21st Anniversary Ceremony - Sept 11, 2021

This year is Shao Shan Temple's 21st anniversary since the Opening Ceremony on Sept 13, 2000.  Due to the funeral ceremonies last weekend, we had only a small commemoration of the occasion this year.  The theme of the Anniversary ceremony is re-dedication - re-dedication of the Temple and re-dedication of ourselves to our highest intention which we symbolize together with tying a ribbon on the gold pole in front of the Temple.  Children from the family program joined in amidst colorful flags under a brilliant blue sky.

 

Dharma Verses from Rev. Taihaku's Funeral

 In the formal funeral ceremony (Honso) 
for Rev. Taihaku Nishiren Diaosho on September 5th, 2021, 
each of the three officiants offered a "Dharma Verse" for Rev. Taihaku.

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Rev. Konjin Godwin - Houston Zen Ctr

Taihaku NishiRen
Dharma Friend
Dharma Teacher
9-5-2021

Om Namu Shakamuni Buddha

Steadfast, heroic, with your eyes always turned toward the light

Toward the mysterious radiance komyo of earth and water and life,

Your time here leaves us marked by your gentle light.

When the springtime sun warms our faces let that be your mark

No other traces.

Swift, yet sure, light meeting pure light.

Rev. Ejo McMullen - Buddha Eye Temple, Eugene, OR

Forgive us Taihaku
For rushing about
On the surface of things
As if you had gone.
 
Towering white waves
Upset the slumber
Of soil and stone.
 
A world shaky
Heave and hoe
Nothing level, anymore.
 
With no sure place
Who would dare
stand upon the deck
and hoist the sail.
 
Yet, hasn’t it always been this way?
These crystal mountains and beaver ponds.
Just waves of light pushed up by the sea
A playground of noble spirits.
 
From the heart of the mountain, seeing
As light crashes down
Far beyond the human eye
An incredible brilliance
Ahh ….
The North Star

Humbly Offered
Monk Ejo of
Buddha Eye
September 5, 2021

Rev. Akiba Gengo, Bishop of Soto Zen North America

Dharma Verse by Hinkoshi, Rev. Akiba Gengo of Kojinan

for the Honso Funeral of Shao Shan Temple Founding Abbot, 

Taihaku Nishiren Daiosho

2021-9-5

Precepts, Samadhi, and Wisdom round and luminous,

reveal the breadth of the heart ground.

With nothing to hinder, the turning of the dharma wheel is complete.

The pure wind of compassion is blowing in the eight directions.

Human and heavenly beings cross over and nirvana appears.

 

Fondly gazing up at this mountain gate,

the founder of this temple, Taihaku Nishiren Daiosho has newly entered nirvana.

The mind moon intrinsically pure

The light of her intention was complete and full

 

In the beginning:

She received this life being birthed at Marblehead

From an early age, she was inspired to leave the delusions of this world behind.

She entered the path under the guidance of an Indian tradition.

Listening to the voices of the wind and the water she learned of quiet repose.

She studied the unfabricated through nature,

and inside herself she planted the seeds of the Buddha mind.

 

Next:

She had the good fortune to meet the late Shunryu Suzuki Roshi.

She came to know the ancestral path of the unity of practice and awakening.

Shortly after, she entered the room of Hokyo Shinkai Roshi and shaved her head, tying herself to powerful karmic roots and setting foot on the path of a truly peaceful heart.

Carrying her traveling staff, she came to stand at the mountain gate of Hokyoji monastery. 

She met and received Shinkai-roshi’s teachings of a broad and gentle heart.

She served as the head monk and established herself as a priest, showing the true face of Nishiren Osho.

She entered the stream of Tanaka Roshi inheriting his dharma line,

And then made pilgrimage to the two head temples of the Soto School to pay homage and  celebrate.

 

I believe:

Nishiren Dai-osho’s heart was stout and pure.

She was a clear stream of Soto Zen in North America.

Her daily life was settled and peaceful.

She walked the Buddha’s Path with natural grace.

She became one with people,

functioning fully and showing the heart of Zen.

 

With a smiling face and loving words,

her virtue called people from the four directions.

Sitting quietly on Shao Shan Mountain,

the wind of awakening never ceased,

Carrying water and pulling weeds,

She lived fully.

