Forty-one years ago, on this day in 1970 along with five other young aspirants to the great Zen way I was ordained unsui, literally a person of clouds and water.
My training career to this date was brief, although increasingly intense.
It would lay the foundation for the rest of my life.
And I remain eternally grateful to my preceptor, the Venerable Houn Jiyu Kennett.
Forty-one years…
A while back a friend from those days sent me a photograph of the ordinands on that day. I am in the middle row, perhaps appropriately, on the far left.
I look at the face of that boy and I have no idea who he was. Fortunately this morning while shaving I looked into the mirror and realized I have no idea who that person is, either.
The training continues.
One continuous mistake…