Okesa (Buddha’s robe) was born yesterday at 6 pm. It is 4.5 feet (height), 6.5 feet (width), and weighs 2 pounds.

The Brooklyn Zen Center sangha had been sewing a nine-fold okesa (full-body robe) for dharma teacher and senior priest Rev. Kosen Greg Snyder, in a practice lead by Kikuko Morimoto.

The okesa is completely hand-sewn using a traditional rice field pattern. The nine jo okesa is the teaching okesa, worn for dharma talks and ceremonies, and is traditionally sewn by the Zen students in the sangha, especially those working with the teacher for whom it is a gift.

Many BZC sangha members gave stitches to the Okesa:
Adriane, Alex Gekas, Alex Tilney, Alice, Alma, Andrew, Andrea, Angus, Anne, Beatrice, Bin, Brenda, Byron, Camille, Carl, Carol, Cory, Damon, Danielle, Dasha, David Laufer, Dexter, Don, Dulce, Ella, Elizabeth, Emily, Erica, Flo, Gayle, Ian, Inzan, Jennilie, Jeff Kid, Jess, Jessica Armstrong, Jessica Weiss, John A., John H., Jozen, Julia, Kayla, Kidada, Kristen D., Kristin M., Kym, Laura, Layne, Leah, Lisa S., Lissa, Liz Chider, Liz Roberts, Madhu, Mark S., Maya, Mary, Michael B., Michele, Mimi, Molicia, Radha, Rachel, Rigo, Ryan, Shokuchi, Sue Albert, Terence, Thomas Negron, Tom, Victory, Weishin, Xian’ ai, Xian’ an, and Yoko. Thank you!

Deep gratitude also to all the sewing teachers: Anita Swann, Yuko Okumura, Tim Wicks, and Rosemary Taylor.

More information on the okesa sewing practice at BZC is available here.