We offer sange formally when we receive the Precepts at the Precepts (Jukai) retreat. We offer sange every moment when we direct our attention quietly inward to the Buddha Nature, living and moving from that Place wherein suffering is lessened and all beings benefited. Turning is continual.

I will probably be away much of March. On February 28th I will be traveling to Shasta Abbey to meet with some of my fellow Order monks to reflect on a concern within the monastic sangha. I should be back by mid-month and hopefully sooner. I encourage you to continue your practice together at the temple frequently when I am away. This is a good opportunity to train together with the sangha without the prior's presence and learn to take refuge in each other. When I was training at the monastery, Rev. Master Jiyu would be away every summer for 4-5 months, which gave us all good experience relying upon ourselves. It is important that meditation practisers, while taking refuge deeply and accepting direction from their teacher, not become dependent on them.

The last week of the month I have the great joy of accompanying several of you to attend the Ten Precepts retreat at the Abbey. As these new members take the Precepts formally, let us all renew our own commitment to live in accord with the Buddha's teaching. The Introduction to the Reading of The Scripture of Brahma's Net, the primary source for the Ten Precepts, says, "When you keep to the Precepts it is as darkness meeting light, as a poor man receiving a treasure, as a sick person regaining his balance, as a chained prisoner being released from jail, as a traveller to distant lands returning home; you should know that...when a Buddha abides in the world [the Precepts] are the same for Him as for us." (Monastic Office, pp. 122-123)

Thank you for the hard work you have offered on our forest cleanup day, for the lovely card for my Transmission anniversary, and for all your practice and training.

Rev. Master Daishin will still be coming even if I'm not here. He will be speaking with the congregation on Wednesday night, March 3, as part of our usual schedule, "Cultivating Trust in the Precepts." If you can help with meals, let Mike at the Priory know. There will be one other person with him. For the public talk on Thursday night, March 4, we could also use your help in distributing and posting fliers around town. This is a major way of promoting the talk, so if you can help, please do: talk to Mike. For offers of help with refreshments, contact Nancy; for set-up, etc., contact Ernie.

For those taking the precepts, suggested readings include: Rev. Master Daizui's Eightfold Path pamphlet 3,4,5; Receiving the Precepts booklet (available at the Priory); Rev. Master Koshin's "The Precepts" in Serene Reflection Meditation, 6th edition (brown booklet, avail. at Priory); and Great Master Dogen's chapter 10 of Shobogenzo, Vol. 1 Shasta Abbey translation, "Cease from all evil whatsoever."

We could also use a couple of volunteers who could photocopy several sets of Rev. Master Daishin Morgan's lectures on the Lotus Scripture from back issues of the Journal of Shasta Abbey. Priory photocopier available for this project. Talk to Rev. Oswin when he returns from the Abbey mid-month.

Alms Bowl: Offerings Received and Requested

We are very grateful for all the offerings of time, money, service, and merit which all of you contribute to make the Priory a place of Refuge and Buddhist teaching. In addition to donations of produce from Sundance Natural Foods, we received other food as well: bread, pasta, granola, tea, soy and dairy milk, nutritional yeast, corn chowder, baked beans, dried fruit, nuts, and teas. The temple was also given cassette tapes, chain saw parts, computer software, wheelbarrow parts and repair, bathroom tissue, laundry detergent, candles, altar flowers, clothes for priory residents, a flashlight, batteries, two kitchen timers, loan of a wood splitter, fruit tree spraying, and printing of brochures, fliers, and a Journal index. Thank you.