Christian Solorzano
10.26.26

Mountain Seat

I was testing my new lens — a Summicron-M 50mm f/2 — at the abbot installation ceremony at the Zen Life & Meditation Center. The Mountain Seat Ceremony.

Congratulations, Rev. June Keijo Ryushin Eagle Mountain Tanoue, Roshi.

Standing at the altar before a carved wooden bodhisattva, a candle and flowers, hands held together, with others in robes gathered close on either side.
A full prostration on a bowing mat, forehead to the floor and palms turned up, seen low across the wood floor with the seated assembly behind.
Seen in profile in an ochre kesa, holding a curved wooden nyoi upright at arm's length, with a second person behind and framed portraits and flowers on the altar beyond.
A bowed head and shoulder in white, almost lost in a wall of blown-out light, an inked enso in the corner above.
Six people in robes standing together for a portrait after the ceremony, one wearing a white flower lei, the Ango 2026 board on the wall behind.

If I could marry my camera I would.