Tassajara Stories 1

I thought for sure we had two zazen periods in the morning at Sokoji and no four and nine days anymore. I knew there had been one zazen in the past but I thought the 2nd one was added a year or two before I came in 66. I asked some people if they knew when the 2nd hazen was added and no one I asked knew.  But the Wind Bell had only one zazen in their schedules and four and nine days till City Center so that move was November ’69. So I took out mentions of two morning zazens at Sokoji. And I didn’t mention experiencing four and nine days at Sokoji either.

Ah - I've asked more people. Beverly Howowitz says she remembers two. I vaguely remember hearing the 2nd morning peeiod was added a year or two befored I came. Several of us don't remember 4 and 9 days at Sokoji. That was before 66.

Here's a typical schedule from the back of a 1969 Wind Bell, the last one before the ZC moved to the City Center on Page Street. I think the Wind Bell just kept printing it the same way and I guess not mentioning the first, 5am period, was intentional.

I sure wish I had a clear memory of this, but I just don’t….If you made me guess I’d say there were 2 periods in the morning, and that 4/9 days were a “thing” of some kind—but I’m only about, let’s say, 63% convinced—not enough to assert some historical accuracy on that basis alone. (Use that however you like…) - Rick Levine

I remember the lecture was Wednesday evening and Yvonne confirmed that at a reunion several years ago. - Caroline Morton

I lived there for about 2 or 3 months in spring of 69. I thought I only sitting one very early period of zazen in the morning. Part of that time I was commuting to Berkeley and I must have taken an early bus. - Liz Wolf Speda

I remember one in the morning and one in late afternoon. And a lecture Tues evening - Kelsang Tsogtor (Van Vorhees)

Two periods of sitting, then service. - then later - i was thinking that after i commented, that the city sitting was at 5:30am. Maybe there were two sittings only during sesshin? - Beverly Morris Armstrong

I seem to remember we had one morning sitting and later on added an earlier sitting but that memory is vague. I don't recall celebrating 4 and 9 days when we were there.- Bob Halpern