Winter is in full swing here on the East Coast. Down jackets and beanies are a must when outdoors, and the scent of firewood is present everywhere.

This winter is our second one at Rhode Island Zen Dojo. Last November 1st, we celebrated our first anniversary! Our challenge last year was to get settled and fertile the ground to plant the seeds. It was an abnormal year, but against all odds, we sat Zazen every Sunday at 9:30 am. Many folks passed by and never returned. Regardless, we sat Zazen whether anyone showed up or not.

With the Fall season came new students, some of which began to sit more regularly with us. As we approached the beginning of our second year, accompanied by a few regular students, we expanded our schedule. We began offering Zazen on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 pm. Sunday mornings became our longer training sessions. We sat Zazen, and then we trained in shodo or breath exercises.

Last Fall, I finished our Butsudan. I built a small piece of furniture from leftover plywood I had. The top of the furniture is the butsudan, and the inside is for storing supplies. The main image is a rock from a local beach. I love it because it looks like it's sitting zazen.

We have now planted the seeds of our small dojo here in Rhode Island. While sprouts haven't yet germinated, our task this year is to water them and offer them plenty of sunlight so they can grow when ready.

Esteban