August 2, 2021. The Village Zendo’s head trainee for the summer, Willie Mukei Smith, was ordained and received the name Shōmon, meaning “True Gate”. According to the Soto Zen elders, in the annals of our lineage no one has been named Shōmon before. The ceremony was performed with a small group, wearing masks; the zendo is otherwise closed due to Delta.

Images © A. Jesse Jiryu Davis