On the afternoon of May 10th at Hidden Mountain Zendo (the wonderful Zen yurt at Bob Penny's place) I'll be conferring lay entrustment for Reizan Bob Penny. Bob is a co-founder of our sangha and the creative energetic force behind our Wilderness Dharma Program for these past 25 years. 

The ceremony will be held at the end of a sweet little overnight retreat on the farm (overnight option is tent camping, or go home and return next morning).

The lay entrustment ceremony recognizes Reizan Bob as an empowered lay Zen teacher within the wonderful realm of outdoor practice that he's pioneered. He'll continue as the Wilderness Program Coordinator but now as an empowered Zen teacher.

Under Bob's committed leadership we've woven Zen practice into hikes, walks, and overnight backpacks. Walking, sitting, and being in natural spaces with the depth of our zendo practices has been a huge joy and a great support for those who've been able to participate.

A neat thing about the Wilderness Dharma program is that it's very inviting to people new to practice: it provides an entry gate into the intimidating-sounding work of Zen. And for those of us already deep in it, it's so wonderful to have the encouragement every year to practice deeply in nature with sangha. What a gift this program as been!

I hope you'll join me at the farm on on May 10th to celebrate this transition.

Below, enjoy a photo taken a few years ago on the annual Mountains and Rivers backpacking retreat with Komo Kulshan (Mt. Baker) behind us

Nomon Tim & Reizan Bob practicing in the mountains.