“In this life, liberate the body which is the fruit of many lives.”
Our practice period theme this year will be In This Life, In This Body: Cultivating Embodied Wisdom and Compassion with our Women Ancestors. What is it to awaken in this very body, and this very life, with all our particular characteristics, strengths and weaknesses. In spiritual practice, too often the body, and particularly the female body, is seen as something to transcend or subdue. What do our women ancestors, and some teachers who are still alive, have to teach us about living and practicing as embodied human beings?
During practice period, the shuso or "head monk" is a long-time practitioner whose role is to support the sangha by offering a dharma talks and Wednesday dharma seminars, along with the teachers, meeting for tea with participants, and cleaning washrooms, a traditional practice of humility.
This year, we are happy to welcome Myōsen River Shannon as shuso. She will be assisted by her benji (attendant), Kyōkō Angela Kayira. A sign-up form for shuso teas, usually in small groups, will be set up soon, here on the practice period page.
Each participant will have an opportunity to share their intentions for the practice period.
Myōsen River grew up in so called Calgary, on Treaty 7 territory at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow rivers. She started her Zen practice with Calgary Soto Zen in 2014. She received jukai on March 11, 2018 with Mountain Rain, and was ordained as a Zen priest on October 15, 2023. She has practiced in residence at Beginner's Mind Temple in San Francisco and Tassajara Zen Mountain Center in the Ventana Wilderness. River has spent her career working as a public interest lawyer, first with survivors of intimate partner violence, and now with queer and trans British Columbians. In her time off the cushion, she enjoys riding her bike and preparing inventive vegan meals for her partner, Jessica.
