Transforming Suffering- Cultivating Well-Being

Young Adults (in their 20s&30s) came together for an all day program on the topic of “Transforming Suffering; Cultivating Well-Being” on April 22nd.  The program included meditation, discussion, active explorations of mindfulness and a garden-produce lunch.  We also spent some time outdoors on that beautiful day exploring mindful connection with the natural world.

The discussion included guided exercises on compassion for oneself and others.

The first photo depicts the participants putting their hands in ice water for varying lengths of time and experimenting with various ways of working with the difficult sensations, thoughts and emotions that arose as a result. 

The second photo shows an activity in which random items were covered with a blanket, and the participants had ten seconds to see the objects uncovered and to try to memorize all of the items with the color blue. The items were then covered again and participants were then asked to name as many objects as possible with the color green in them. The activity highlighted the way in which what we choose to pay attention to strongly influences our subjective experiences of reality. 

Home Blessing Visits 2018

 

This year we continued the Shao Shan Temple tradition of offering Home Blessing Visits during the months of January through March.  Taihaku and Kenzan traveled to the homes of interested Sangha members and Friends of Shao Shan Temple and joined together with them in generating a blessing and protection for their home.  The home blessing visit generally included a short time of chanting and/or sitting at people's home place of practice.  This year we visited 26 homes - a record number.

May your home be a place of health and peace and may your practice radiate benefit to all beings.

Spring Equinox Ceremony

As part of the Thursday morning program,  Shao Shan Temple had a small ceremony/celebration of the Spring Equinox.  With ongoing chanting as we walked in gratitude along snow and mud covered paths, we gathered an offering of pussywillow branches and an offering bowl of snow.

May our practice in this new season flower into big, joyful and compassionate mind for ourselves and all beings!

Family Program: Snow, change and breath

In this March family program, the children explored the changing seasons and made snow buddhas.  Teens and parents had time for meditation.  Parents discussed mindful parenting. 

We learned together a Thich Nhat Hahn song

Breathing in, breathing out.

Breathing in, breathing out.I am blooming as a flower
I am fresh as the dew.
I am solid as a mountain.
I am firm as the earth.
I am free.

Honey Bee Memorial

Altar Memorial to the Shao Shan Temple Honey Bees

On Thursday, February 22nd as part of the Thursday morning program we had a small memorial ceremony for the Shao Shan Temple Honey Bees.  We hope to have new bees this next summer and try a new hive location above the orchard.

In gratitude to the Honey Bees who died in the cold of the deep winter and who inspired us  with their diligent bright spirit.

Empty Hives

Shao Shan Temple Honey Bees in summer