MWA Newsletter, Study/Action Group, Zen, -  Mar 02, 2026

Mountains and Waters Alliance – personal note March 2 2026

Dear Friends,

Last fall I traveled to support the book Open Reality, then took some quiet time. I sent a few notes about that. After talking about the practice of asking the other-than-human beings to help us, I’m ready for a deep plunge into the practice myself. Don’t expect

For about three months, I’ll be living quietly here at the farm, sitting zazen for several hours per day, listening to the trees, bluffs, grasses, small animals and bugs, and this:

My response to the U.S. wars of aggression will be what I keep saying: I’ll ask for help from the beings that are beyond us, that we have ignored, whose powers are beyond our understanding. The crisis is clear; life on earth is at stake, along with thousands of human lives and our lived experience. If I believe this is the most powerful thing to do, it’s time to do it wholeheartedly.

If you feel so called, please join me in asking for help, for protection of humans, of all the beings of the earth and beyond. Practice where you are. You can sit quietly, and you can ask for help from the sky, stars, rain, and plants and animals right where you are. Or chant, sing, dance, send energy, pray – I have no prescriptions except that this is about asking for help from our relatives, from our other-selves.

In the tradition of forest hermits, I would welcome you to join me. I haven’t figured out how to do that without phone and internet. I can’t tell you where I’ll be at any moment: in the zendo, in the woods, in the garden, or on the rare errand? So if you know me, if you’re nearby, here’s what I can say: Just come to the land and practice here, whether or not you see me. (You could put a note on the front door if you come, if you like.) If you like, send an email; I’ll probably read them about once a week.

I recommend these two talks.

Introduction to sitting meditation: https://mountainsandwatersalliance.org/audio-dharma/ – at the bottom of “introductory talks.”

This talk tells a story about asking for help from all those beings. It might be my best talk on the subject. 40 minutes plus Q&A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej0Tdu0YymA

I’ll see you later. In June I expect to send out a calendar. There will be meditation retreats, land care, and other kinds of practice, as well as visits.

Love to all.

Shodo