1. Vacation

New Years Retreat 2014

Our second New Years Retreat at Empty Nest Zendo in the Sierra foothills. Five days of zazen, meal ceremonies, dharma talks, work, and silence.
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  • Very beautiful manzanita on zendo grounds.

    Very beautiful manzanita on zendo grounds.

  • Closeup of manzanita foliage and bark.

    Closeup of manzanita foliage and bark.

  • Chores done, an afternoon silent stroll.

    Chores done, an afternoon silent stroll.

  • Quiet winter beauty.

    Quiet winter beauty.

  • Oak, with some mistletoe infestation.

    Oak, with some mistletoe infestation.

  • Moss on boulder, with feathery dried grass.

    Moss on boulder, with feathery dried grass.

  • M walking; her shadow obediently follows.

    M walking; her shadow obediently follows.

  • Meditative strolling in the Sierra Foothills.

    Meditative strolling in the Sierra Foothills.

  • Walking the Path.

    Walking the Path.

  • Oak and boulders, with mountains beyond.

    Oak and boulders, with mountains beyond.

  • The lowering sun angle backlit this grass, making it glow.

    The lowering sun angle backlit this grass, making it glow.

  • "…a finger pointing at the Moon is not the Moon itself." A saying attributed to the Buddha, who used it to clarify that "…my teaching is a method to experience reality and [is] not reality itself."

    "…a finger pointing at the Moon is not the Moon itself." A saying attributed to the Buddha, who used it to clarify that "…my teaching is a method to experience reality and [is] not reality itself."

  • Winter sunlight. What lies beyond the rise?

    Winter sunlight. What lies beyond the rise?

  • A mature oak.

    A mature oak.

  • Some of this land is farmed.

    Some of this land is farmed.

  • Yes, turkeys can fly!

    Yes, turkeys can fly!

  • Turkey tracks.

    Turkey tracks.

  • Stout trunk of an oak.

    Stout trunk of an oak.

  • Detail of oak bark.

    Detail of oak bark.

  • Bark texture, with lichen and grass seeds.

    Bark texture, with lichen and grass seeds.

  • An oak with a much lighter mien.

    An oak with a much lighter mien.

  • Relative sizes.

    Relative sizes.

  • Mossy slab.

    Mossy slab.

  • Texture of the mosses.

    Texture of the mosses.

  • Trunk with suggestive bulges. What was YOUR thought?

    Trunk with suggestive bulges. What was YOUR thought?

  • The same oak, from a different aspect.

    The same oak, from a different aspect.

  • Surrounded by miracles.

    Surrounded by miracles.

  • Clear winter sky, and praiseworthy oaks.

    Clear winter sky, and praiseworthy oaks.

  • Some lives end up taking many twists and turns.

    Some lives end up taking many twists and turns.

  • Look closely and see the accumulated bumps and scars of a noble life.

    Look closely and see the accumulated bumps and scars of a noble life.

  • The road…

    The road…

  • …ever on.

    …ever on.

  • Beautiful decay.

    Beautiful decay.

  • Suggestive of a favorite book title: "Cloud-hidden, Whereabouts Unknown."

    Suggestive of a favorite book title: "Cloud-hidden, Whereabouts Unknown."

  • Branches and paths.

    Branches and paths.

  • Decay below the surface.

    Decay below the surface.

  • Another angle.

    Another angle.

  • Plant in a granite vase?

    Plant in a granite vase?

  • Colorful and mysterious lichens.

    Colorful and mysterious lichens.

  • Untitled photo
  • Stillness.

    Stillness.

  • We're being shadowed!

    We're being shadowed!

  • Stretching out the end of another beautiful day.

    Stretching out the end of another beautiful day.

  • Back on the zendo grounds, late-afternoon sun bathes the oaks.

    Back on the zendo grounds, late-afternoon sun bathes the oaks.

  • Snow-sprinkled mountains to the north.

    Snow-sprinkled mountains to the north.

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