Annual Remembrance Ceremony2022

 

This year the Annual Remembrance Ceremony took place Wednesday 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. 

Garden harvest-ceremony-potluck

 

On a perfect weather October 1st, we gathered to for a garden work day, season-closing ceremony and a harvest potluck.  Many hands pulled carrots, beets and rutabagas and filled wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow of withering by-gone vegetable plants.  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 around the fire (with s'mores!) was enjoyed by all.

Harvesting Carrots

Baskets of Beets!

Our Garden apology at the end of the season

Plants and animals of the garden

We ask your forgiveness and understanding

We recognize your worth and remember you today:

·        The Japanese Beetles, metallic green shiny, that we removed from feasting on asparagus and pole beans

·        The frogs and grasshoppers inadvertently run over by the lawnmower

·        The little hoppy flea-beetles that we deterred from the leafy greens with unfriendly-named products such as “Dead Bug”

·        Spiders and moths who drowned in the tubs of water that we left in the garden

·        The tender little plants that we deemed “weeds” that we ripped out and discarded

·        The broccoli-loving groundhog who we relocated without consent – may you have settled in to your new home far away.

To all the beings large or small that we injured or harmed intentionally or unintentionally, we apologize now.

We acknowledge in our interconnectedness that we have much to learn from each of you.

May we recognize each encounter with each of you as a Dharma Gate – an opportunity to learn about our own true nature.

(written for Shao Shan Temple, modelled on one used at Green Gulch Farm)

Beets as big as your head!

Peace Day - Autumn Equinox

On Friday evening, September 23rd, an intimate group gathered to commemorate Peace Day and the Autumn Equinox, with a ceremonial fire, incense purification, chanting and readings.  The Peace Pole (donated by Japanese monk, Shinjo, in 2013)and surrounding garden were specially decorated with lights and peace cranes for the occasion.  The program extended the wish for world peace at this seasonal time of balance between dark and light.

MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH!

22nd Anniversary Celebration/Ceremony !

Prayerful drumbeats resounded through the valley this past Sunday, September 11th, as we commemorated Shao Shan Temple's 22nd Anniversary.  A large group (~50 people!) joined together in this ceremony/celebration of rededication and renewal.  

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.  Some people wrote their intentions on their ribbons while others imbued the ribbons with their vows wordlessly.

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

We were honored this year to also have the Stuart of the Burlington Taiko Drummers.  The Taiko Drummers performed as part of the Opening Ceremony in year 2000 and Taihaku-Roshi had often spoken of wanting to invite them back for a major Anniversary.  The drumming perfectly expressed the resolve of intention, the ongoing connection and the prayerful celebration.

The ceremony was followed by a festive social-refreshments time.

Meditation prior to ceremony

Offering incense at the Taihaku-Roshi altar

Introductory welcome and bows

Ringing the outside bell for "Ji Ho San Shi..."

Tying Intention ribbons

Taiko Drum Performance!

Nature Pilgrimage - August 28

On a perfect-weather late-summer day, we gathered at Shao Shan Temple to acknowledge and pay respect to the greater nature that supports our practice.  This included a modified version of a ceremony done in Japan for blessings in gratitude to the protecting Spirits of the Land.

Beginning with fog covered hills and dewy spider webs, and continuing into bright sun - birds, newts, toads and little fishes joined in our ceremony.  We offered flowers, incense and chanting at multiple sites on the Temple land acknowledging the myriad ways - known and unknown that they support our practice.

The program included several short blocks of outside meditation and a snack of vegetables fresh from the Temple Garden that was then also shared with the fishes in Connie's Pond!

 With deep gratitude to the wondrous nature 

that supports our practice!