New Year's Greetings

 

 This year's New Year's Greetings have been recently mailed.
This year's greeting is JIKU KI :
Ripen Season.
If you have not received one,
come pick one up on New Year's Eve!

Happy New Year!

 

 

Children make meditation cushions - Dec. 14

Six children and their parents braved the minus zero temperatures today to come to today's Family Program.

This month there was a special project making meditation cushions.  The meditation cushions have the special features of cloth mountains that are of the same fabric as the mountains on Taihaku's Mountain Funzoe Robe.
Special thanks to Donna for coordinating this project and to Taylore and Judy for assisting.

Rohatsu Sesshin concluding Dec. 8, 2013

Tomorrow, December 8th, Enlightenment Day,
 is the conclusion of Shao Shan Temple's Rohatsu Sesshin.
You are welcome to join us early tomorrow morning(5:30am-7:30am) as we conclude the week-long meditation retreat with the culminating closing ceremony commemorating the Buddha's enlightenment upon seeing the morning star.
Thanks to all who have participated.

Dartmouth students visit Shao Shan Temple

Shao Shan Temple was honored this past weekend to host a small group of students from Dartmouth for the afternoon. 
Thanks to Gendo Allyn Field who arranged this visit and who leads the zen meditation group at Dartmouth.

September 15th Ceremonies

Thank you to everyone who helped to make this
auspicous occasion of the
September 15th Ceremonies possible: Shinzanshiki (Mountain Seat -Abbott Installation) and Hosenshiki (Novice Monk Graduation).

Through the presence and participation of all, the seed of Shakamuni Buddha’s enlightment has been planted deep in at Shao Shan Temple  with the great resounding delight of all nature. 

 

 

 

 

 

Peace Pole Garden

Thanks to Shinjo for the recently erected Peace Pole.
The Peace Pole rock garden is visible from the Temple front door. 
It is his desire that the Peace Pole help people of every language to feel welcome here.

May Peace Prevail on Earth.

September 15th Ceremonies Preparations



The preparations for the September 15th Ceremonies
began several years ago and are now in their final week!  Rehearsals of the ceremonies are happening every day.  The major construction projects are finished and many of you are helping with various final aspects of getting ready.  Thank you all!

Ceremony Rehearsal

Making Ceremonial Cloths

Polishing the roof

Writing the Red Board for the Hossenshiki

Manjushiri and DaigenShiriBosatzu Come to Shao Shan Temple

We are deeply grateful to Japan for the just received gift of
a Manjushiri Statue and a DaigenshiriBosatsu Statue.
Shao Shan Temple is honored by their presence.

Manjushiri (left) represents wisdom and is traditionally in the center of a Zendo.  DaigenshiriBosatsu (right) is a protecting spirit, often represented as a sea-captain. 

Zazenkai -August 18th

Our August One Day Retreat (Zazenkai)
was a well-attended time of practice on a beautiful summer day.
Special Thanks to Shoryu-san for the inspiring Dharma Talk
and to all who participated in making this day possible. 

West Wing Open for business!

 The new West Wing Outhouse construction was recently sufficiently completed to be useable.

The second outhouse will be essential at the time of the ceremony and is also useful now during the increased residency of Ango.




Thanks to everyone who contributed to its construction!

Obon Ceremony - August 11th

The evening of August 11th was the Obon Ceremony at Shao Shan Temple.
In Japan, the Obon Ceremony is a time to honor deceased loved ones.

A candlelit procession proceeded up to the Cemetery where we chanted to the dramatic accompaniment of bell, drum, and cymbals.

Thanks to all who joined in this occasion.

 

 

 

Thanks to Japan members of the "Shao Shan Tour"

 Shao Shan Temple is very grateful to Abbot Eitoku Kato of Ryougonji Temple and members of the "Shao Shan Tour" for the generous gift of a new mokugyo.  With deep gratitude we receive these amazing gifts of support from Japan.

Gifts from Japan

Shao Shan Temple is deeply grateful to supporters from Japan for very generous donations - a large temple bell, an umpan and a large incense holder. 











The bell is handmade by a "national treasure" craftsman and inscribed in Japanese with "On September 2013 Shao Shan Temple celebrates the Shinzanshiki of Taihaku Abbot. Donated by Japan, Fukui prefecture".
Shao Shan is enjoying the amazing resonance of this instrument reverbarating through our daily services.
The umpan is a striking turquoise blue and is its sound can be heard throughout the temple grounds as the call to meal time.  

Shao Shan Temple ANGO Begins!

This summer's intensive practice (ANGO) began with the Opening Ceremonies on Sunday, June 30th.  There was the ceremony appointing the "Head Seat" (Kenzan), the Offerings to the Protecting Spirits an a Closing Tea to assign the roles for the Ango.

Please see the website for the Japanese monks in residence and for the Ango schedule.

Precepts Ceremony - Raven Bruce

Shao Shan Temple's annual Jukai (Precepts) ceremony was this past Sunday, June 30th, 2013. 

This year Raven Bruce committed to the Five Foundational Precepts (the first five precepts) and received a Wagesa. The Wagesa is a new option at Shao Shan Temple for people wanting to make a commitment to their higher intention.

Thanks to all who join in supporting Raven in her commitment.

Wagesa

Raven & son, Malone