

Family image by Geoff Shōun
April 6, 2025
Dear Sangha,
Ram Dass is said to have quipped, “If you think you are enlightened, go spend a week with your family.” This usually creates knowing chuckles of Thanksgiving nightmares. And, there is some truth to it. But family practice is so much richer, wider, and deeper, isn’t it?
I just spent a week with a part of my large Irish Catholic family, remembering the last to pass away of the WWII generation. We still had three generations attending, and all of life was on full display. We come into life full of energy, find our way, perhaps bring offspring, age, experience loss, illness, and limitations, then leave this world. We get along sometimes and fight other times. We are intimately in relation with everyone, smiling or frowning.
Family practice is sangha.
Last week, Sokyo said,”In relationship, like river rocks tumbling together, we feel our edges with each other. Over time, they round and soften. This is not always easy.”
Not always easy, but worth our practice effort to nurture this family sangha treasure.
Registration is open for our Enter Here Zazenkai April 26th, which features a shorter day and sitting periods, and reduced cost. All are welcome.
Bowing three times in gratitude,
Geoff Shōun O’Keeffe (View Highlight)
2025 Retreats
Mark your calendars and join us if you can. Attending a monthly retreat, whether a full day or multiple days, are an exceptional and powerful part of our Zen practice. Registration for all retreats and events is at eonzen.org/retreats.
• Apr 26 Enter Here Zazenkai, one-day retreat for newer practitioners
• May 17 Zazenkai, one-day meditation retreat
• June 20-22 Weekend Sesshin, two-day meditation retreat
• July 19 Enter Here Zazenkai, one-day retreat for newer practitioners.
• August 16: Zazenkai, one-day meditation retreat
• September 19-21: Ango Entering Sesshin, two-day meditation retreat
• October 18: Enter Here Zazenkai, one-day retreat for newer practitioners
• November 22: Zazenkai, one-day meditation retreat
• December 12-14: Rohatsu Sesshin, two-day meditation retreat
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One Body Sangha
One Body Sangha is a new online contemplative practice community offered by Eon Zen Center, launching in April. It will provide more practice opportunities, teachings, resources, and support for establishing or deepening your meditation practice and cultivating healing and interconnectedness in your life and community.
Visit the initial landing page at onebodysangha.org to learn more.
Eon Zen Dharma Talks

NEW: Participating in Your Life (Mar 22, during retreat) | Gyodo Sensei
When you look at your life, are you fully participating? If you’re fully participating, you won’t have any idea of how things will go. You’re right in the thick of it. Total immersion. Being fully alive, in whatever it is that we’re doing. That’s really participating. In this talk, Gyodo Sensei shares a passage from Master Dogen’s Genjokoan to explore this immersive quality being. As Dogen says “This is the way of living beings.” This is life. What is life for you?
Previous Dharma Talks
Sila Paramita: The Perfection of Ethical Conduct (Mar 17) | Geoff Shōun O’Keeffe
Microdosing Sanity Practice (Mar 10) | Lisa Gakyo Schaewe
Grasping the Sword of Wisdom (Mar 3) | Gyodo Sensei
Traces of the Buddha (Feb 24) | Gyodo Sensei
Appreciating the Dharma of Life (Feb 17) | Gyodo Sensei
Seeking and Not Finding: A Tale of the Missing Sea Turtles (Feb. 10) | Lisa Gakyo Schaewe
Enter Zen From Here. Then What? (Jan 13) | Gyodo Sensei
The Refuge of Sangha: Practice Intentions in the New Year (Jan 6) | Gyodo Sensei

All Dharma Talks are available on our website at eonzen.org/dharma-talks.
You can view even more talks on the Eon Zen YouTube and also listen and subscribe to previous talks on the Eon Zen Dharma Podcasts through Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your Podcasts.

