Maria Kannon Zen Center

Daybreak at the MKZC. During kinhin, the first sunlight slants in through the blinds, casting faint shadows on the wood-patterned floor. Morning has become my favorite time for zazen, and this room the best place to celebrate the beginning of a new day. The birds outside sing to the rising sun. It is difficult not to indulge in exaltation when sitting here in the morning. One imagines the whole universe conspiring to kindle joy. The love of mornings is new to me. In only two

When the opportunity presented itself to make a Zen/Christian retreat with Robert Kennedy, S.J., I had no decision to make. Of course I would, despite my knowing how painful it is to get up so early and sit for so many hours. After four and a half years of practicing Zen, I am still constantly integrating and balancing Zen with my Catholic religion and training that has claimed such a large portion of my life, and that I have embraced at such a deep level. Catholicism showed

Editor’s Note: This post originally appeared in the MKZC Zen Journal, Volume 12, Number 1 Winter 2007 Through the great benevolence of the teachers and sangha of Maria Kannon Zen Center, I was able to participate in a personal retreat – an individual sesshin – from May 24-30, 2006. It was a true joy to be welcomed so warmly and to be supported so fully as I plunged into the teaching stories of our ancestors in the form of the koans. As many of you know, the Soto Zen traditio

Editor’s Note: This post originally appeared in the MKZC Zen Journal, Volume 12, Number 1 Winter 2007 Rabbi David Rosen lived and taught a century ago in Eastern Europe. Though the circumstances were humble then, his community was known for its strong, traditional spirit. The rabbi used the best means he could devise to serve his people. And over the years, he became known his for skill and ingenuity in guiding disciples and responding to the urgent matters of life. As mos

Editor’s Note: This post originally appeared in the MKZC Zen Journal, Volume 12, Number 1 Winter 2007 At the very beginning of my medical practice, when I was fresh out of medical school and residency training, I got involved in Hospice care. Although the bulk of my practice involved Family Practice — providing general medical services for adults and children — I started seeing a few nursing home patients a few blocks away from the MKZC zendo then located at Grace United Meth