We all have within us a center of stillness surrounded by silence.
– Dag Hammarskjold
In stillness the muddied water returns to clarity.
– Lao Tzu
In the stillness of the mind I saw myself as I am—unbound.
– Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
The Four Acre Zen Center (FAZC) is our new practice home in beautiful Sequim, WA. This is a place to gather quietly as Sangha and see ourselves as our self, unbound.
Just as its name suggests, FAZC is four acres of undeveloped meadow nestled between a magical remnant of the Olympic National Forest through which Bell Creek makes its merry way along the bottom of a heavily wooded chasm, a county park and a busy residential thoroughfare.
In a sunny spot—it’s usually sunny here in the rainshadow of the Olympic Mountains—we have a large, white tent where Sangha gathers for meditation, yoga and group discussions. It is a joyous experience to practice awareness in an urban wildness, to count the breath and still the mind as birds sing, bees buzz, wind rustles in the trees, clouds amass on the horizon and neighbors mow their lawns. The nearby woodlands beckon us to practice walking meditation. There are benches set among grasses and wildflowers that invite us to sit down and enjoy the silence.
This is not just our spiritual home but the Guide’s home as well, and all are invited to visit with a “center of stillness,” both literally and metaphorically, to have a conversation with the Guide.