My fellow meditator and photographer Stillman Brown was generous enough to take pictures during the shuso hossen ceremony the other week. My teacher Enkyo Roshi allowed me to give my first Zen talk and I became a senior student at the Village Zendo.

The verse that comes with the koan I spoke on, "Yangshan Plants His Hoe." Calligraphy by Musho.

There's a moment of high ritual where I return the koan to my teacher.

Carrying the short staff back to my seat so I can engage in "dharma combat", the questions and answers that follow my talk.

Jennifer asks me a question.

With my teacher Enkyo Roshi.