A Visit from Thay Kozen

On Saturday, May 24th, Rinpoche and the MDC sangha welcomed the Venerable Thay Kozen, spiritual director of the Mount Adams Buddhist Temple. We celebrate the connection between these two monks! The sangha greeted Thay warmly with white katas, and both Thay and Rinpoche by chance presented each other with yellow katas. Rinpoche took Thay to lunch and they walked to his meditation spot (a hearty four-mile walk round trip), and Thay greeted people warmly along the way. It was by no means a normal walk to the beach with these two–they said hello to everyone, petted every doggie, and had at least four deep heart connections with people who were then no longer strangers, but friends. Two of our new friends were so moved, they gave the monks each a bottle of wine from grapes they grew themselves! Of course they won’t drink wine, but they gladly accepted the gift to honor the sweet generosity. Thay spent the night with Rinpoche, and Rinpoche (with the help of Mounica and her mom) made Thay a delightful breakfast the next day, before sending Thay off with gifts and well wishes. Rachel picked him up in a convertible for a ride through the Santa Cruz redwoods to the San Jose airport, where Thay rented a car to drive north to a family funeral. More pictures below to tell the tale.

: On Saturday, May 24th after meditation, Thay Kozen arrived and was greeted warmly by Rinpoche and the Sangha. By chance, they both presented each other with yellow katas!

: White katas are a symbol of respect.

: Thay greeted everyone warmly.

: Are these two respected monks or giggling buddies getting ready for a sleepover? A bit of both!

: They love each other deeply.

: Lunch at the Thai restaruant in PG, where Thay noticed all the little Buddhas and Ganesh, and placed offering coins.

: We walked to Rinpoche’s meditation spot along the path. Even though it was an overcast day, these two shone brightly.

: Thay cannot walk downhill on uneven ground, so we meditated on a bench.

: The sweet man taking this picture was from Vietnam, and greeted us with “A-di-đà Phật ” which is the Sino-Vietnamese version for 南无阿弥陀佛/南無阿彌陀佛 which is in turn the transliteration of Sanskrit “Namo Amitabha Buddha” (नमोअमितबुद्ध).

: Here is another man from Vietnam who Thay and Rinpoche connected with. Walking with monks is a heart-based adventure!

: We ended the day with a Sur Puja, a smoke offering in which the offering substance is transformed into abundance of all that is needed for every living being with and without form,. This is Rinpoche’s favorite spot in the house, his real living room.

: Dharma brothers

: Dharma sisters

: Breakfast on Sunday, May 25th, with eggs, fruit, delicious bread (thank you Lisa Allen) and tea made by Rinpoche. Mounica’s mom made a dish called beaten rice that was amazing! Mounica topped it all off with chai tea.

: Thay was not getting away without another jacket from Rinpoche! Rinpoche really wants Thay to be warm , so also gave Thay a warm hat and slippers. Head to toe warmth and love!

: Rinpoche gave Thay a Shakyamuni scroll painting, Medicine Buddha poster, and stone mala. The biggest gift of all was Thay’s visit. We are so fortunate to know these two spiritual heros!