Update on New Zendo Upgrades and Design Process
As the fall rains arrived, our future zendo building was bone dry thanks to a torch down roof installed earlier in the month by Nolan Roofing. Following roof completion, a brand-new electric heat pump was also installed (by Angar), replacing an obsolete unit. Reizan Bob Penny oversaw this work and fully applied his contractor skills and experience to ensuring that all work was carried out to the highest standards. Thank you, Reizan!!
Bob was also one of the ReStore’s original contractors and has arranged for their conscientious demolition crew to remove all of the interior non-load bearing walls on the ground floor of our building. They will also remove various floor coverings, cabinets, and other fixtures that will not be part of our final dharma hall. That work begins on November 14.
The Design Committee (Heidi Epstein, Robin Kucklick, Bob Penny, Mark Flamer, and Bob Rose) have developed some initial ideas about how to best use the building layout to meet our needs. We are also examining how to create a sense of an enclosed sacred space with fencing, plantings, pathways, and water features. Two options for the interior have emerged: creating a zendo and supporting rooms within the current footprint of the building; and investigating an expansion of the east wing to create a larger zendo. Last night (November 1), the Practice Committee (senior sangha members) met to review the committee’s work to date and to offer their suggestions, ideas and concerns about how a proposed design can best meet the ritual and ceremonial needs of our sangha. We will incorporate those concepts in our next round of schematic design.
What we lack, at this time, is any sense of how much each of these design options might cost. During the next month, we will contact local builders to share our ideas and get some estimates for construction costs, timelines and potential issues the city building department may raise. With these projected costs in hand, the board will then determine the appropriate balance of using our capital funds for remodeling and applying funds early on to reduce the mortgage principal (and thereby reducing the amount paid in interest during our 10-year note term). One cautionary note is that some builders are already booked out for a year, and we know that more complex projects entail longer permitting review by the city. So, for the time being, we will continue our practice at the lovely and accommodating Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship facility.
We will keep the sangha informed of our progress through this News blog. Also the Board is working on ways to effectively receive input from our members on the interior design and will let you know as soon as we have a method for this. As part of this process, we’ll schedule an open house once the interior demolition is completed so we can all see what the space will actually look like.
Gassho-
Joden Bob Rose
boardpresident@redcedarzen.org
Board President and Design Committee chair
A reminder that members wishing to deepen their practice can request to work with one of our Practice Leaders as a Mentor. You can start the process by clicking HERE.
Anything related to the practice. Which is to say, anything related to living our lives with more awareness and kindness. You might choose to both read an article or study a text and talk about it; you might choose to make a commitment about daily practice and have someone to check-in on how that's going; you might simply relax together over a cup of tea and feel the deep benefits of spiritual companionship.
Members helping members: A group of volunteers who can offer things to sangha members in need, like:
Members needing a hand: If you are in need of assistance, the sangha may be able to help. Your privacy will be respected.
If you are able to give OR need to receive support, please contact membership@redcedarzen.org.
Nearly 20 people gathered last Saturday night to share and enjoy art created by sangha members. Desiree Webster sent in these pictures:
Tim and Raizelah performing “Landslide/Fleetwood Mac”
Paula Brown describing her spontaneous paintings
Seishin Tyndall playing and singing their own composition (inspired after Talus received hi lay teaching ordination)
Just some of the sangha members in the sharing circle
Sunday Morning in Yakima, Kanhon Heidi Tony Long received the precepts from Shudo Chris Burkhart, assisted by Seiu Hannah Sullivan. It was a very moving ceremony - many attended via Zoom, and Kanhon Heidi Tony's friends and family were present.
Receiving the Rakusa:
Back of the Rakusa:
Full info here: https://www.electionretreat.org/2022-engaged-buddhist-letter-writing-retreats
You'll find all 11 of them in our Dharma Talk Library under Buddhist Psychology.
Prior to the retreat, registrants are furnished with a letter-writing packet to print out before the retreat. Registrants buy their own envelopes and stamps.
“We’ve been averaging 50 or more people on Zoom for these retreats. It’s socially engaged Buddhism in action!” - Bob Andrew’s, RCZC
https://www.electionretreat.org/october-9-letter-writing-retreat/
When, while on your Buddhist journey, you run across quotes, pictures, new facts, old facts that strike you anew, books, snippets of dharma, dharma talks, articles, or any form of "found" wisdom, please share it with the sangha.
The Bending Bough newsletter is looking for member contributions, two of which were in our last issue. Just email what tickled your fancy to news@redcedarzen.org along with any attributions, and we'll include them as we can.
Gasho,
Your friendly newsletter editor
On Wednesday, September 14,speeches, musical performances and prayers were offered during the blessing ceremony for the totem pole carved by members of the Lummi Nation’s House of Tears Carvers. This story pole, dedicated to Chief Tsilixw, accompanied by two of his house poles, then travelled to Pittsburgh PA for an international Clean Air symposium. At the symposium and along the way they were a focus for public gatherings and conversations about clean energy use, salmon health, orcas and the removal of the Snake River dams.
Swil Kanim, beloved Lummi violinist and storyteller, served as host for the celebration. At one point he invited “his brother of a different mother,” Jeff McKenna, to share a song from his Native heritage, one that came to Jeff in a dream. After slowly making his way to the stage, Jeff’s strong voice truly inspired as it carried far and never wavered. Swil Kanim and Jeff drummed and sang together 7 verses representing all the elements that must come together for a truly sacred gathering, including music, dance, art, earth, sky, water, love. All these elements and many more were gathered, and there were tears in many eyes.
Among the spiritual leaders offering blessings for the journey to was our guiding teacher Nomon Tim Burnett, who invoked Jizo Bodhisattva, the protector of children, teachers, andtravelers:
Jizo Bodhisattva – Earth Store Bodhisattva – great being who cares for the earth and for all of the beings on the earth:
Help us to heal this Earth. This Earth we love. This Earth we’ve neglected. This Earth we can so easily forget. Help us to remember. Help us to know that we are the Earth. Help release us from this illusion of our separateness.
Jizo Bodhisattva – protector of travelers - protect this totem, protect Chief Tsilixw and his protectors as they travel these lands. Protect them as they teach, protect them as they learn. Protect them as they embrace what is right, protect them as they resist what is wrong.
Jizo Bodhisattva – protector of children – help us all remember that everything we do here is for our children, and their children, and their children’s children’s children. May the benefit of this strong clear effort to bring light move through the generations.
Jizo Bodhisattva we call on you with your sacred sounds mantra:
OM KA KA KABE SAN MA EH SOWA-KA
Jizo Bodhisattva we call on you also in silence, in the pause between all sounds, in the deep peace of non-doing, in the intimacy of not-knowing.
[Silence]
Thank you Jizo Bodhisattva, thank you House of Tears carvers, thank you to the Lummi Nation for taking care of our lands and waters, thank you to the Bellingham community. Thank you to all beings in all directions in the three times.
While chanting the Jizo mantra, Tim played the mokugyo, a small handheld Japanese drum, and his words and the mantra reflected and expressed all the blessings, chanting, and drumming of the afternoon.
The Lummi House of Tears carvers have been creating and sharing memorial totem poles with the world since 9/11, and before. The launching of the next journey, whenever it may happen, is not to be missed.
Post submitted by Karen McMains of RCZC. Thanks to the Lummi Nation, Tim Burnett and Kate McKenna respectively for the photos.
Red Cedar Zen Community is a 501(c) non-profit organization.
