Once or twice a year we would travel from Chiba to Shizuoka to do a four day meditation retreat. The temple was in the mountains surrounded by tea fields. The retreat consisted of about 8 – 10 hours of meditation, various chores, eating, talking and listening to Sensei talk about Zazen and the four philosophies. Gudo Wafu Nishijima is seen here front and center and I’m in the very back center. My close friend Andy Ehling is just to the right of me. Andy and I spent countless hours meditating together before I ever moved to Japan and have recorded 3 Jazz CD’s together.