Windhorse Zen Community

 

Asking for Help: Hurricane Helene Relief Fundraiser 

 

Dear Sangha and Friends, 

     Once again we’d like to extend our deepest gratitude for the outpouring of care and support we’ve received from so many in the wake of Hurricane Helene. What a time it has been! The storm hit us on the last day of our 5-day Zentensive retreat, with 16 people here from all kinds of places including Florida and Vermont and Newfoundland. In the days after the hurricane we managed to prepare meals without running water, work out our sanitation needs, and even pulled off a couple of candlelit, impromptu variety shows with offerings of music, poetry, storytelling, and ghost tales.

     Neighborly bodhisattvas generously offered us food, drinking water, and showers. We extended that help to others where we could, and managed to make contact via text with all our local members. Considering the devastation all around us, we are feeling profoundly fortunate.  

     We’re writing this letter to ask for your help in covering considerable storm-related expenses, and to help us become better prepared for future climate-based disruptions that may well hit our region. We’re looking into providing better safeguards for our dharma community by having alternative power sources available to more easily access well water and refrigeration. This could include solar power and a generator, as well as a new chainsaw, tractor equipment, and so on. Also, we were incredibly lucky that no buildings were damaged by any of the downed trees, and we are now realizing that one looming expense will involve hiring an arborist to take down some others that could fall on the lodge in a future storm.  

     Clearly, these types of expenses can add up quickly. So if you are willing to contribute to any of this, please click HERE — or just click the button on the top left of this page — and then click the “make a donation to Windhorse” option. In the drop down menu for donations, you’ll notice that a “Hurricane Relief” option is available.

     Of course, the sangha extends beyond Windhorse and through the larger regional community. There are many other worthy organizations you can donate to in the Asheville area that could also use your support. In the interest of keeping this relatively brief, we’ll end by inviting you, if you have suggestions or questions about any of this, please email us at windhorse@windhorsezen.org.

With deep gratitude,

All of us here at 580 Panther Branch Road

Foundations of Practice
with Sunya-roshi

In-person and on Zoom

Saturday, October 5 from 1:30-5:00 PM

     The first half (1:30-3:15) will include Background in the Way of Zen, as well as in-depth, practical points on posture and practice, with some time for zazen and questions. In other words, this will be a far more complete introduction than we can give in the allotted time for Sunday morning orientations, and will give people a chance to bring up any practical issues they may be wondering about regarding their practice. 

      The second part is “Bring Zen to Life: Stories of the Zen Masters” (3:15-5:00). This portion will focus on the words and actions of some of our most colorful and inspiring Dharma ancestors.

     You are more than welcome to join us for one or both parts of this program. Finally, with Covid-19 on the rise, if you choose to attending in person we may be asking participants to take a Covid-19 rapid test prior to attending.

Formal Meals During Autumn Ango

In-person and Zoom Only

12:00-1:30 PM

Wednesday, September 18
Wednesday, October 2
Wednesday, October 16
Wednesday, October 30
Wednesday, November 6
Wednesday, November 13
Wednesday, December 4

   Throughout the three months of Ango, Windhorse will be offering in-person Formal Meals on Wednesdays, with zazen, chanting, offerings, and noble silence as we eat together. If you cannot make it to Panther Branch, you’re most welcome to join via Zoom to lift your own bowl and chant along with us.

About Windhorse

Calendar

Getting Started

Great is the matter of birth and death
Life slips quickly by
Time waits for no one
Wake up! Wake up!
Don’t waste a moment!

– Zen Master Bassui