By Jian Zhi Peter Tolly, excerpted from the March 2018 ZRS newsletter Wave-play The way the world warps on the slope of a breaker— the movement of moon through matter unstoppable by the mind’s graph paper: only the bob of faces on the surface …
Submitted by Liaoran Tess Grey, excerpted from the March 2018 ZRS newsletter We like our poems in Zen, so I’ll offer a piece by Wang Wei that I read the other day, perfect for this new season: Dear flat rock facing the stream Where …
Are you looking to clear out your attic, basement, or closets of gently used items that others could benefit from?
We are looking for your donation of clothes, furniture, books, household items and knick knacks for our first annual rummage sale and fundraiser for the sangha. It will be part of the larger Annual Irish Road Neighborhood Rummage Sale.
Please contact Jill or Renee if you have items to donate or if you would like to help with setting up Friday evening and selling Saturday during the day.
You can also come to shop!
Fieldcrest Drive, Fox Crossing (Jill & Bill’s House).
Contact Jill treasurer@zenriver.org or Renee myoshin@zenriver.org if you have items to donate. All proceeds to be donated to ZRS.
By Myoshin Renee Taylor, excerpted from the March 2018 ZRS newsletter Thank you to Annie Quick-Laughlin for offering her home for our Henna Event in December. We had a great time visiting, learning the ancient art of Henna and experimenting with our newfound skills on …
Taiso Hannya Byran Bartow Roshi, ZRS Head Priest, excerpted from the March 2018 ZRS newsletter The three refuges or jewels of Zen Buddhism are Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. In our service we have a slightly more poetic reflection of these. These are differentiated in communication …
By Ming-Kai Franklin Chen, excerpted from the December 2017 ZRS newsletter
***Here is the poem I wrote inspired by a story told at a concert/storytelling with a theme of “Homeless Connection.” The story told the chilling fact that many homeless people do not have resources to take care of their teeth to be able to bite the apple.
The Apple in the Lunch Bag
Although my heart is filled with gratitude for receiving a lunch bag,
I have to give up the apple, the healthy choice; but eat the rest: bread, hot dogs, and cookies.
For I have lost my teeth sometime ago, and Simply, I do not have strong teeth to bite the apple.
People ask, why don’t I take care of my teeth?
I say I am wandering on the street all day,
At night, if I am lucky and find a shelter,
I can only have few minutes to brush my teeth and rinse my mouth.
I cannot afford to buy an ultrasonic toothbrush, besides,
even if I had one, where do I find the electrical outlet?
Have you seen dentists? People asked.
I say no. Why see the dentists? What are the points?
Every treatment costs me hundreds, sometimes, thousands of the dollars?
I cannot even find the next meal,
how can I afford for dentists’ cares?
I thank good-heart people to give me food,
But please give me orange, or banana.
For, I simply do not have teeth to bite the apple.