Samu

May we serve all beings with wisdom and compassion

and may we realize the Buddha way together.

Often, when the adventure of zen practice is just beginning, there seems to be a big

difference between life on the cushion and life everywhere else. With commitment and

time, our practice deepens, our view begins to shift, and the difference begins to fade .

We see that the focus and clarity of zazen is a way of functioning anywhere and

everywhere, under any and all circumstances. Samu, or work practice, is the

functioning of zazen in cooking, washing dishes, sweeping the floor, taking care of the

tasks of daily life. In our sangha, we tend the Memorial Garden of our hosts, the

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Monmouth County.

The UU Congregation graciously allows us to sit zazen each week in the Earth

Room, their main sanctuary. The donations given to the Lincroft Zen Sangha on

Wednesday evenings are offered in turn to the UU Congregation in gratitude for their

generosity.

Working with both the broad vision and focus of zazen, we manifest the dharma in

every action. In this practice of mindfulness we directly experience the union of giver,

receiver, and gift. The flow of generosity (dana) is unhindered, and there is no place

where the gift comes to rest. This is the meaning of abundance.

Garden Samu: Wednesday evening from 5:30-6:45 pm

Work Tasks:

*weed all growth in the stone path; remove fallen twigs

*weed mulched area

*weed wall-side garden

*add mulch to wall-side garden

mulch and compost piles are at edge of woods at rear of the parking lot

*water garden

hose is left of the double doors nearest the Earth Room

give special attention to newest plantings

*prune big and small plants

Suggested Tools:

*gloves, hat, water

*small spade or weeder

*pruning clippers

*stool for weeding

*bucket

Questions or Suggestions: Elaine Held evdplate@msn.com, 732-774-3492