The New Year opened gently during the first weekend as our sangha gathered for a three-day online meditation retreat. Together, we sat in the silence of shared presence, each turning inward while remaining connected through the digital thread of the virtual zendo.

The winter solstice arrived last Saturday, the longest night and the shortest day, marking the year’s quiet turning point. For me, it is not a time to dwell on what has been or might come but an invitation to rest in the turning itself—a subtle shift that is always happening.

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.

One morning at the Temple, I ventured out into the garden before dawn, drawn by something beyond sleep. Hovering near the horizon, the moon bathed the garden pond in a gentle glow.

In the heart of February, I embarked on a day hike that was less about conquering the heights of an ice and snow-covered mountain and more about embracing the profound teachings of impermanence.

During a recent retreat at the Temple, I found myself traversing the landscape of my subconscious in a way that impacted my perspective on my art. The retreat, a time of deep meditation and practice, offered an unexpected journey…

As the light of the new year unfolds, winter reveals its teachings in the quiet embrace of the Zen Temple…