Gretchen Collins - Im Jae, Poep Sa
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My introduction to the simple forms of Zen practice began during the early 1990s in Lexington, Kentucky, sitting and chanting in Zen Master Dae Gak’s basement Zendo on Jesselin Drive. Most of that early zazen practice involved sitting uncomfortably waiting for it to be over. For no apparent reason, I kept coming back. Shaved my head, had 3 babies over 6 years, and aimed to live as a lay Buddhist.
My mantra: Never Not Practice. A pointer towards the existence of clear and joyful mind in the midst of family life, a poem without end. pregnancies homebirths diapers nursing babies toddlers schoolchildren teenagers young adults crisis college or not partners or not grandcats grown women living in the broken world |
My retreat experiences at Furnace Mountain were few and far between, usually around my birthday in November.
In 2018, the last daughter moved out; I came to the Mountain and lived there for 18 months. I took 16 Bodhisattva Precepts in 2019, receiving the Dharma name Im Jae: “One who works to bring living beings across the river of suffering.”
I received Dharma Teacher Certification in 2024. I am an Artist, at home in my beating heart, living outdoors on the banks of the Rockcastle River, creating an off-grid homestead with my dance partner Martin and old dog Moses.
Chopping wood, hauling water and feeding the many beings. Zen practice begins each day at sunrise.
In 2018, the last daughter moved out; I came to the Mountain and lived there for 18 months. I took 16 Bodhisattva Precepts in 2019, receiving the Dharma name Im Jae: “One who works to bring living beings across the river of suffering.”
I received Dharma Teacher Certification in 2024. I am an Artist, at home in my beating heart, living outdoors on the banks of the Rockcastle River, creating an off-grid homestead with my dance partner Martin and old dog Moses.
Chopping wood, hauling water and feeding the many beings. Zen practice begins each day at sunrise.