The Rhythms of Zen
While sitting this year's winter retreat at Gaksu, one word kept appearing in my mind – rhythm. The more I observed the retreat with this word in mind, the more rhythms I noticed. It seems that there is a rhythm to every aspect of our Zen practice, and these rhythms become more and more pronounced as we sink deeper and deeper into the retreat.
4:30 a.m. The first moktak sounds. Everyone jumps out of bed, folds their sheets and blankets, and heads downstairs to brush their teeth and wash their faces.