2013 has been a rough year for me with ending relationships, bad health, poor finances and a forced house move. On the plus side it has been my first year as part of this sangha and many of the highlights of this year have come from that – reading and sharing Shobogenzo, interacting on the forums, global service days, the weekly and monthly zazenkais, Ango, sewing a rakusu, the two day Rohatsu retreat and the many friends I have made here.

So, many thanks to all of you - teachers, students and unsui - for your support, friendship and inspiration. Walking this path is hard and the presence of spiritual friends is one of the things that makes it possible for me to carry on when sitting is hard and I start to question whether practice is worth doing.

Wishing all of you a very happy midwinter with your loved ones and looking forward to sharing Jukai, oryoki practice and more in 2014.

Through the solstice rain
a glimmer of sunlight marks
the way into spring.



Deep bows
Andy