Hello good folk of the Albion,
I guess I should come straight out and tell you that this is hoped to be an ongoing look into the journey this one is taking over at the Green Dragon Temple situated on Green Gulch Farm, one of the three Treasure’s of the San Francisco Zen Centre.
Of course for the ease of writing and reading it won’t be chronological. Zen Right! Beyond words and all that.
I have been on this path, hoho straight into zen speak, for a few years now and feel well and truly able to wear the title of Novice Student, a title I hope to remain true to for the rest of me days n nights.
The regime here is roughly divided into the Spiritual and the Mundane, my words, i.e. the study of Zen Buddhism and the practicality of eating, sleeping, sitting, working and of course, sh****ng.
Those of you who have been blessed by visiting GGF will know some things of how the community manages to survive, which is on the whole due to the wider sangha who live in and around Marin County as well as those who come to visit, be it for a conference and or workshop or as a Guest Worker (this may be called by another name, but is essentially people who come to stay and work in the morning to cut down the costs. Tis very expensive), Guest Student (the prerequisite for most in order to stay long term),
or one of the Apprentice schemes, i.e. Farm and Garden Apprentices who come for 6 months and learn about Organic Farming / Gardening, the Guest House Apprenticeship which we have just begun this year and runs for three months at present, or the general Work Practice Apprentice, who can stay for up to 2 years and then move onto staff.
Anyway I best put a disclaimer in here to point out that the above is only my limited understanding of how GGF operates! And also to point out that whatever you gather from my rambling from any of my communiques is no more than my delusional thoughts (Probably) as interpreted by your good selves.
Onward ever going nowhere,
What's your job I imagine you crying out….
That actually was your Cue…
No I still can’t hear you ….
Ready or not… I am held by the role of Fukaten, actually Joint Fukaten.
It’s a long story and maybe on another occasion I will tell you more!
The role of Fukaten is that of enabling the Kitchen Crew to prep. and cook the meals the Tenzo has picked out from Her (His ) extensive knowledge of the wellbeing and cravings of the community.
This is the second time I’ve almost held this position Mmmm well I guess I will have to check here about how to go forward with this expose of Me! Myself! and I. which I presume you all can see as being interpretations of the word OTHER.
bye bye for now.
Myoyu
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