2023 New Year's Greeting Cards

 Shao Shan Temple's

2023 New Year's Greetings

have been sent!  

Below is the message on the back of each.

-------------------------------------

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2023

This prayer tablet is an expression of Shao Shan Temple’s deep wishes and dedication to the welfare of the community.  It is a bridge between the temple and your everyday practice

This has been placed on the temple’s altar - it has been charged with the great energy of faith and courage. 

This prayer tablet is designed to be displayed in your home to bring peace and protection for the upcoming year.

This year’s message is

VAST -

OFFERINGS

( KO – KEN)

May peace and blessings extend from your home to the wider world in the upcoming year.

Each card is hand done in a multiple step process.  

Above photo shows the cards with the ink drying after being stamped with the red star and gold circle. 

To see additional detailed photos of the card construction process, see previous years' blog entries (2022 & 2021)

Winter Solstice 2022

 

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 across the distance and sinking into a nourishing dark that knows no distance.

The generosity of worms - children's program

For December's virtual Family Program, we explored the theme of generosity. We first shared things we've been noticing in nature, such as the frozen earth, colder temperatures, full moon, and beautiful sunsets. 

We then read and acted out the story Carl and the Meaning of Life by Deborah Freedman. In the story an earthworm named Carl is asked by a field mouse why he does what he does, digging in the dirt, digesting leaves and making fluffy soil. Carl realizes that he does not know why he does what he does, so he stops digging and goes on a quest to find out. In the meantime he encounters various animals, all doing the things that they do, but none of them are able to help Carl answer his question. Eventually Carl returns to the field mouse, but the earth has grown hard and barren. Carl realizes how his digging in the dirt helps all of the other plants and animals grow and thrive, and returns to his tunneling with a deeper sense of purpose and meaning. 

We discussed how each of us can be generous by being who we are and doing what we do, even if we don't always realize it. Kenzan then led us in a breathing meditation of giving and receiving, a gong of the bell, and a group OM.

Rohatsu Sesshin 2022

 The Rohatsu Sesshin is a meditation retreat held annually at Shao Shan Temple the first week in December.  This is a time of concentrated practice to commemorate Shakyamuni Buddha’s enlightenment upon seeing the morning star.

This year was well-attended with the Zendo being completely full for several sections.  The first half of the sesshin was in-person only and the second half was "hybrid" - option for in-person or online participation.  The sesshin included opening and closing ceremonies and each afternoon included a brief dharma talk.

walking meditation

sitting meditation

Formal Oryoki breakfasts (for the first time since 2019!)