Friday, May 13, 2011

That Leaving Feeling

Friday has become leaving ceremony day of late: last Friday we said goodbye to Charlie and Renata, this morning to Seguin and Meryl. With the exception of Meryl, who will be going to Tassajara, they are all returning to the market-place, but hopefully, as Blanche encouraged them this morning, taking their practice with them for the benefit of everyone they meet. I hope this time that the tsui-ching is back in its resting place for a while. Actually, at my desk this morning I wondered if everyone had got up and left, as I didn't get a single email before noon, which is most unusual - not that I am complaining, mind.
I notice I haven't had a picture up here for a while, so here is Seguin, though you can't really tell, taking off her okesa in the kaisando - a picture which I think compensates for its technical deficiencies with atmosphere:

4 comments:

Eli said...

Shundo- who decides who is going to leave, when they are going to leave, and where they go?

Shundo said...

Shannon, I'm sorely tempted to say that a secret sub-committee within the practice committee meets on the full moon to consult the I-Ching.
Usually though, because living here is such a huge commitment, in terms of time and energy, and because there is nowhere to hide living in a community, if people aren't really thriving, it is quite obvious, and often people decide they would prefer to be doing other things with that time and energy. Of course, those who go on to Tassajara are looking to go even further...

Anonymous said...

Since Shannon asks and my picture is featured, I will share part of how I came to leave this time. (I also lived at City Center & Tassajara from 1999 to 2004.) Since 2007 I have worked full-time as psychiatric social worker on a county-contracted crisis team in the City. After about a year at City Center it became clear I wanted more sleep in order to keep up with multiple transitions at work and the demands of my job. I also want to explore new opportunities to share mindfulness skills. These days I sit zazen overlooking the Pacific in a western neighborhood of SF.

Shundo said...

Thanks, dear.