Home Blessing Visits 2019

This year we continued the Shao Shan Temple tradition of offering Home Blessing Visits during the months of January through March.  Taihaku and Kenzan traveled to the homes of interested Sangha members and Friends of Shao Shan Temple and joined together with them in generating a blessing and protection for their home.  The home blessing visit generally included a short time of chanting and/or sitting at people's home place of practice.

May your home be a place of health and peace and 

may your practice radiate benefit to all beings.

Spring Equinox Ceremony - March 21st

In melty early, early spring weather, a small group gathered to commemorate the Spring Equinox.  Chanting together, we gathered barely budding pussywillow branches and snow and offered them at an outward facing altar in the Temple.

 

May our practice in this new season 

flower into big, joyful and compassionate mind for all beings!

Taihaku's March trip to Japan

Rev. Taihaku (left) and Docho-roshi(right)
 at the Shinzanshiki Ceremony at Shao Shan Temple in 2013

Rev. Taihaku recently returned from a brief trip to Japan in order to visit her teacher: Shinkai Tanaka Roshi (Dochosan).  Dochosan has been in the hospital since November following a serious stroke. 

Taihaku with brother monks at Seikoji in Kyoto,Japan

Taihaku visited him in the hospital in Osaka along with her brother monks.

Taihaku speaking at the Zazenkai(3/17) about her trip

Upon her return, Taihaku gave a Dharma Talk based on the experiences of the trip.  She spoke of the poignancy of being fully in the present while wholeheartedly greeting the incoming moment and simultaneously bowing in farewell to the departing moment.

Wagesa Day

Susan S., Kathleen(sewing guide), Clara, and Amy
[not pictured: Donna(sewing guide)]

Those who will be receiving the 5 Precepts in the Jukai Ceremony on June 30th, 2019 came together today to sew their Wagesas (an abbreviated Buddha's Robe).  Putting their intention in with each stitch, the group spent the day in sewing meditation.

Balance and "Mind Jars" - family program

For the children's portion of the Family Program this month, we explored the theme of balance in honor of the Spring Equinox. We shared things that help bring us back to balance when we feel off balance; experimented with our balance in the sitting posture; read a book called "Moody Cow Meditates;" and then made our own "Mind Jars" with glitter, water, and soap to use as tools to help settle down the mind and body.






The adults discussed the "four faces of love"  loving-kindness, compassion, appreciative joy, and equanimity.  Focusing specifically on appreciative joy as related to parenting.