Snow Day

The Day after our Winter Retreat came to a close we woke up to an active snowfall. It has been fairly mild since the very cold week at the end of December and signs of spring were everywhere: daffodils and tulips popping up everywhere, buds and new growth on all the trees, little flowers on the umi and cherry trees, leaves bursting out on a few shrubs and trees and so on.

“Tending Clouds’

The snow this morning was very wet with slush everywhere. This late in the winter (a month to spring!) dry powder is a real rarity. But as the sky lightened it cooled down a little further and light dryer snow continued to fall.

Into the woods
Continue reading “Snow Day”

Tahoma Winter Schedule

As we come to the end of the year with the mix of retreats, holidays and special events, this is the schedule we will observe at the Monastery. Please note that for the reminder of the year, only evening zazen is open to the public (full vaccination and masks required) both some events presented online via Zoom. Please read this post regarding our Covid Reopening Status and the postings on individual events for details.

Events are always kept up to date on our Calendar: 
https://www.tahomazenmonastery.com/calendar/

Tahoma Winter 2021/2022 Schedule

November 24th, 2021
6:30pm to7:20pm – Zazen
7:30pm – Chisan talk at Watermoon Dojo

November 25 & 26th, 2021
Thanksgiving break – no activities

November 27th-29th, 2021
Regular Schedule

November 30th, 2021
4:50am – Choka
6:25pm – zazen
7:30pm – Kokuho

December 1st-7th, 2021
Rohatsu Sesshin

December 8th, 2021
4:50am – Choka
7:00am – Bodhi Day ceremony

December 9th, 2021
No Activities

December 11th, 2021
5:50am Virtual meetup with Watermoon Dojo
6:25pm Evening Zazen

December 10th – 23rd, 2021
Regular Schedule

December 24th to January 5th, 2022
Winter Break – No Activities

January 6th, 2022 and beyond
Regular Schedule

Tahoma Holiday Schedule 2020

As we come to the end of the practice period and the winter holidays we will observe the following schedule.

November 26th (Thanksgiving): No Activities
November 30th: No Evening Zazen
December 1st-8th: Rohatsu Sesshin
December 8th: No Evening Zazen
December 9th: No Activities
December 19th: Virtual Winter Solstice Sit
December 24th: No Evening Zazen
December 25th-30th: No Activities
December 31st: 11pm: New Years Sit, 12am: New Years Bell Ringing
January 1st-2nd: No Activities
January 3rd: Regular Schedule resumes

As always please see the Calendar for the most updated schedule of events.

2021 Calendars Now Available

Harada Roshi’s 2021 One Drop Zen calendars are now available!
Our Mind – New and Fresh Every Day
20”x 26”   Hand Screened on high quality paper. 

To order calendars, please contact Myosho at:
calendar@tahomazenmonastery.com

1 calendar sent to one U.S. address  $25 (postage & handling included)
10 calendars sent to a single U.S address.  $135 (postage & handling included)
(Calendars can be mailed inside the U.S. or to Canada, only.  Please note that postage & handling will be higher for delivery to Canada.)

Thank you for supporting One Drop’s Tahoma Monastery on Whidbey Island.

Tahoma Covid-19 Pandemic Update

Tahoma Status for May, 2020 
Washington State’s Stay At Home policy has been extended through May as we ramp up testing.  We are following the mandate and there is no public zazen and no in person events through the month. As certain milestones are met Washington will progress through Four Phases of opening’ each phase allowing for a wider range of activities with increasingly larger groups permitted.  When we arrive at Phase Two we will open up for daily zazen with limit of five (5) people in the zendo. When we reach Phase Three we will open again for Zazenkai, though still without the communal tea. Phase Four allows for gatherings of fifty (50) people which we are not expected to reach until August.  It is not certain whether physical distancing will still be in place for these larger events, but if they are we will have to really consider what kind of events we can hold here and how to stay in alignment with the guidelines.

Details on Washington’s phases and the restrictions involved in each one can be found here: Washingtons Phased Approach

Where we currently are at can be found here: Risk Assessment Dashboard.

Between the two resources linked above we can tell where Washington is at and how far it has to go to reach the next phase. We here at Tahoma are constantly monitoring the situation and are working on how best to serve the sangha within these guidelines. As always for the most up to date information on the status of the Monastery, sesshin and other events, please continue to monitor this website. Also consider joining our email list: Monastery Messages.

All March and April Events Canceled at Tahoma

As per Washington State and Federal guidance we are suspending all in-person events at Tahoma Zen Monastery for at least the next 6 weeks. This includes all events in March and in April. We will be continuously assessing the situation and will make determinations for events in May and beyond as the situation develops.

Maintaining our practice during this time is of utmost importance and I encourage everyone to keep sitting. Please read Roshi’s words on the importance of maintaining our practice during this crisis. As we are all seamless in the ground of being when we sit, wherever we are, we sit for all beings.  There is great power in sitting together in space and time. In this time when we must be separated in space, we can still sit together in time. In order to facilitate this we will be taking some of our activities virtual.

