New Year's Eve of 2026

 

Shao Shan Temple observed the New Year's Eve of 2026 with a full evening of meditation, ceremony, outside fire, refreshments and ringing of bells.  Excitingly, this year marked the first Family-Friendly New Year's Eve Program at Shao Shan Temple. 

For the adults, the  New Year's Eve began with meditation, followed by a time for a "personal year review" - reflecting on the past year and what we wish to continue and what we wish to refrain from.  A vigorous Heart Sutra with drum accompanied people offering incense.

The kids had a parallel program:  They read The Three Questions by Jon Muth, which explores what we find to be important in our lives. They each then made drawings about things they found important about 2025 and intentions of things they wanted to prioritize in 2026.  They then practiced a shorter version of the 108 bells before midnight, during which each person rings a bell in succession to mark the passing of each minute. (four minutes instead of 108!)

Kids and adults then came together around the outside fire circle and each person individually offered their paper into the purifying fire accompanied by chanting, sparklers and incense.

Everyone then enjoyed abundant celebratory refreshments and social time in the Sangha Hall and was invited to ring the new large outside bell!

Ending the year of the Snake and entering the year of the Fire Horse.

Happy New Year 2026! 

Winter Solstice 2025

 At this time of the longest night, we gathered together to acknowledge the time of Winter Solstice.  With chanting, darkness and candlelight, we joined together in blessing in this time of transition - the longest night of the year and the returning of the light.

Shao Shan Temple offered two Winter Solstice Ceremonies - both an earlier in-person ceremony and later an online one - sharing the light and resting in a nourishing dark.

Rohatsu Sesshin 2025

 The Rohatsu Sesshin is a meditation retreat the first week in December.  This is a time of concentrated practice to commemorate Shakyamuni Buddha’s enlightenment upon seeing the morning star.  Temples around the world join in this practice.

The sesshin consisted primarily of sitting and walking meditation and also included oryoki breakfasts, lunch with food offering walks, an opening ceremony (Ryakufusatsu), brief dharma talks, and a celebratory closing ceremony.  

Japan Trip Sharing & Eye-Opening Ceremony

On November 22nd we had a special family-friendly Japan Trip Sharing after the usual Saturday morning program.  Those who went on the recent Sangha Japan Trip shared photos, stories and interesting food items from Japan.

We also had an "Eye-opening Ceremony" to welcome a new Kanzeon statue brought back from Japan (a gift from Rev. Eitoku).

Gathering in the sangha hall and sampling the Japanese snacks

 

Slideshow of photos from the Japan trip

Offering incense during the "Eye-Opening Ceremony"

Green tea mochi, rice crackers and other treats!

Japan Sangha Trip

Kenzan together with a group of Shao Shan Temple participants travelled to practice at two Temples in Japan - Ryuunji and Ryugonji.  This trip was an important time of solidifying our sangha connection with other Temples in our lineage and a wonderful experience for all who participated.

We gathered in Hiroshima where Shinjo-Roshi met us and brought us several hours northwest to Ryuunji Temple.

RYUUNJI TEMPLE 

Meal time at Ryuunji Temple

Ryuunji's main Buddha Hall - "Ryuunji" means "Dragon Cloud Temple"

Ryuunji's abbot - Shinjo Nohara Roshi

We then travelled for a day by car, north along the western coast of Japan to Ryugonji Temple in Kyototango.

RYUGONJI TEMPLE

Ryugonji - meditation & oryoki meals in the new Zendo

Ryugonji - large wooden fish struck for meals

Ryugonji's Abbot: Eitoku Kato Roshi

Deep gratitude to 

Rev. Shinjo & Rev. Eitoku for so generously hosting us, 

to all the participants on the trip and 

to all the sangha for supporting ongoing programs at Shao Shan during the trip.