March 2, 2024
I decided to become a member last spring after hearing (Administrative Director) Ryan’s presentation on the history of Zen temples in the United States. I was moved by the stories of Zenshuji and Sokoji – the first Soto Zen temples in California – and by what it meant to these communities to establish and maintain those centers. Although in a different time, place, and circumstance, BZC runs on a similar ethos of community stewardship.
To me, membership isn’t just about a monthly financial contribution. It’s a way of relating to the sanga – acknowledging what it means to me, and that I want to be part of helping it thrive. I certainly didn’t anticipate becoming a member when I first started coming two years ago. At that time, I was relieved to find a place of refuge – where I could just sit and be gently anonymous. Over time, I began to realize that the sanga holds the space collectively. We shape and maintain the physical space, creating it ex nihilo each week – as well as the emotional, social and spiritual space. Attending my first sesshin brought this home. We built (set up) the temple at the start of the retreat, kept it clean, and put it away at the end. I was assigned to assist the Tenzo in cooking for the sanga, nourishing the bodies and spirits of my fellow practitioners. By the end, I was filled with gratitude and wonder at what we could shape together.
That’s what membership means to me. It’s an acknowledgement that if I am participating in and benefiting from something, I have a responsibility to help it continue to exist and be a place of shared refuge.