  urlLink This is one of Jasper John's targets. It reminded me of the zen urlLink enso - the circle that represents mind, and the Target store symbol.
I got involved with both in one day. Since I moved to Brooklyn a few months ago I've been looking for a zen temple, it just hasn't been a priority. This morning I finally found one and I attented services. And I did it on a hangover. First I couldn't find it at all. I knew the area pretty well, and I had studied the map so I was pissed I wasn't finding it. Right where I thought it should be there was a urlLink Baptist church.
So I figured: ask the Baptists. They knew the area pretty well, they said, but didn't know about any Buddhist temples. They wanted me to attend service with them at 11. Turns out the temple was visible from where we were talking. Thanks, guys. Though the neighborhood, I noticed, sported all kinds of people, the temple was full of white people of all shapes and sizes. As soon as I walked in, I was greeted by an older female monk. I had never met a female monk before. When I saw people lining up in their street clothes to get in I realized immediately this was going to be a much different experience than what I was used to at the urlLink rinzai temple.
It felt a little bit like the urlLink Unitarian Church I was brought up in, but with an affected austerity mostly put on by the visitors, not the monks. I attended the beginner's session, having no problems sitting there as others fidgeted. Another female monk told us about the difficulties and the rewards of zazen. Her easy smile reminded me of another monk I once knew for a short time. After our briefing we joined the rest of the urlLink sangha and did 30 minutes of urlLink zazen and chanting, some of which I was familiar with. It was less zazen than I would have liked. There was an intense focus at the beginning. I have never sat with that many people before, and I was really impressed with the focus in the room.
It trailed off a bit at about minute 15 as people coughed. Someone sneezed and it scared the shit out of me. That happens when you're sleepy. All in all, I think the place has a very nice vibe and the head monk is a smart woman; I think I can learn something from her. On my way back home I saw the grand opening of a Target and I was so intrigued that I got off the bus and checked it out.
It was unbelievable. There were hundreds of people there. It was unnavigable. The lines were incredible. There were clowns, people on stilts, people selling food. It was a like a state fair except sadly lacking in animal smells. 