Zazenkai will be going virtual. By the end of this week we will be setup to broadcast this via the Zoom platform. There will be a post every Saturday with the link for this weeks Sunday 8am Broadcast. There will be more details in the initial post, but I encourage everyone to download the Zoom apps. It can be used on all the major phones, tablets and computers. Download here: Zoom Client Download Center

Selected other events will also go virtual. We will announce other events as they make sense for this format.

Feel free to reach out to us with any questions or if you are in need of any guidance for practicing in these troubled times: Contact Us.

As always check back frequently for updates and please join our mailing list for the most up to date information on sesshin and beyond: Mailing List

Tahoma Covid-19 Update

Island County is now reporting multiple cases of the Covid-19 (coronavirus) virus on the island. Washington State has forbidden all gatherings of 250 or more people in the three largest counties. ALL events are required to allow for a minimum of six (6) feet of distancing between all participants. Projections for Washington State are sobering and we expect these restrictions to encompass all of Western Washington soon along with additional more stringent restrictions.

During this next phase Tahoma will continue to offer our daily services. All attendees must maintain the mandated six (6) feet of separation between sangha members. We have a lot of space and fairly sparse attendance during the crisis so keep at least two cushions away from fellow practitioners. State guidelines recommend that those over 60 years of age avoid all gatherings and we encourage this as well. Please read our posted guidance if you have any plans to attend zazen at Tahoma.

The planned Day of Practice for the Spring Equinox (March 21st) will not go on as planned. We will add a late morning, early afternoon and extended evening periods of zazen. People are welcome to come and sit at any of these times throughout the day. During this time of crisis it is incumbent upon us to maintain a strong practice for ourself and for all beings. Thus we will offer additional periods of zazen on this day. We will however have no communal meals, nor any residency options. Practitioners over 60 years of age should consider keeping their practice at home. Sitting on our own is of immense value and we encourage everyone to dedicate extra time to this during this time. We will post a schedule of the additional sitting times early next week. Please read our posted guidance if you have any plans to attend zazen at Tahoma.

Please continue to monitor this website for updates on other upcoming events. As of now everything beyond what is listed here will continue with varying amounts of restrictions and modifications. As always updates will be posted here, but feel free to contact us with any questions.

Covid-19 (coronavirus), Tahoma and You

Washington State is the US epicenter for the Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Along with the rest of Western Washington Island County has formerly declared a State of Emergency. However as of March 7th there are no confirmed cases in Island County but King County (to the south) and Snohomish County (to the east) are experiencing increasing numbers of cases. Washington remains under a general State of Emergency and recommends those over 60 years of age avoid gatherings.

As of this posting there are no plans to cancel the May sesshin. We are constantly monitoring and assessing the situation as it develops. There will be updates here and through the mailing list if anything changes.

How does this affect us at Tahoma?

At this time we will continue with our regularly morning chant and meditation service as well as our regular evening meditation. These remain open to the public but please observe the following guidelines if you wish to attend.

Tahoma Guidance

  • DO NOT come if you are feeling sick.
  • If you start to feel sick, depart at a stretch break or during kinhin (walking meditation).
  • Thoroughly wash your hands before attending. We recommend that upon entering the zendo you proceed to the bathroom and wash your hands.
  • You should wash your hands for the length of time it takes to chant (to yourself!) the Enmei Jukku Kannon Gyo three (3) times.
  • Wash your hands THEN use the hand sanitizer that has been placed in both bathrooms and in the gaitan.
  • Do use the hand sanitizer whenever you feel you need to.
  • Cover your mouth/nose with your elbow or sleeve when coughing or sneezing. 
  • Do not shake hands or hug. We should all be comfortable with a gassho (bow).
  • Feel free to sit more widely separated. We have a lot of space, no reason not to use it.

Zazenkai

  • We are still holding Zazenkai (community sitting) as usual at 8am on Sunday mornings.
  • We will NOT be having tea afterwards. We will resume tea after the crisis has passed.
  • Otherwise follow the guidance as above.

Other Events

Upcoming events (the March All Day Sit, Buddha’s Birthday, etc.) are currently continuing as planned, but we will asses or modify these events as conditions evolve.. We will post updates here on the website if anything changes with regard to these events.

For more information

Island County Health: Covid-19 Community Guidance.
Washington State Department of Health: Novel Coronovirus Outbreak 2020.
Federal CDC: Covid-19.

Tahoma Holiday Schedule

For the week of December 24th to the 31st Tahoma Zen Monastery will observe the following schedule:

December 24th
4:50am Choka (chant service) and zazen
Mumon Roshi Memorial

December 25th and 26th
No activities

December 27th and 28th
4:50am Choka (chant service) and zazen
6:20pm Zazen

December 29th
4:50am Choka (chant service) and zazen
8:00am Zazenkai followed by tea

December 30th
6:20pm Zazen

December 31st
4:50am Choka (chant service) and zazen

New Years Celebration
6:30pm Potluck in the kitchen
8:00pm-11:30pm Zazen and Kinhin
11:30pm New Years Chanting
12:00am Bell Ringing

January 1st, 2020
No Activities

January 2nd, 2020
Regular schedule resumes
4:50am Choka (chant service) and zazen
6:20pm Zazen