Dear Friends and Fellow Followers of the Way,
After a few hiccups we finalized a plan for the Halloween Sesshin at Hebden Bridge. It was a real joy to be on and to be leading this Sesshin. I knew almost everybody there and got to know those whom I had not previously met.
It was a first in more than one way. Our first time to have a Sesshin in Hope House, a first time to Have a non-residential Sesshin in Hebden Bridge, a first time to have Oryoki meals in Hebden Bridge, and a first time to have ‘our own’ Sejiki ceremony in this lineage in the UK. It was wonderful to have a self-catering Sesshin, with completely ‘home-grown’ Tenzo and assistant.
The Sejiki ceremony is complex and I knew before going into Sesshin that it was nothing like the ceremonies we’ve done up to now. I also knew we could practice the ceremony every day before we did it for real and these practice sessions, along with hours of zazen and thoroughly delicious & nutritious meals, made it all flow smoothly, even the mistakes. And I left that Sejiki ceremony feeling it was the best I’d ever been to, with only one possible rival at Tassajara. What made it so memorable and touching was the intimacy of a small group and the atmosphere of having it in a small zendo, made ‘cavelike’ with candles, a carved and glowing pumpkin and a group of standing ghouls. I really hope we can have another Halloween Sesshin next year. It is something to look forward. I also found the teachings about the Hungry Ghosts were well received and were meaningful to those present.
In Gassho,
Ingen.
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