Reflecting October's brillance, the Zen Kids explored autumn as the Diamond Net of Indra. Guided by Kyojo Smith and Seisui Rosen, we moved from myth to reality, seeing a single candle cast to infinity by mirrors. We made nets with our hands, our arms and legs, and with ropes. If anger reaches you, the air makes you feel better.
Earth hides beneath pond's surface.
We then took all our answers and made them into a long poem about autumn. In November we began with a story about Jizo, the protector bodhisattva of women, children, and travelers. The story tells how, when invoked, Jizo guides the deceased through the hell realms to the safety of Amitabha Buddha's Pure Land. Not surprisingly, our post-story discussion turned to the subject of death, and of heaven and hell, and to where these realms exist. Each kid then wrote a note to someone they knew who had died.