It's been a great thirty days here in the Swartzewald at
Johanneshof in the Black Forest in southern Germany. Came for the 20th anniversary celebration with hundreds of people who've been part of this Zen retreat's history. The little kitchen (the photo's in the dining room) got all the sumptuous meals out on time and delivered across the way to their new campus in giant pots to the tent that went up the day before and came down the day after. We also had a a some late birthday toasts for Zentatsu Richard Baker's 80th. He is well, dynamic as ever, and was excellent company. One impressive thing about this group, Dharma Sangha, is how many people have been with Baker for that twenty years and longer. I leave in the middle of a family week with a gaggle of kids participating with us, eating oryoki and cutting up. Not an unpleasant moment except a few times I was too tired in zazen. I get the same impression I got when I was last here seven years ago - a really solid, non neurotic bunch of folks, strong women, gentle men. No nonsense Zening. Goodbye for now to all your good vibes. - dc
