As I begin creating a piece of art, I often pause to consider that I'm not just making a mark or representing a form but opening the door to a moment. In this initiatory act of creation, I enter into a dialogue with the world as it is, the timeless ground of now.

The great Zen masters taught that everything has inherent perfection. So, despite how it may sound, my art is perfect from the moment I begin.

Over the past week, I've been reflecting on a recent three-week Zen retreat. Now, alone in the Temple, I still feel the presence of those who practiced with such devotion. But, like the faint decay of a meditation bell, the feeling is fading.

As I write this, I find myself on the precipice of an ancient journey. In just a couple of days, the Zen Temple will open its doors to a three-week meditation retreat..

Whenever I take a moment to sit and enjoy the beautiful Temple garden, I'm reminded of an ever-present opportunity: the transformative power of silence and stillness.

In the Temple Garden, nature invites me to leave behind the bustling world and immerse myself in the simplicity of just being. A walk in the garden is where my senses come alive, and the essence of life unfolds before me.

Living in the tranquility of a Zen Temple, enveloped by the vibrant life of the Temple garden, I am deeply moved by the perpetual cycles of the natural world. From the delicate emergence of a new leaf to the solemn decay of fallen wood, nature's symphony of birth and death, light and dark, is a constant source of inspiration for my art.