"One should not see tolerance or patience as a kind of weakness, or giving in, but rather as a sign of strength. Patience and tolerance comes from the ability to remain firm and steadfast and not be overwhelmed by the adverse situations or conditions that one faces."
- The 14th Dalai Lama

The weather grows colder, the holidays approach, work gets even busier, and I head out to open the Zendo. Pulling up, I see no cars in the parking lot yet - it's still early, but could I be facing a second night of no-shows? I unlock the front door, light a candle and some incense, bowing in gassho as I humbly offer myself for the night's service.

Still setting up for the night, I hear a car pull into the lot- at least there's one other this evening. In walks T., one of our Monday night regulars. We talk for a few minutes; she wants to know the meaning of the Japanese sutra that's recited on weekend mornings, the Maka Hanya Haramita (or, as I irreverently call it, the "Hanya Makarena"). We talk, and a few more people arrive, and at 7:30 we start the service.

Sitting is for one hour (one hour of enlightenment), and we have a brief discussion afterwards (one hour of delusion). Bob stays behind for a while, as he usually does, and we have a nice conversation about careers and houses and things of the world, and also sesshins at other sanghas, other teachers, and news from elsewhere.

I lock the doors and head for my car, once again alone in the parking lot. The night has grown colder - the wind has picked up - but the moon still appears nearly full.