Last Formal Sitting

I've been meditating (we call it sitting) with the Everyday Dharma Zen Center since our teacher started the sangha over two decades ago.  The Buddhist practice has changed my life and the teacher and our sangha were integral.  Our teacher is finally retiring and today we gathered for our last formal ceremony and meditation in her honor.  We've been meeting weekly via Zoom since Covid and this was the first time in two years that we chanted the Bodhissatva Vows together in person (not possible to do on zoom).   The bittersweet beauty of our voices chanting together for the last time brought tears to my eyes and my voice got squeaky trying to hold back the sobs.  "And yet, we discover that it's impossible to hold on to anything -- everything is eventually swept away by the winds of impermanence."  --Carolyn Atkinson