Zen Summer Camp 2023 (Newsletter Article)

 

Feature Article: 2023 Family-Friendly Summer Program

by Noah Weinstein

(with additional material from Heather Kralik and Donna O'Malley)

 

Shao Shan Temple’s Family-Friendly Summer Program, also known as "Zen Summer Camp," enjoyed a successful and playful second season this year. While most programs at Shao Shan Temple are geared either towards adults or children and families, this program is unique in that the entire sangha, of all ages and stages of life, are invited to participate and practice together. This year we were honored to host two visiting Soto Zen priests, Rev. Jisho Siebert and Rev. Daishin McCabe from Zen Fields in Ames, Iowa, along with their six-year-old son, for the four-day program.

Each day at Zen Summer Camp began slightly before 10:30 am when one of the children rang the outside bell to summon all participants into the zendo (main temple room). The themes of “taking care” and “paying attention” were presented as practice invitations throughout the program, starting with the children taking turns caring for the small altar by lighting a candle and incense and ringing the big bell. Rev. Daishin then led the entire group in a song/meditation borrowed from the Plum Village tradition and based on the meditations of the Anapanasati Sutra. After singing and taking a moment to sit quietly together while listening to the bell, the children departed the zendo with several adult volunteers to take part in a variety of activities.

On Thursday and Friday, Randy Henson, a formal student at Shao Shan Temple and fine woodworker, mentored the children in carving wooden spatulas out of cherry wood harvested from his own land. Each child was given a “blank” piece of wood shaped roughly like a spatula and then had the opportunity to use a special hand tool called a spokeshave to carve the blank into a spatula with a rounded handle and beveled edge thin enough to flip pancakes.  The children then sanded their spatulas smooth and applied a combination of beeswax and linseed oil to protect them.

 Also on Thursday, while the children were working on the spatula project, Rev. Jisho lead a discussion with adults which focused on the topic of caregiving.  Rev. Jisho asked each participant to write down on small pieces of paper the challenges and gifts to their practice that comes from caregiving. Participants then posted their responses on the wall, and everyone got to see what each other had written.  A discussion about how our practice informed both the challenges and gifts followed.

On Friday, while the children finished their work on the spatulas, Rev. Daishin introduced the adults to Japanese Calligraphy. In the screen room brushes, paper, and ink were brought out for the eight participants. Rev. Daishin told the group that he was introduced to calligraphy about 30 years ago and found it to be a meditative and calming companion over the years. The group was instructed on how to hold the brush, ink dipping, and flourish. The group then practiced creating the Japanese character "Mu" (nothing). Daishin made it look so easy over and over again but the connection to head, heart, and hand revealed a challenge as well as the need and desire for more practice.

On Saturday the children were transformed into woodland beings, thanks to formal student and artist, Susan Calza, who painted some of the children’s faces into the likenesses of bears, bunnies, mushrooms, trees, and rainbows. The children then romped through the woods near Connie’s pond, building shelters for creatures large and small and acquainting themselves with the other creatures of the forest. Meanwhile, Rev. Daishin and adults talked about practicing with family. His shared personal extended family experiences, and his work with trauma, addiction, and trauma-informed yoga opened the door for us to investigate the challenges with our own families. 

Sunday was “garden and art day” for the children during which they trekked over to the temple’s vegetable garden, where they snacked on fresh carrots, traced and colored various depictions of Buddhas and bodhisattvas with Rev. Daihsin, and harvested vegetables to share for the community potluck.  Rev. Jisho stayed with the adults and together the group explored and shared those precepts that showed up most as practice in our lives.  She invited us to share not only from our wisest self, but also the more vulnerable “still working on” selves. Rev. Jisho encouraged us to hear the voice of what is, be with that, and from there discern what is required.  

Each day after the morning’s activities, the children and adults reconvened for a delicious lunch, followed by a food offering walk to Connie’s Pond to feed the expectant fish and other pond beings. We concluded each day by returning to the front of the temple for a closing circle, song, and group bow.

