The morning session was disappointing. Vague instructions to discuss aspects of what we think/hope/worry about for the Dharma thirty years out. Broken into small groups, talked ten or fifteen minutes then on to another group. No consensus on focus. The only plus was meeting folk. But if there was supposed to be a useful point beyond that it escaped me…
Then we had a break followed by a large group “discussion.” It was the low point. The only good thing was seeing how people with thirty and forty years of practice still are people. Opinions expressed, sometimes relatively on point. Heartful appeals to attend to matters of class and race. Desires for more presence to one another across traditions. Offenses taken. Corrections offered. Digressions. Non sequiturs. Fortunately I was so tired I nodded off for some of it.
The high point is that I scored a sort of promise from Rita Gross to preach at my church sometime in the future.
Veggie lunch.
A break.
There’ll be a panel presentation later. I know at least part of it will be good as I got a peek at the notes for one of the presenters…
Additionally I figured okay a Dharma gathering. I left my beloved Hawaiian print shirts and shorts at home and brought two sets of samue. Half the men are wearing Hawaiian print shirts and enough of them are wearing shorts to make me feel sick.
It is hot.
The big question is how to get a nap. My room is an oven.
Well, off to find out how…
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