AZC Newsletter July 2026
From Amala-roshi:
Gratitude
I often hear from students how grateful they are to have the Buddhadharma in their lives. The arising of sincere gratitude is a sure sign that our sense of a separate self is starting to break down. Cicero says gratitude is not only the greatest virtue, but also the parent of all the others. Gratitude in Buddhism is pervasive, rarely specifically mentioned, but embedded in our meal chants, our bows, our dana, our precepts and our steady practice. Other virtues especially esteemed in Buddhism are generosity, patience, effort, and ethical conduct, to name a few.
Master Dōgen says:
The true way of expressing gratitude for coming into contact with the Dharma is not to be found in anything other than our daily Buddhist practice itself. That is to say, we should practise selflessly, esteeming each day of life.
What a gift it is to be able to esteem each day of our life, to appreciate that whatever we are encountering, painful or pleasurable, is an opportunity to practise the Dharma. We can squander so much time and energy judging ourselves and our lives as in some way fundamentally lacking and therefore not deserving of our full attention.
Thank you to all of you who co-create our practice community by showing up for Zazen, at home, at the Centre and in moments of awareness throughout your day.
A full zendo for our urban retreat
Our recent one-day Urban Retreat was an example of community in action. Beginners and old hands came from near and far to enjoy a day of peace together, settling the body and sharpening the mind. Thank you to Ven. Hanya for generously coming up from Christchurch to lead the sitting and to everyone else who helped out on the day. Thanks also for donations which help cover the costs of the weekend.
Sesshin Updates
Spring Sesshin at Bella Rakha
As many of you will have read in the weekly Update, due to the sale of Bella Rakha falling though, we will now be able to have our upcoming Spring 7-day sesshin at Bella Rakha, 4-11 October.
The round window of Bella Rakha’s chapel on a winter’s day
Summer Sesshin at Port Waikato
Last week Hanya, Charlie Schorr-Kon and I spent a couple of hours at Port Waikato Children’s Camp, getting our heads around how we might configure the camp’s spaces to create a suitable environment for a week of Zen training, and taking note of some great yaza (night sitting) spots in the bush and on several wide verandas.
Port Waikato school camp with flag pole
On the horizon
Labour weekend: Three Jewels Order Investiture
Mark your calendar for this special event, when three senior students will be ordained as lay members of the Three Jewels Order. Adrian Croucher, Sally McAra and Wayne Frecklington will be familiar faces to many at the Centre as all three have been involved with the Centre for well over a decade. Two years ago they began to train for lay ordination in the Three Jewels Order, aka the 3JO.
Roshi with Adrian, Sally and Wayne after their 3JO novice ceremony which marked the start of their 3JO ordination training period.
The 3JO consists of people who want to formalize their service to the Sangha, either as priests or lay members. Priests make a vocational commitment to serve Buddha, Dharma and Sangha more or less full-time, while lay members commit to serving through their volunteering and leadership at the Centre, but also in their avocations, family and work lives.
Neither lay nor priest order members necessarily go on to become teachers, but both may do so, if given permission to teach by their teacher. There is no set timeframe for this process. Sometimes decades come between ordination and becoming a teacher.
Gassho, Roshi
From the Treasurer
2025-2026 Financial Report
Summary:
The Trustees are pleased to advise that the provisional financial results for the period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 show an operating surplus (before depreciation) of $57,968 for the full year. Adjusted for loan repayments of $36,000 the cash surplus is $21,968.
In more detail:
Revenue was slightly down from over the same period last year –$121,884 versus $124,116 (2024-2025). There was a very minor increase in expenses – less than $100 – a great outcome given the underlying inflationary pressures over the last 12 months. As mentioned in the summary above, the Centre’s provisional financial results show a surplus of $57,968 ((before depreciation and adjustments) in comparison to the 2024-2025 surplus of $61,987. Of this surplus $36,000 has been used to repay a portion of the outstanding loan owing to the Paramitta Trust.
Balance sheet:
Cash on hand increased from $143,116 (1 April 2025) to $154,479 (31 March 2026), an increase of $11,363. In addition the net equity of the Trust increased by $36,000, with the Building Loan dropping from $562,999 to $526,856.
With appreciation for all your support:
As always the Centre is dependent upon the generous support of Sangha members for its financial survival.