 

Taking the teacher’s seat in Taihaku Mountain’s garden of Zen,

She turned her mind to the true sitting of the ancestors.

The virtue of her practice and character entwined with those who came to hear her teach.

Through those connections, she established Shao Shan Temple on this Mountain.

She practiced intimately, sharing her strengths with others and receiving their support.

 

And so:

After being named an International Minister of Soto Zen,

with the eye of compassion she turned the dharma wheel in the ten directions.

She taught the Buddha dharma freely, responding to conditions and helping each to cross to the other shore.

 

She served on the board of the Association of Soto Zen Buddhists

And on the board and as the President of the Soto Zen Buddhist Association

 

Protecting the true path of the Buddhas and the Tathagatha’s Zen

She showed her respect for the ancestral teachings,

displaying sincere love for the tradition and care for the dharma.

 

I truly know this of Nishiren Daiosho,

This great teacher moved with incredible life,

going completely beyond ordinary and sacred.

That life sits together with the wind and the clouds on the mountain of awakening

 

In her daily life, without attachments she lived beyond delusion and enlightenment.

She left her heart to the flow of things, hoisting the sail of care and affection.

Correctly opening the eye of the buddha’s teaching, she lived out her days without fear.

 

I need to say:

Her 75 years made the pure heart of the Buddha appear in conventional reality.

She freely entered and exited the storehouse of the Buddha’s teaching.

Returning to the nirvana world of joyful ease, she quietly sits.

Leading the beings of that world in the way.

 

And so:

This one life of Nishiren Daiosho was the Samadhi of receiving and employing life.

Now at this time, facing Nishiren Daiosho what words to speak,

I sigh.

 

oohh……..

 

Brightly settling wind and clouds,

The highest heaven,

Luminous crossing of ocean waters

Moon ten thousand miles away

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With deep gratitude from Shao Shan Temple

for all those who supported honoring our beloved founding abbot 

Rev. Taihaku Nishiren Daiosho Formal Funeral -9/4 & 9/5

 

On Saturday and Sunday, September 4 and 5, an Abbot’s Funeral (Honso) was held at Shao Shan Temple and on Zoom for Rev. Taihaku Nishiren Priest, Founding Abbot.  Her children, visiting priests from around the United States, members of the temple sangha, neighbors and friends attended the outdoor ceremony.  To keep everyone safe, strict Covid protocols were followed.

Through the funeral services, the assembly honored the legacy of Great Teacher Taihaku Nishiren Daiosho and venerated her dedication as the Abbot of Shao Shan Temple.

The Chief Officiant was Rev. Gengo Akiba, Bishop of North American Soto Zen, and Abbot of Kojin-an, Oakland Zen Center, Oakland, California.  Also officiating at the ceremonies were Rev. Konjin Godwin, Director of the International Division of Soto Zen, North America and Abbot of the Houston Zen Center, Houston, Texas, and Rev. Ejo McMullen, Abbot of Buddha Eye Temple, Eugene, Oregon.  Rev. Kenzan also participated in the service along with six other priests.

The Saturday afternoon Funeral Eve service invoked Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in all realms to come and help create a sacred space at Shao Shan for the funeral.  On Sunday, the service began with Rev. Kenzan and Taihaku’s formal students processing around the ritual space each carrying one of Taihaku’s Dharma implements.  The ceremony included offerings of sweet water and tea followed by Dharma words offered by the officiants.  Rev. Akiba symbolically set the fire for Reverend Taihaku’s cremation followed by intoning a Dharma message expressing how the Buddha’s true teaching were transmitted through Taihaku’s life.  While chanting, the guests were invited to make an incense offering to Rev. Taihaku.   Rev. Kenzan closed the ceremony with some moving words of remembrance and encouraged the assembly to emulate Taihaku’s teachings in their lives as we together as community continue her 700-year plan for Shao Shan Temple.

Following the ceremony refreshments were provided and all joined in fellowship to remember Taihaku’s life among us.

Formal students carry Rev. Taihaku's Dharma Implements

Thank you to all the priests, sangha members, and friends of Shao Shan Temple who contributed both financially and with their time to support the ceremonies.  

Tent in front of the Temple for the ceremony

Symbolically lighting the cremation pyre

Offering incense

Rev. Kenzan gives closing words

Refreshments

The outside altar draped in white