Rev. Danny Fisher

(From left to right) Miroj Shakya, Ven. Rinchen Gyatso, and me at the Mt. Baldy Lodge. Photo by Eldor Choriev.

Three cheers for my colleague, friend, and fellow blogger Ven. Rinchen Gyatso, who suggested to my roommate, another friend, and I that we get off campus and away from our computers for the night by taking a trip up to scenic Mount Baldy.

Mount Baldy–or, formally, Mount San Antonio–is highest peak in the San Gabriel Mountains. (The nickname comes from the lack of trees around the summit.) For those of us interested in the history of Buddhism in America, the village of Mount Baldy is a special place indeed, as it is home to the eminent Mt. Baldy Zen Center. The center’s abbot, the truly remarkable Kyozan Joshu Sasaki Roshi, turned 100-years-old just two weeks ago (!). The center is also the sometimes home of one of my heroes, the great singer-songwriter-poet Leonard Cohen.

We didn’t visit the Zen center, but had a lovely dinner and went for a long walk until it was dark. I took some pictures, and I think a few of them turned out well. They’re below.