A New Year Rooted in Practice

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. Though physically dispersed, the retreat felt deeply intimate—a profound reminder that distance is no barrier to the heart of practice.

Teaching during this retreat set the tone for my year. It was a return to the essentials: the breath, the body, the unfolding of each moment just as it is. The rhythm of sitting and walking meditation, punctuated by dharma talks and heartfelt conversations in teacher meetings, reminded me of the power of beginning again, whether in meditation, in life, or in the turning of the year.

The retreat became a collective aspiration for the sangha—a commitment to bring awareness, compassion, and curiosity into the months ahead. For me, it reaffirmed the gift of this shared path and the endless unfolding of practice.

As I step into the New Year, I intend to carry forward the spirit of this retreat: present, open, and ready to meet whatever blossoms.