It's finally warmed up a little outside, although it is now cloudy and rainy. But the latter is much preferred over the former any day.

All the better to drive up to Chattanooga for my first visit this year. There was a preliminary meeting of the "inner circle" of disciples on the organization and operation of the center, followed by two hours of zazen, kinhin and dokusan, followed by a half-hour dharma talk.

The conversation meandered to the point where we were discussing Tiger Woods' problems and Bret Hume's ignorant comments ("I don't think [Buddhism] offers the kind of forgiveness and redemption that is offered by the Christian faith"). Not to add to the many blog postings all over the internet about this controversy, but the comment is so uninformed that it's difficult to even respond meaningfully.

I didn't get back home from Chattanooga until well after five.

I haven't yet worked out my calendar for the rest of the year for visiting Chattanooga, but I do intend to go up there more-or-less monthly, as I did last year.