, the next three weeks are an urgent call to wake up to my life.

The Han, which is an instrument made up of a block of wood hanging from a rope that the Fukudo (doanryo position) hits with a wooden mallet to call everyone to the zendo to sit, has an inscription on it that says something like this:

Great is the matter of Birth and Death
Quickly passing, gone, gone
Awake, awake each one
Don't waste this life!

When you hear the han, immediately go to the zendo. When you hear the call, get to it, waste no time. Life is precious and short.