We are so blessed to have such a strong community in Berkeley Zen Center. A community that comes together in mutual support time and time again, most recently to cocreate our 34th practice period and June sesshin, which, to quote the Lotus Sutra, was “Good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end.” Our study of the Lotus Sutra and Case 78 from the Blue Cliff Record, which was assigned to our shuso Mark as his case for the practice period, shared in common the theme of awakening together. The sixteen bodhisattvas all got in the water together and woke up together.

The Lotus Sutra says in chapter 2, “Only a buddha together with a buddha can fathom the ultimate reality of all things.” In the shuso ceremony, the shuso makes the scripted statement that finishes with “Let us call forth the Dharma!” We call forth the Dharma together. We awaken together. Nobody can do it for us, and we can’t do it alone. In these frankly frightening times in which we find ourselves, it is most incumbent upon us to give each other the gift of our true selves. We give each other the gift of non-fear. There is great strength in this community, and with our practice grounded in daily zazen and other activities of this temple, we are able to tap into this strength for ourselves and for each other. We discover capacities we never knew we had before, like finding a precious jewel sewed into a sleeve.

It is not for nothing that we call Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha the Triple Treasure. This is true wealth. A life worth living is something that money can’t buy. And it’s something we freely offer to each other in a web of mutuality and love. May our practice always continue like this.

Linda and Greg