Day Star Zendo

08/27/2025

In terms of what you can do with your life, your choice in this moment is what really matters. It is the endless point of return for Buddhist practice.
Ben Connelly

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08/20/2025

If you have started to give yourself to prayer, never be discouraged. Trust the power of God.
St. Teresa of Avila

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07/22/2025

Here is edition 4 of Lotus Notes by Sister Madeleine, 7/22/25

05/30/2025

Here is the 3rd edition of Lotus Notes from Sister Madeleine Tacy

05/04/2025

This is a recent edition of Sister Madeleine's Lotus Notes. If it appears to small to read, just click on it and a (+) sign appears to enlarge it.

10/30/2024

We are sad to report that our teacher, Cindy Roshi, passed away last Friday evening, the 25th, 2024. She showed incredible strength and energy all the way to her passing. As she requested, a memorial mass will be held Saturday November 2nd at St. John's Church in Worcester at 44 Temple Street. Her full obituary is found at shepherdfuneralhome.com.

"Since before time, I have been free.
Birth and death are only doors through which we pass,
sacred thresholds on our journey.
Birth and death are a game of hide and seek.

So laugh with me,
hold my hand,
let us say good-bye,
say good-bye, to meet again soon."
Thich Nhat Hanu

09/01/2024

Yesterday, August 31, 2024 was a very special day in our lineage. I transmitted to Chris Eggemeier in a very simple ceremony which was extremely special. He is now a Sensei. I am so very grateful to Chris for carrying on our lineage and for the work he has put into his practice. I know he will spread the dharma far and wide with not only his teachings and insights but also with his life. Sr. Madeleine and Fr. Kevin took part in his ceremony and were witnesses to it. It was a beautiful day.

07/06/2024

God neither heeds nor needs vigils, fasting, prayer, and all forms of mortification in contrast to repose. God needs nothing more than for us to offer him a quiet heart. Then he accomplishes in the soul such secrets and divine deeds that no creature can serve them or even add to them...The divine nature is reposs and God seeks to draw all creatures with him back again to their origin which is repose. Meister Eckhart

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12/08/2023

Today is Rohatsu, the day that the historical Buddha directly knew the true nature of suffering, “its origin, its cessation, and the way to its cessation." He did this after many years of meditation. One day he saw the morning star after meditating all night and he was awakened. He then went on to share this way of awakening with others. Thats the key.. He couldn’t awaken anyone else but he could share his path and point the way. Once we realize whom we truly are, we want to end the suffering of others. Today, in the Catholic tradition is Mary’s Immaculate Conception, meaning she was chosen in her conception to already be an awakened being. She has always been for me a powerful example of saying “yes” to life. Yesterday was the beginning of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, while we are also in the Season of Advent, while we wait for the birth of the Light. All of these traditions are pointers. They point the way to your own inner Light. We all share in this “Light”. It is our birthright and in this world of darkness we could sure use more Light right now. The thing is, it takes work. It takes listening to our inner compass. It takes a practice.. It doesn’t matter what the Practice is.. Mine happens to be meditation. For others , it could be praying the rosary, walking in nature, going to services, serving the poor, anything that helps us to slow down and see whom we truly are, that gives us an awareness that living on the surface of life is not enough, that brings us to a new inner depth. We will then realize that same depth is in all. Christ was the epitome of this Light for Christians, He gave us a roadmap of awakening. Read the Beatitudes. Watch as he went out to the desert for forty days and forty nights. He knew Who He was and He, just like the Buddha, shared His path, His Light with others. I pray that we all “ Awaken”, that the messages of these Beings of Light, will be understood for ourselves. The Light lives on. It is not just for the historical Buddha or Christ, it is for each and every one of us to realize for ourselves.

11/05/2023

Our Dharma brother. Jeff Kogen Seul, gave transmission ( made a teacher of) Fran Ludwig today. It was an awesome ceremony. Congratulations to both Fran and Jeff. Fran is going to be a terrific Sensei… Welcome to our lineage and to our amazing Dharma family.

10/26/2023

Yesterday I had a conversation with a friend. I told her I was a bit of a Polly Anna throughout my life… No matter the reality.. I held onto hope. My favorite song as a child and even to this day is : Somewhere over the Rainbow. I remember being a child and swinging on swings singing that song. As I became older, I still found I kept that Polly Anna part of me but more importantly, Life and my Practice of Zen… taught me a deeper lesson… what Glinda, the good witch said to Dorothy after clicking her heels three times:: That she had the power within her all the time. The thing is, she wouldn’t have believed it unless she found out for herself… ( and that takes some work)
Looking over my life, I realize things didn’t work out the way I believed they would, however, it brought me much more. It brought me to the some of the deepest lows I think a person could go, as well as some highs sprinkled in for good measure. The thing is Life brought me to question everything…to become inquisitive….to become aware.. To know there is a deeper wisdom that we can tap into .. and an energy that somehow gives us strength and courage for the journey. Life is the teacher but Wisdom has been there all along…

The new orchestral Eva Cassidy album I CAN ONLY BE ME is released 3rd March 2023 https://evacassidy.lnk.to/ICanOnlyBeMeRestored footage of Eva Cassidy perfor...

10/18/2023

Blackbirds all over the neighborhood today. Reminds me of the Beatles song:
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free
Blackbird fly, Blackbird fly
Into the the Light of a a dark black night
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise,
You were only waiting for this moment to arise,
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.

Says so much.. this song.. we arise each moment. We’re all broken to a certain extent.. and in that brokenness.. we find out whom we really are.. even in the dark, black night..many times because of the dark, black night..we find the Light inside ourselves and each other. From the many to the One…From brokenness to wholeness. Even when we feel broken we’re whole. We have just forgotten.
Blackbird fly… Into the Light of the deep, Dark night..