At the heart of Zen practice is a vow: to meet all of life with responsiveness, care, and an unwavering commitment to alleviate suffering. This isn’t just our practice at Bread Loaf Mountain Zen Community—it’s the essence of Zen itself. It calls us to the places we’ve othered and ignored,
Dear Friends and Supporters, I’m writing with the begging bowl in hand, as I do each year at this time. But this year feels different—there’s more at stake. I hope you’ll take the time to read this appeal letter; it’s a little longer than usual, but for good reason. The
Loving Kindness on Election Day From Joshin Recognizing that I am not an observer, but a participant in the life of our world, may I resolve to bring peace to my own inner turmoil. May I embody peace in every breath I take, aware moment by moment of the rising
Community as Peacemaking “I suggest a core practice of gathering: embracing the art of togetherness, mindful welcoming, just listening and being present for each other, and responding out of a felt sense of kinship. There is nothing more important. By doing this, we bring calm, connection, and care into our
We are purchasing a beautiful new space in Middlebury. One Step. One Breath. Moving Forward! This mantra is my constant companion when opportunities arise. We have a wonderful one in front of us and we’re taking steady steps to make it a reality. We negotiated a good price
MARK YOUR CALENDAR: Sunday afternoon and Monday morning, January 14th and 15th Gather continues to welcome guests every Wednesday through Sunday, and to function as a center for conviviality, artistic activities, sharing food together and cultivating friendships. We recognize that Gather flourishes because of the many friends who serve as
Gather offers relief for hunger and loneliness Addison Independent November 30, 2023 ‘Gather’ offers relief for hunger & loneliness GATHER AT 48 Merchants Row in Middlebury hosted a Thanksgiving dinner last Thursday for around 60 people, many of them houseless and/or struggling with other challenges. Pictured here, from left,
I was recently asked to articulate my vision for Gather and Bread Loaf Mountain Zen Community. I hesitated for a minute, experiencing a little glitch in my brain. I had two thoughts bumping into each other: one centered around the traditional settings of Dharma talks, rituals, robes, and Dogen workshops,
In the second Dharma Talk of our Spring Practice Period, Eisho and Joshin share reflections on the practice of Loving Speech (愛語/aigo) as described in Dogen’s fascicle “Bodhisattva’s Four Methods of Guidance” (Talk 2 of 4) to learn more or sign up for the Practice Period, see below:
In the first Dharma Talk of our Spring Practice Period, Joshin and Eisho share reflections on the practice of Giving (布施/fuse) as described in Dogen’s “Bodhisattva’s Four Methods of Guidance” (Talk 1 of 4) Learn more or sign up for the Practice Period.
We extend our boundless gratitude to everyone who gives to Bread Loaf Mountain to make our life possible
