Our vision is to end suffering by continuously raising the heart of wisdom and compassion.

Our mission is to practice Zen Buddhism as a supportive community, open to all.

 

 

Great Plains Zen Center continues to hold the vision to end suffering by continuously raising the heart of wisdom and compassion and the mission of practicing as a supportive community, open to all.

The pandemic has caused and exacerbated mental health challenges for so many, posing a collective trauma on top of the complex personal trauma  and everyday life challenges so many already experience.  GPZC is, in accord with its mission, endeavoring to provide the most robust practice opportunities possible, while still following the guidelines of science.  Many people benefit from more in depth practice opportunities like longer retreats at times like these and longer retreats help all of us enliven and deepen our practice yet conditions may not be appropriate for them at this time.  This is not an easy navigation and we welcome your input, concerns, suggestions and also your comments on what is working well for you right now.  Most of all, we don't want anyone to feel that they are not welcome to practice with us for any reason.  

All of this said, the GPZC Board of Directors met recently and reviewed and updated our COVID 19 protocols.  Here is a summary of what has changed and what remains the same.  As you are well aware, the trajectory of the pandemic and information we know about it are continually changing and we will need adjust our protocols as significant changes occur.  For example, the Omicron variant has raised extra concerns due to its high transmissibility and the general uncertainty surrounding it's future impact.  The Omicron variant, increasing infection numbers, pandemic fatigue resulting in less public compliance  (and therefore greater exposure potential) and other reasons were certainly drivers in prompting GPZC's changes to protocols.  And of course, we will continue to follow the science-based recommendations that are being disseminated to the public and to organizations like ourselves. 

For the next few months, we will continue to limit the in person retreats (or in person portion of a retreat) to one day.  Participants travelling a longer distance to participate will continue to have the option to stay at the Zen Center the night before or after, as long as there is only one person staying overnight per room.  This has been our policy since July 2021 when we began holding in person retreats again and will continue.  

We will increase safe distancing protocols at retreats, especially at mealtime. 

At this time, the vaccine requirement will remain based on the CDC's definition of a fully vaccinated person.    This means that we strongly recommend that everyone get a booster when they are allowed to receive one, but will not ask for proof of it at this time.   Given the high transmissibility of Omicron variant and the reported finding that vaccine protection decreases with time, GPZC will re-evaluate in the future to determine if it becomes necessary to require proof of a booster.   The requirement to show proof of being fully vaccinated (as currently implemented) will remain in force at all of our in person events.    

We are upgrading our mask requirements.  By January 1, 2022, we will ask everyone to wear masks with the rating of N95, KN95 or KF94.  We will provide one of these for anyone who arrives for sitting and does not have one. 

Scientific data points to significantly greater safety with these kinds of masks, so they are important as we spend more time together inside.  As you are probably aware, there a reports of counterfeit masks entering the marketplace, and many of us are concerned about getting a mask which truly performs as it is rated.  Two potentially useful resources in this regard are: a short video from Aaron Collins, someone with a background in aerosol science who is testing currently available masks to determine their actual efficiency and a document detailing his master test data.  Aaron does explain factors that go into the safety of a mask including the efficiency, the fit with regard to size and stiffness of the nose piece and even which masks are easier to breathe in.  We also need to provide the disclaimer that while these resources appear to be rigorous, GPZC cannot vouch for their scientific accuracy and is merely providing them as one possible tool for decision-making.  Again, though, we will provide a mask for you if you do not have an N95, KN95 or KF94 mask.  

We will allow testing in lieu of vaccination to attend in person weekly sitting or retreats under the following conditions: Anyone providing proof of medical contra-indication (i.e. a letter from their doctor) for the COVID vaccine (or booster, should we require it in the future) can provide proof of a negative molecular COVID test (NAAT, PCR, etc., not an antigen test) within 72 hours prior to attendance in lieu of vaccine.  The molecular test is required, rather than the antigen test,  because it is more accurate. 

The high efficiency mask requirement officially goes into effect after Jan 1 2022, but you are certainly encouraged to upgrade sooner if you can.  

In conclusion, it is important to state that we are not offering these guidelines and protocols from a fear-based perspective, but from a care-based perspective.  This is an opportunity for all of us to exercise the compassion we aspire to by following protocols that keep each other, including ourselves, safer.   As a child, I often thought about how wonderful it would be to have the opportunity to save someone's life.  I think it's not an exaggeration to say that we may now have that chance to save a life --- quite possibly of someone we'll never even meet --- by taking available precautions to reduce the spread of COVID.  We know that we may not "get it all right,"  the first time, but we can vow to stay awake and alert and do all we can, as it becomes available, for our collective well-being. 

At the same time, it is important to also affirm that impermanence is perhaps our greatest teacher as human beings. All of us will die at some time, and  all of us experience sicknesses at one time or another. I would never pretend the ability of any of us to create conditions that absolutely guarantee our safety at any point in time.  As uncomfortable as it can be, living with uncertainty and not knowing, is an essential awareness of our practice and perhaps the foundational motivator to investigate the Great Matter of life and death.  We can do what is in our control to do and find peace in reqlinquishing what is beyond our ability to control.