We’ve had a summer full of retreats and visitors.  These included our Summer Intensive, which began with a three-day introductory retreat  July 14 – 16 attended by 15 people and then unfolded over the following month with a schedule of  daily meditation and ceremonies, twice weekly Dharma talks and focused Dharma discussions. In addition the 12 trainees who stayed for the full month participated daily in temple working meditation in such ways as cutting and stacking wood, preparing food, gardening, and temple maintenance. As well as the usual daily activities, they had the opportunity to meet regularly with senior monks to reflect on their experience and ask questions about their meditation and training.  Participants found the experience helpful and enjoyable.  We plan to offer the Summer Intensive in 2018.

Thirty eight participants attended the 3-day Introductory Retreat held from August 11 -13.  And __ attended the week-long Teachings of Our Tradition Retreat held from August 20 – 27.  Six senior teachers from the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives led the retreat:  Rev. Master Mugo White – Jade Mountains weblog, Rev. Master Leandra Robertshaw – Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey, Rev. Master Seikai Luebke – Pine Mountain Buddhist Temple, Rev. Master Scholastica Hicks – Shasta Abbey, Rev. Master Rokuzan Kroenke – Columbia Zen Buddhist Priory, and Rev. Master Meido Tuttle – Wallowa Buddhist Temple.  Retreat talks are available here.

Our Vietnamese friends from San Jose made their annual visit to the Abbey on August 5. Some of them have come many times; some were here for the first time.  They visited the Buddha Hall to make bows and offer gifts to the monks, and Rev. Master Meian gave a short Dharma Talk.  Visitors and monks and our lay residents then enjoyed an evening meal together in our picnic area. We are very grateful for their visit, and for the generous offerings of food and supplies that they brought.

During the summer, besides doing all that needs to be done to maintain the fabric of the monastery and to split and store a supply of firewood for the coming winter, the externs sacristans have been working very hard to install two new stainless steel tanks for heating water for the kitchen and the Meditation Hall heating system.  We are grateful for all their efforts, as well as for the help of many of our lay guests during our retreats and during the Summer Intensive.

Also during the summer we continued our visits to the Chico Meditation Group and the Bear River Meditation Group.  We offered blessings at the Siskiyou County Humane Society.   Rev. Master Meian and Rev. Trahearn performed a Land Blessing for Carol Jenkins and Marty Sochet.