Brief Description of the Practice

This form of meditation belongs to a Zen practice that developed within the Western tradition associated with the San Francisco Zen Center. Unlike classical wall-facing zazen, practitioners are seated in a large circle, facing the center. This arrangement strengthens collective presence, sharpens awareness of shared silence, and emphasizes the interconnection of practitioners.

The practice includes:

• seated meditation (zazen),
• walking meditation (kinhin),
• a structured system of sound signals given by the jiki.

These sounds are not decorative elements but an integral part of the form. They mark transitions and help sustain the shared field of practice.

Climbing Mount Kazbek (5054 m) from Georgia. A self-planned journey to Georgia with an ascent of one of the highest peaks in the Caucasus.

This is a story about a self-planned climb of one of the most beautiful and highest peaks of the Caucasus — Mount Kazbek (5054 m).

For Tanya, this was her first attempt to conquer the summit, for me — the second. My first attempt in September 2011 from the North Ossetia side during the annual Kazbekiada ended in failure: three days of storms at 4200 meters and a descent to the radon springs with a friend who developed pulmonary edema. This time (spoiler alert) everything went successfully, and we want to share our climbing experience, impressions of ascending from the Georgian side, and the joy of reuniting with friends.

This route is more logical and simpler in terms of approaching the assault camp. The technical ascent from the upper plateau (4500 m) to the summit follows a single path, regardless of whether you approach from Russia or Georgia.

So, let’s get started!

Adobe Creek Homeowners Association, water leak report 02/25/2024 (2)

Adobe Creek Homeowners Association
278 Monroe Dr. Mountain View CA 94040

The story

On February 25, 2024, at 4 p.m., we observed water on the first floor of our property. The water came from our adjacent Unit #18. With the help of another neighbour from Unit #17, we shut off the main water valve for Unit #18 to stop the water flow. The Unit #18 was under remodeling at that time, and the valves were closed because of work on the water pipes inside the unit. Someone from HOA garden workers opened public valve for Unit #18 causing the flooding in the unit that spreaded to the adjacent units.
We received permission from the owner of the the Unit#18 to gain access inside. I shut off the electrical breakers.