The Drinking Gourd

I just wanted to say that I think Diana's done a fantastic job with the podcast - for a while there I thought I was listening to NPR! I was able to subscribe to it through iTunes very easily, just by searching the iTunes store for "Drinking Gourd" and clicking subscribe. Diana, I don't know how you do these things, but they're great!

Toledo Blade Article

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071027/NEWS10/710270350

Toledo City Paper Article

Myotai Sensei Water Article Request

In keeping with her focus on ecology and water, Myotai Sensei has asked the sangha to have a look at the following article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/21/magazine/21water-t.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

notes from Zuihan's Home Hermitage

When Jay and Isabella went to Kristy's overnight birthday party last weekend I decided to stay home to do a hermitage retreat. How glorious to tuck myself onto the cushin and sit with my Sangha friends: Wind, Cricket, Floorboard, Falling Leaf, Green Grass and Setting Sun. I took a lovely walk through the forest bustling with thoughtless activity, to which I added the crunch of leaves under my feet. When I returned I fed the horses. I like to set a lawn chair in the barn aisle and sit as they chew--such a crunch of utter satisfaction. As usual I brushed the dirt off their coats and onto my face and clothes. Generously, the tub let the water take it all away while I sat there all wet and happy.
And so it went with more sitting, more walking, until it was time to stop.
I decided to go shopping. As I was proceeding through the check out counters I noticed a tightening, a sharpness, an impatience, a contraction in myself. It was surely heightened by the contrast with the serenity of my hermitage. I held it in loving awareness, breathed in, with and through it. This usually cools things out but not this time.
When I got to the meat counter at Andersons and took number 96 as I heard the clerk yell out 76 I knew I would have plenty of time to work with this! I joined the mass of customers milling about the floor and added a gentle mantra: the peace of the world stands, the peace of the world looks, I am the peace of the world. The folks around me seemed to come into sharper focus. I could actually feel the vibrations of their thoughts. It became obvious that the contractions I was feeling were in fact not just mine but in the hearts and mine of them as well. Here was Our Pain Body. Our Cry in the World.
It came to me to simply address each person I saw: You are the Peace of the World, You are the Peace of the World.( This was done in my interior voice so the crazy lady wouldn't get thrown out of the store.) It was very specific to each person- holding them in this awareness. Now I am not one for 'seeing stufff' but I will tell you it was like the 'peace body 'of each person woke up and acknowledged our shared graciousness. The vibration around the meat counter got lighter, more golden, happier. It totally brought a smile to my face. And I swear some of those folks smiled back.

Here is a small offering of thanks: Fall
A flame red leaf
on autumn breeze
passes through
this heart.

Car freedom

http://www.carectomy.com/index.php/Politics/The-Sound-of-One-Foot-Walking

This is a good idea that promotes a more mindful awareness of the damage caused to the environment each time you drive your car. I pledged to not drive my car 4 times a month and I think it would be great if everyone here could do the same.

-Bob

TZC Sangha Photo 10/10/07

A Note from Will Heath

Sensei,

I was pleasantly surprised to see the emails from Chuck and yourself today. I spent the last week at my cabin in northern Michigan relaxing and collecting Larch trees for creating bonsai forests. While in the woods I spent some time thinking about my experience at the dojo. Strangely, an old Great Grey Owl that glided through the Jack Pines bordering a marsh I was walking through brought you, the workshop and the people attending to mind. Aikido, Nature, they are not that far apart.

Your hospitality and kindness did not go unnoticed and was greatly appreciated. Your actions and those of your students spoke more of the essence of Aikido than any other subject matter on the martial art ever could. My only regret was that the time went so quickly, there was so much more to share, I certainly hope I passed along enough to spark the interest in your students so that they will continue with bonsai.

Please pass along the following information on the Ficus retusa's used in the workshop. First, let the trees recover, we stressed them by wiring, pruning, and transplanting. The tree will tell you when it is recovered by pushing outnew growth, which will look like spikes at the tips of branches. Until newgrowth starts, the tree will use less water than normal and the water usagewill pick up dramatically when the growth starts....care should be taken to not let them dry out at this time. For branches that need thickening, let them grow unrestricted. Once the desired thickness is reached, cut the branch back to the innermost set ofleaves, new growth will start now close to the trunk, buy continuing cuttingback, foliage can be forced back. Once the branch is at the desired length, simply pinch off new spikes as they occur, this keeps the shape and causes fuller growth. No branch should be allowed to grow straight up or straight down.

Most importantly, I love getting emails; everyone is welcomed to email me at any time with questions, no question is unimportant.

I am still searching for the perfect tree for your dojo, I will find it. Meanwhile, In a few months I will be down that way again, and since I will be in the area I would be more than happy to follow-up if your students would like to bring their bonsai in. No charge this trip.

I am creating a blog and I am always seeking photos of workshops I have given for it. If you would not mind sending me a few with your permission to use them, I will add these as long as information about your dojo.

Again, thank you, I think I may have taken away more than I left.

- Will Heath
will@artofbonsai.org
http://www.artofbonsai.org/
http://www.knowledgeofbonsai.org/

Special thanks to Mr. Will Heath who came out an ran a wonderful intro to bonsai workshop for the dojo community here. He has two wonderful websites http://www.artofbonsai.org/ and http://www.knowledgeofbonsai.org/ if you would like more information on his work and the way of the "tray tree"!

email UN Secretary General to support Burma

Hi everyone,

If you have the chance it would be a big help if you sent an email
to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, requesting a strong and effective
response by the UN Security Council in response to the events in Burma.
check out Jim Carry's request for action on Utube.
let them know how many people are concerned and aware.
here is a link to the site.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwgwkMc__Es

The email for the UN Secretary is:
inquiries@un.org

Peace
juju