Meditation Retreat (Sesshin) - Oct. 20-22

October 20-22, 2023 was "sesshin" - a meditation retreat. The weekend's meditations were accompanied by the soft patter of rain and the crackling of the first fires in the woodstove. Dedicated practitioners joined for the full sesshin or parts thereof. The sesshin theme was Dogen's "Fukanzazengi"- "Universal Recommended Instructions for Zazen".

The zazen I speak of is not a mediation practice. It is simply the dharma gate of joyful ease, the practice-realization of totally culminated enlightenment. It is the koan realized; traps and snares can never reach it. If you grasp the point, you are like a dragon gaining in the water, like a tiger taking to the mountains.  - Dogen

Garden Closing - Work, Ceremony & Potluck

 On a October 14th, we gathered to for a garden work day, season-closing ceremony and a harvest potluck.  The weather was perfect for garden work- neither too sunny, nor too rainy; neither too hot, nor too cold.  Many hands pulled carrots, beets and rutabagas and filled wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow of withering by-gone vegetable plants and weeds.  Work time was followed by a Garden-Closing Ceremony - expressing gratitude for all that had made the garden possible and apologies to all beings harmed in the gardening process. A yummy Harvest Potluck (lots of coleslaw!) around the fire (with s'mores!) was enjoyed by all.

Izzy & the harvest - beets, carrots, celery and more

The Garden-closing ceremony

The Harvest Potluck (lots of coleslaw!)

Preparing the ground for next year

Annual Remembrance Ceremony 2023

This year the Annual Remembrance Ceremony took place Thursday evening October 5th.  The evening ceremony is surrounded by candles and firelight. 

There was time to honor deceased loved ones, the spiritual lineage, and those who are interred in the Shao Shan Temple Cemetery.  

The evening included a candlelight procession up to the cemetery, drums and cymbals, and chanting.   Nature joined the procession up to the cemetery, as each inkin (handbell) ring was echoed by the hoot of owls.