Dharma Talk by visiting Zen Priest Ryoki Sato, a longtime friend of HZC

Rev. Sato Ryoki is a Soto Zen priest of Togenji Temple, which is 550 yrs old, from Iwate Prefecture in Japan. He lives with his family in a farming community not far from the sea. The daily life and traditions in the area have long centered around Zen Buddhism and older Shinto practices. In 2011, Rev.Sato narrowly survived the tsunami which suddenly claimed over 16,000 lives and he directly experienced the “touch of death” and suffering in it’s aftermath. As a consequence of this transformative event, he runs NPO to provide support for children who are afflicted after the tsunami. Holding events called “adventure playful temple”, he opens temple to public, especially for children, as a place anyone can come, feel safe, be yourself and.. play!

Dharma Talk: Life as The Three Gifts

What should we do when everyday occurrences appear to be beyond our control? How should we respond when we see suffering of others? What kind of response should we provide to promote recovery when communities have been damaged, either by natural disasters or human accidents? Rev. Sato will discuss ways in which our daily Zen practice can promote peace and well-being in our communities and in the world around us.