sangha transitions: embracing change
Greetings Sangha,
We are writing to tell you of some upcoming changes for Mud Lotus Sangha. As many of you know, Kisei, Sensei and Patrick arrived in Columbus in the summer of 2023 so that Patrick could complete his PhD at OSU.
We soon connected with Seth Josephson and the Mud Lotus Sangha and started collaborating, offering some of the practices and dharma teachings we received in our training at Great Vow Zen Monastery. It has been a great blessing for us to be a part of this sangha, to deepen practice together and to form spiritual friendships with you. Patrick will be finishing his PhD in spring 2027, and Kisei, Sensei was invited to return to Great Vow as a teacher and leader in that community. Thus, our plan is to move from Columbus some time in May 2027.
We wanted to tell you now so that we can practice in this transition together. Between now and next May, we intend to be around and will continue offering meditation and dharma teachings on Wednesday nights. As you may have noted, we will be very active during this upcoming Ango period, offering half-day retreats, a sesshin, and other community practice opportunities. Rev. Catherine will also be offering dharma teachings during Ango, as she discerns her next steps. Seth, co-founder of Mud Lotus, intends to continue offering meditation and facilitating community in some form after we depart.
One reason for sharing this information now is that we want to create space to hear from you. Core teachings of Buddhism are impermanence and interdependence, and as you know change can be difficult. We have formed real relationships with each other. Dōgen Zenji says the relationships we form in sangha are stronger even than our familial bonds. Sometimes it feels like we are family. We will miss you deeply.
As we enter these last 7-8 months of in-person practice together, we want to know how we can support you individually and collectively in this transition. Some questions to ponder in the coming months: How would you like to see Mud Lotus evolve? Are there ways you want to step-up or deepen your practice and commitment to sangha? What aspects of Mud Lotus would you like to see continue? What kind of support would you like or need from us?
We would love to stay in touch after we leave. Seth already mentioned the possibility of us coming back to lead sesshin. Kisei may be available for online sanzen for those who want to check-in 1:1 about practice. Patrick (Kennyō?) will offer 1:1 check-in and may start a weekly online dharma gathering. He will also continue communicating through Dharma Between Worlds and other writings.
Later we will share resources about other communities offering sesshin in and around Ohio. Of course, you will be welcome to visit us at Great Vow and anywhere else we find ourselves practicing.
How wonderful this time we have together, embodying the bodhisattva spirit of continuous practice! This aspiration has no end!
With All Beings,
Patrick and Kisei
Greetings Sangha,
We are writing to tell you of some upcoming changes for Mud Lotus Sangha. As many of you know, Kisei, Sensei and Patrick arrived in Columbus in the summer of 2023 so that Patrick could complete his PhD at OSU.
We soon connected with Seth Josephson and the Mud Lotus Sangha and started collaborating, offering some of the practices and dharma teachings we received in our training at Great Vow Zen Monastery. It has been a great blessing for us to be a part of this sangha, to deepen practice together and to form spiritual friendships with you. Patrick will be finishing his PhD in spring 2027, and Kisei, Sensei was invited to return to Great Vow as a teacher and leader in that community. Thus, our plan is to move from Columbus some time in May 2027.
We wanted to tell you now so that we can practice in this transition together. Between now and next May, we intend to be around and will continue offering meditation and dharma teachings on Wednesday nights. As you may have noted, we will be very active during this upcoming Ango period, offering half-day retreats, a sesshin, and other community practice opportunities. Rev. Catherine will also be offering dharma teachings during Ango, as she discerns her next steps. Seth, co-founder of Mud Lotus, intends to continue offering meditation and facilitating community in some form after we depart.
One reason for sharing this information now is that we want to create space to hear from you. Core teachings of Buddhism are impermanence and interdependence, and as you know change can be difficult. We have formed real relationships with each other. Dōgen Zenji says the relationships we form in sangha are stronger even than our familial bonds. Sometimes it feels like we are family. We will miss you deeply.
As we enter these last 7-8 months of in-person practice together, we want to know how we can support you individually and collectively in this transition. Some questions to ponder in the coming months: How would you like to see Mud Lotus evolve? Are there ways you want to step-up or deepen your practice and commitment to sangha? What aspects of Mud Lotus would you like to see continue? What kind of support would you like or need from us?
We would love to stay in touch after we leave. Seth already mentioned the possibility of us coming back to lead sesshin. Kisei may be available for online sanzen for those who want to check-in 1:1 about practice. Patrick (Kennyō?) will offer 1:1 check-in and may start a weekly online dharma gathering. He will also continue communicating through Dharma Between Worlds and other writings.
Later we will share resources about other communities offering sesshin in and around Ohio. Of course, you will be welcome to visit us at Great Vow and anywhere else we find ourselves practicing.
How wonderful this time we have together, embodying the bodhisattva spirit of continuous practice! This aspiration has no end!
With All Beings,
Patrick and Kisei