Stepping Down/Stepping Up

We held two important ceremonies yesterday at the Empty Hand Zen Center (EHZC). First, a Stepping Down ceremony for Myozan Dennis Keegan (shown above), Head Priest and Teacher at EHZC, who skillfully guided the center after the passing of Jion Susan Postal (see Jion Susan Postal) in February 2014. And then a Stepping Up ceremony for our new Guiding Teacher in Residence, Konin Melissa Cardenas (shown below). And then a delicious lunch (thx, Frank et al). I saw a lot of old friends and am pleased/encouraged/challenged by the possibilities of having a new Zen teacher in New Rochelle. [NOTE: The big chair next to the altar in the top photo was used by the teacher in each ceremony. Script read "teacher takes seat in fancy chair". We spent a lot of time trying to find such a thing].