AZC Newsletter December 2022

From Amala-roshi: USA Trip

Amala-roshi by Chapin Mill Pond

Most readers will be aware that I recently spent 7 weeks in the U.S.A., accompanied by Lassara Hall, an AZC student and Shiatsu practitioner. The non-stop flight  from Auckland to JFK ended dramatically with long delays disembarking and collecting bags and a 50-gate sprint (with all our bags) to make our imminently-departing flight to Rochester (the last of the day). We made it. Hands palm-to-palm!

After a few days to recover from jet lag we dived into a 7-day sesshin at Chapin Mill, my first facing the wall (i.e. not teaching) in three years. It was physically and mentally challenging as I had to get used to my body's new limits and unpredictability, but it was also delightful to be sitting again with so many Dharma brothers and sisters, and with the sounds of passing freight trains and of migrating Canada geese. When we emerged from sesshin the trees had started to change colour.

Fortuitously we were present for an unusually rich season of ceremonies and milestones, including two ordinations. My teacher, Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede, officiated at the first ordination, for Denee and Scott Redding, now Lila (divine play) and Danan (generosity).  I officiated at the second ordination, for Kathryn Argetsinger and Jeanette Prince-Cherry. Their Dharma names are Kanji (great or complete compassion) and Jissai (true world). Kanji did much of her training with me in Auckland in the early years of the Centre’s existence, playing a crucial role in its foundation. Various obstructions arose to delay the completion of Kanji’s ordination, so it was wonderful to finally be able to “tie the knot” so to speak. Jissai and I worked together closely through her 3-year novice period, meeting regularly on Zoom, the Pandemic preventing any travel to the States in 2020, 2021 and early  2022. However the Pandemic also had a silver lining. Jissai and Kanji both became adept at hosting virtual sittings, and in the process of helping us in Auckland with our Zoom-based group practice during lockdowns, further strengthened their links to our Sangha. They also demonstrated how much can be done working remotely, where there is the need and the dedication. So, it is with much joy that I now welcome Jissai and Kanji as priests of the Three Jewels Order.

I also conducted a memorial service for LouAnne Jaeger's son Dietrich. I knew Dietrich as a teenager and LouAnne is an old friend who has karmic connections to our Sangha, constructing the Centre’s first website and twice visiting New Zealand,in 2006 to help out with the AZC's very first 7-day sesshin, and to participate in my Dharma transmission ceremony in 2012. I am grateful that causes and conditions allowed me to help honor Dietrich's passing. 

There was also a moving teacher-sanctioning ceremony for Donna Kowal-sensei who has become co-director of the Rochester Zen Center with John Pulleyn-sensei, now Roshi has retired from administrative duties. The Center is in the midst of a changing-of-the-guard, which is a huge transition. Roshi was Abbot for 36 years! He had just taken on the role when we came for our first training programme in the northern autumn of 1986. As I was in 1986, on this visit I was again impressed by the caliber of Centre members, including staff and people in residential training -- their kindness, responsiveness, and enthusiasm for the Buddhadharma. The Center is in good hands.

The visit concluded with my leading a 7-day hybrid sesshin at Chapin Mill, with about 35 people in person and 10 online. It was a privilege to be able to connect with the Sangha in this profound way. I was very grateful for Lassara’s shiatsu sessions each evening which helped to keep me physically strong throughout the week.

Staying mostly at Chapin Mill and enjoying its beauty and wildlife was also restorative.

Amala-roshi with Rochester Zen Center teachers and priests

Centre Management

Richard and our team of timers and monitors kept the Centre ticking over in my absence, including putting on Bodhidharma Day and running a popular Term Intensive led by Robin from Christchurch. Gasshō to you all. 

Richard has signed on for another year as Centre Manager, and Robin is also willing to continue doing the bookkeeping and many other things remotely, which is very good news. However, for the long-term health and longevity of the Centre there need to be other senior students becoming familiar with how the Centre runs and what the various management tasks are. The best way to learn more is to volunteer regularly at the Centre, preferably on Thursdays when we have office hours. This is also a way of experiencing non-sesshin Zen training first hand. Contact me or Richard if you want to know more.

-- Roshi

From the Trustees

Interim financial report from the Treasurer for the 6 months to 30 September 2022

The Trustees are pleased to present the draft interim financial accounts for the 6-month period from 1 April 2022 to the 30 September 2022. Overall, the financial accounts are showing an improvement over the same 6-month period last year, moving from a deficit to a surplus. The main driver of the improvement is the reduction in staff costs – with the shift to part-time administration courtesy of Robin and Richard. This has, however, been matched by a reduction in the provision of services by the Centre. Dharmagear is no  longer a Centre business, and office hours have been reduced to one day a week. Dana has continued to fall – dropping 20% against the same 6-month period last year ($31,906 vs $39,717. The Trustees would like, where possible, for Sangha members to increase their contributions over the next 12 months.

Points of interest to note over the last 6 months are:

Revenue

Revenue ($47,939) is down against last year by $15,417, a drop of 24.30%

Costs

Same period costs ($44,270) are down against last year ($66,739) with a 33% reduction in outgoings primarily from reduced staffing levels.

Surplus/Deficit

(Before depreciation and adjustments)

The Centre’s financials show an operating surplus of $3,667 for the six-month period, a reversal from the same period last year’s deficit of - $7,609.

Balance Sheet

Cash on hand and at the bank as at 30/9/2021 was $130,212, and as at 30/9/2022 $135,336.

In Summary

Half way through the financial year the Trustees are projecting that the Centre will generate a small surplus for the 2021-2022 financial year. 

Peter Christensen, Treasurer