I\u2019ve driven Jan to the Portland airport and am now waiting to pick up my friend and co-conspirator in the Boundless Way Zen<\/a> project, David Rynick<\/a>. We will be driving out to Clatskanie and the Great Vow Zen<\/a> temple to join with about twenty-five other Zen teachers for our annual American Zen Teacher\u2019s Association<\/a> gathering.<\/p>\n This is an only in the West, perhaps an only in America sort of thing. The AZTA membership accounts for nearly every Zen lineage in the West and is a unique opportunity for teachers in these different lineages and perhaps more significantly from different Zen schools to spend a little time together. As someone who attends professional meetings in other contexts I can report this is at the low end of such enterprises. Actually this is a strictly amateur operation, and, frankly, I like it that way. Some program, always. But mostly we\u2019re just gathering to talk and listen and learn about the kaleidoscopic manifestation of the Zen dharma<\/a> in the West.<\/p>\n Super cool stuff. At least from my perspective.<\/p>\n One other thing. I don\u2019t think they offer wireless web access, so I may not be posting anything more for a couple of days.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s an informational video in two parts that our hosts for this conference, Great Vow has posted at Youtube. Gives a bit of a picture of who they are and how they approach the great matter. I like them very much. Perhaps you\u2019ll consider visiting them sometime\u2026<\/p>\n