Life, death and the role of teachers were among the topics tackled by a group of 32 Birankai aikidoka this weekend at Bucks County Aikido’s 10th annual sesshin with Genjo Marinello Osho.
Practitioners from as far as New Mexico, North Carolina and Michigan gathered at the farm of George and Patti Lyons to train in Rinzai Zen and Aikido weapons as they enjoyed the mostly mild weather.
Everyone survived, and sat strong. For the first time, sesshin participants also harvested lavender as part of the samu – or mindful work – period at the conclusion of the retreat.
In the early hours of the final day, members learned of the death of Mark Murashige Sensei, a treasured Aikido teacher in San Diego. A sizable group of us at sesshin had lived in San Diego and benefited from Murashige Sensei’s generosity, good humor and infectious enthusiasm for Aikido practice and life. We sat with our grief and concern for his family and friends.
In the final hours of the event, Genjo Osho led us in Dai Segaki chanting for the deceased and intoned the following dedication:
One stream of a valley
pours the ambrosial nectar,
Ten thousand peaks of pine wind
strike the Dharma drum.
On this 13th day of October 2013,
offering incense and pure water
with Dai Segaki chanting
let us dedicate to Mark Murashige Sensei and
all known and unknown deceased Dharma
brothers and sisters.
May the sun of wisdom shine
brighter and brighter,
And may we all cease wandering
in the darkness of ignorance.
L. Klein
