Arrived late, 11 p.m. No one around. Bowed in main Dharma room. Moved into Abbot's house…Kitchen in disarray/no water...bathroom okay.

Wake-up 4:15a.m... very faithful to Kyol Che schedule. Beautiful walk for 3rd sitting of afternoon practice: pristine snow, spiral jetty.

Slept well, felt refreshed. Ongoing problem w/timer. Cleaned kitchen, esp. stove and floor...feh! Reset stove in alcove. Morning sitting...mind very quiet...pain bearable but worsening.

Practiced at midnight....quiet. Surprised by energy in AM. Light, powdery snow just after first light...became increasingly opaque while maintaining the quality of swirling dust. Walking meditation afforded a chance to see the accumulation from the Dharma Room window.

The raging snowstorm went silently into the night. Left more than 2 feet of nature's fluffy white batting...appears as if the earth is wrapped in soft ermine fur. Morning sitting was very focused. Not even "What am I?" Surprisingly, leg pain lessened under these conditions and time seemed imperceptible. If you want to understand the realm of the Buddha, keep a mind which is clear like space. What does it mean?

Just studied during work period rather than interface with residents. So much to learn for teaching anyway.

Felt ill at start of midnight practice.... sweating and slightly nauseous. Only go straight and soon sleeping again. Midnight practice is strange... no special energy but much resistance. Something about overcoming Karmic resistance about things not pleasurable but important. Nonetheless, every opportunity to practice is a gift.

1:30 AM (before bedtime).... Midnight practice is a physiological trial. Threw my feverish mind into bowing and sitting.... at first furiously chanting the 10,000 H&Es until finally able to return to counting my breath.