sangha news 2005

Congratulations to Joni and Jose on their second child. Born at 1am on December 7, the birth was quicker and easier than Bodhi. He is healthy, a large 9 lb 14 oz and has no name yet.

	December 2 saw several visitors at the Zen Centre. TeiTaku and his wfe, Amelia, visited from Port Townsend, WA. Their two daughters both live in Vancouver so we're likely to see TeiTaku regularly. TeiTaku moved this year from North Carlolina where he studied with Gentei.
Martina came by with Karsten. He's really grown into a boy now and is one month off his second birthday .

On November 19 Peggy became a grandmother. Congratulations, Peggy, and best wishes for your grand daughter Anastasia.

The centre hosted a preparatory meeting of the Northwest Dharma Association on November 19. George and Steve drove up from Seattle to meet a few leaders of Buddhist groups here with the intent to prepare a teachers meeting in Vancouver next spring.

	Nikki visited on November 1. She is originally from Victoria but has spent the last two years at Mt Baldy ZC. She is staying in Vancouver with her family after her father collapsed with an aneurysm. Fortunately he is out of intensive care but it will be quite some time for recovery.

On October 9 there was a workshop for Myorei and E'cho to learn the terminology, format, butsudan and customs of Zen Buddhist ceremonies. Bodhidharma's memorial ceremony was used as a case study.

Janice visited in August from Winnipeg, Matt, from Victoria, visited on his way back from Mt Baldy ZC, and Steffi, from Germany, was able to attend a one day sit during her stay in BC. Best wishes to Chris R with his thesis. This is going to require a lot of time and we’ll rarely see him at the centre until it’s finished. Best wishes to Jerry in recovering from his heart operation.

On June 10th Michelle, John and their three daughters left for an indefinite period to study with Roshi. They will initially stay next to Mt Baldy ZC in a cabin. Latest news is that things are working out for the complicated situation. Two other people from BC are training for two thirds of the summer seichu. Judith, from Prince George , is there for the July and August sesshins; and Matt, from Victoria , is there for the August and September sesshins. Eshin and Myorei attended the July Rinzai-ji sesshin to honour Roshi’s arrival in the west. Roshi gave a strong talk at the morning tea after sesshin. Gareth will be attending the Mt Baldy ZC September sesshin. Congratulations to all of them for taking the opportunity to study with Roshi.

Congratulations to Joni and Jose who are expecting their second child this November.

It’s summer and many sangha members are on vacation and / or visiting family. The zendo is always quieter in summer although out of town visitors from other centers come to sit with us at this time. Eshin and Myorei visited family in Europe late May to early June. Branko visited his family in Bosnia in July for three weeks. Gareth spent two weeks with his family in Los Angeles this June. Steve is in London for summer. Pouyan is spending three months with his sister in England . Brad has been spending time looking after his mother. Ian and Linda have been touring Canada in their camper van. Janice visited the centre overnight in early August.

	The two day April zazen-kai in Prince George was attended by all the core members. Weather was warm and the sitting hot! It was a time to renew practise and the group held meetings during the zazen-kai to do this.

Two keen members left vancouver at the beginning of April. Steffi returns to Germany until August. Shade leaves for Bodhi Manda Zen Center for an indefinite stay. Best wishes to both of them until we see them again.
	Steffi	Shade

Brad's father passed away peacefully on Saturday February 26. Brad spent a time in Toronto to be with and to help with his family. He has recently returned to Vancouver .