Thank you to all who made the Zen Summer Camp possible. Special thanks to Rev. Jisho and Rev. Daishin for their valuable contributions to the program, to Rev. Kenzan for his leadership and organizational prowess, to volunteers Noah Weinstein, Vanessa Weinstein, Randy Henson, Susan Calza, Taylore Grymonnt, Ann Peltz, and Stella Marrie, as well as to all the enthusiastic participants.

 

Here's what participants said about Zen Summer Camp:

The Zen Summer Camp was wonderful! There was something very unique and "X" about it. I can't figure out the word for the "X" exactly - something about feeling embraced while embracing. Uninterrupted zazen and being in that beautiful forest on that land. Getting to see Taihaku's grave. Hearing kids' voices and seeing kids cared for by multiple members of an awakening community. It was gorgeous. There is something so beautiful about being able to sit zazen while hearing the voices of children in a temple space. Sharing honestly about caregiving and our practice. We are so grateful to the temple community for hosting and participating.     -- Rev. Jisho

 

To me, camp was about allowing the kids to explore what they are interested in without interfering in the process.  I enjoyed getting to know and working with all the children, parents, and the habitat of Shao Shan, embraced by solidarity around the teachings of Buddha.   -- Rev. Daishin

 

Being bathed in Shao Shan’s summer fullness, abundant Buddha and bodhisattva immersions, living Dharma and deeper-than-usual sangha connection, I felt at ease, at home and totally happy.  What fun it was to take in the delightful sounds and activity of the children, to watch them with parents and teachers, and feel full-on benefit from the experiences and wisdom shared by our visiting teachers, Rev. Jisho and Rev. Daishin.  Ever so grateful for our amazing planning duo, Rev. Kenzan and Noah, for putting so many pieces together.  It seemed like everyone felt supported in their practice with family, in their personal inquiry, and in what it is to have a sangha where it’s safe to be ourselves and we’re free to have fun.   -- Donna O'Malley

 

The Zen Summer Camp was a totally delightful surprise. I thought we would meditate together a little bit with the children, and then the kids would be whisked away to the natural world, and we adults would meditate and listen to a dharma talk. This was not the case!   There was some meditation and Dharma words, but then we joined the children on the screened porch who were busy making wooden spatulas while we practiced calligraphy. The kids had so much pride in using real tools and making a kitchen implement they would use at home.   -- Heather Kralik

 

It was interesting learning about and doing calligraphy for the first time. Rev. Daishin was a good teacher.        -- Priscilla Fox

 

I really liked making the wooden spatulas because it was fun to use the tools.      -- Izzy Weinstein

 

It was wonderful to witness the level of persistence, dedication, and care each child brought to the process of making spatulas. The finished products ended up being both beautiful and highly functional. Izzy has already used her spatula multiple times and takes such good care of it because she made it.           -- Noah Weinstein

 

Well after camp ended, our whole family is still singing the song that Daishin sang with us each morning at Zen Summer Camp. And I just sang it for a client who loved it. So, thank you - the way I practiced how to care for myself and others at camp is still rippling out in a wonderful way.                    -- Ann Peltz

 

 

23rd Anniversary Celebration/Ceremony !

This past Sunday, September 10th, we commemorated Shao Shan Temple's 23rd Anniversary - 23 years since the Opening Ceremony in the year 2000.  

Prior to the Ceremony itself, there was the option of a time of meditation.

An important aspect of this (and future) year's Anniversary Ceremony is honoring Shao Shan Temple's founding abbot - Taihaku Nishiren Diaosho - who created, envisioned and manifested this beautiful place of practice.

The Shao Shan Anniversary has for many years included tying ribbons with our intentions onto the gold pole in front of the Temple while chanting "Namu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo" and that tradition was continued this year.  

Because the likelihood of rain, the first half of the ceremony was inside the Temple, creating an intimate atmosphere for honoring Taihaku-Roshi, before proceeding outside for tying on the vow/intention ribbons.

The ceremony was followed by a festive social-refreshments time. (and only after refreshments were ended did it start to rain!)