Today, Rev Ito returned to our zendo first time after his surgery. Rev Ito talked about his surgery and shou rou byo shi.
生老病死(shou rou byo shi) originates from the Buddhist notion of the Four Sufferings:
- Birth
- Aging
- Sickness
- Death
These are four sufferings people can’t avoid.
Kugyo san cited her poem for his return:
Our sensei is ill
The Sun on tatami mats came and went…and came back again
and so too his health and our joy having him back
welcome back sensei, welcome back roshi
Chuck and Stephanie who got married 10 years by Rev Ito also attended today’s session.