Empty Gate Zen Center 2023 Fundraiser

August 15, 2023

Dear Friends of Empty Gate Zen Center,

Thank you so much for all of your ongoing support. Whether you’re a long-time member of Empty Gate Zen Center, or recently connected to one of our Zen Centers, we value all of your personal and financial contributions.

The pandemic and its effects have been challenging for many people over the past 4 years. Because EGZC was already online before the pandemic began, we were well situated to meet the needs of the moment. Our online presence has connected our practice locations in a way we never could have imagined. People from all over the world have participated in our dharma talks, retreats, and online practice offerings. Our members in Boise and at our sister Zen Center in Fairbanks, Alaska, have connected in ways that have helped make the Sangha stronger. Your contributions allowed us to continue these offerings.

This past year we have continued to increase our in person offerings. Our retreats and many of our daily practice sessions have truly become hybrid. Our challenge in the coming years is to integrate our online and in person offerings as seamlessly as possible. Your generous donations have allowed us to purchase the technology we need to make this happen.

We have also begun to upgrade our two physical locations to support our practice. Your donations allowed us to paint the exterior and replace the roof of our Berkeley location. Our new Abbot, Clinton Smith, came to Berkeley for 3 weeks so he could build a very needed storage shed. With the help of many Sangha members, we now have a shed to fill a longstanding need for the Zen Center. We also have needed to upgrade kitchens and heating systems in our Boise Location.

This year, your donations can help us continue these upgrades. Our Zen center grounds in Boise and Berkeley need attention. In Berkeley, we need some very much needed maintenance and upgrading of our gardens. In Boise we need to remove water intensive grass, design, and build a low water, low maintenance landscape. Our location is on a corner in Boise, and the entire neighborhood will benefit from our improvements.

Also, we want to understand better how to serve our new online members. We will survey the membership to find out how to serve the Sangha. Our Zen centers are committed to making this hybrid experiment work. With your input and support, we plan to grow our program to help all of us.

Please take a moment to consider a tax-deductible donation to support our ongoing activities and readiness for future projects.

Many thanks for your practice and your continued support of the Empty Gate Zen Center.

Yours in the Dharma,

Zen Master Bon Soeng (Guiding Teacher)

Clinton Smith (Abbot)

Jason Quinn JDPSN (Vice-Abbot)

Steve Watkins (Director)