Home is Where the Heart is
by Pam Weiss

In the Soto Zen tradition, there is a practice of sewing Buddha's robe in preparation for a lay or priest ordination ceremony. With each tiny stitch sewn, one is instructed to recite the mantra: "Namu kie Butsu;" I take refuge in Buddha. Or, more literally: "I throw myself into the house of Buddha."

It is in this "house of Buddha" that we meet, explore and become intimate with the Triple Treasure of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. In our pursuit of the Buddha-Dharma, however, it seems that the jewel of Sangha--our Dharma family--is often neglected. Dazzled by the brilliance of the teaching, we can too easily forget that the light we seek is embodied in our fleshy, messy, unpredictable Dharma brothers and sisters.

Meeting twice a week for six months, the BASE program provided a container, or "house," to verify the importance of Sangha. Sitting together in silence, talking, laughing, crying, bumping, and "sometimes bruising, a unique set of relationships was born. Comprised of individuals drawn together by a deep concern for the world, a commitment to Buddhist practice, and an interest in weaving these two passions together, BASE offered a space for us to share our joys and struggles. And perhaps most importantly, it provided an opportunity for us to explore our (often significant) differences. This was hard, messy, wonderful work. It stretched me to develop a deeper and deeper respect for differences that ultimately proved to be at the very heart of the love and support we shared.

They say, "Home is where the heart is." For me, the BASE group provided a special kind of home, where I could experiment with new ways of relating, tiny stitch by tiny stitch.

— Pam Weiss

Contents
BASE Weekly Meeting
Moving Together with Encouragement and Forgiveness
Buddhist Trash Collecting
Family
Home is Where the Heart is
Making a Dent?