A Zen Christmas

Re “Grounds for Meditation” (Weekend Escape, Jan. 12): Thank you for the article on Green Gulch Farm Zen Center. It brought back wonderful memories of my visit there.

For our first Christmas together, my fiance and I drove up to Green Gulch Farm. We expected the stay to provide an intimate but nontraditional holiday. Happily, we were right and wrong.

We did find lots of privacy at the center, since most visitors were there more for introspection than for socializing. The guest house was quiet and spare but contained lovely details, including glass planters full of paper-whites, a roaring fire, and yes, that little kitchen full of tasty treats.

However, by Christmas Eve we felt a little bit like Christmas would be a nonevent in this unconventional setting. After dinner, however, Green Gulch became an incredibly warm setting: One of the students asked for help in carrying his electronic piano from his room to the dining room, and he began playing Christmas carols.

Everyone joined in singing, and soon a room full of strangers found themselves among friends, celebrating the holiday with heartfelt joy. It was magical!

ELIZABETH A. STEVENS

South Pasadena