Buddha's Birthday 2024

 

On Sunday May 5th, Shao Shan Temple celebrated Buddha's Birthday!

Despite the cool rain outside, the Temple was festively bright inside with abundant flower decorations and joyous participants.

Following a time of sitting meditation ...

We had the Shakyamuni Buddha's Birth story read by Julie and including heavenly beings raining down flowers.

Everyone had the opportunity to ladle sweet tea over a statue of the baby Buddha. 

In the pouring rain, we had an abbreviated noble procession...  carrying UMBRELLAS, parasols, bubbles, wands and little bells - processing from the Temple to the Sangha Hall where we sang a rousing "Happy Birthday" song and a delicious potluck including birthday cake! 

Thank you to everyone who braved the rain to make this celebration celebratory.

... For more than two thousand six hundred years the Dharma has rained down its blessings and continues to this day, bathing all alike in its heavenly vitality.  ...

- from the Buddha's Birthday dedication

Garden Opening Ceremony & Work Day - May 2, 2024

 Thank you to everyone who joined in the opening of the Temple garden on Thursday, May 2nd!  

There was a "Garden Opening Ceremony" to begin the garden growing season.  The ceremony included walking in procession around the garden chanting the "Disaster Preventing Dharani", ceremonially planting the first seeds, and chanting our "Garden Chant". We also read a Thich Nhat Hanh quote about being aware of what kinds of thoughts we "water" within ourselves - whether wholesome or unwholesome.

 

 

A cold-hardy group of gardeners joined to plant peas and spinach seeds, plant brassica seedlings, till and shape the garden beds other getting the garden ready tasks.  Resulting a beautiful garden of potential!