Our beloved abbot: Rev. Taihaku Nishiren Priest

 Dear Sangha and Friends,

It is with great sadness that I report that our dearly beloved teacher and abbot, Rev. Taihaku, passed away early in the morning, May 24th, unexpectedly in the night of a heart attack. 

She often said that death is like “jumping into a ginger ale pool” – her joyful effervescence extending even beyond this life.  

Final arrangements are being determined in conjunction with her family and the Soto Zen Order. 

May we together support her vision for Shao Shan Temple to be a flowering of the Dharma for the next 700 years.

With immense gratitude for her life, teachings, and founding of Shao Shan Temple,

In the Dharma,

Kenzan

Buddha's Birthday Celebration - May 16, 2021

 Sunday, May 16th, Shao Shan Temple celebrated Buddha's Birthday with an online celebration! 

The beginning of the celebration was heralded by a resounding conch...

Noah read a book of the life story of Shakyamuni Buddha (Buddha by Susan Roth) ...

There was a formal offering of tea, cakes and sweet water, after which, Julie offered incense, Max tea, and Donna sweets.  Each offered with a dedication which all participants were invited to join in ...

Sweet tea was offered over the baby Buddha with chanting...

Glenda offered a poem written for the occasion of Buddha's Birthday...

And a closing celebratory "Happy Birthday!"

Introduction and Question/Response programs

 This weekend there were several special programs at Shao Shan Temple.  

On Saturday, May 1st, we had the Introduction program, welcoming several new people to Temple programs.  The Introduction program is a 1 hour program, offered every 6-8 weeks, introducing the Temple, outlining current programs with a chance to ask questions.

Sunday was our first "Question-Response Program".  This program gave the opportunity for participants to ask questions about practice, about the Zen tradition, about the Temple or about applying teachings to a particular life situation.

April online Zazenkai

On an early spring Sunday morning, April 18th, we joined together online supporting one another in a morning of intensive practice. This month's online 1/2 day meditation retreat (Zazenkai) was well-attended with both new and familiar participants.  The day's program included opening & closing ceremonies, zazen(sitting meditation), kinhin(walking meditation), and a Dharma Talk.  Rev. Kenzan gave a Dharma Talk on "Living our life as a prayer".

Learning something new - children's program

For April's Children's Program we celebrated the full arrival of spring (we think!). We first shared some of the things we've been noticing in nature, including the emergence of spring flowers, like crocuses, coltsfoot and daffodils, lots of bird calls, and plenty of sun. 

We also checked in on the zinnia seed we planted last month, which had sprouted and was about an inch tall. 

We then read and acted out the book Watch Me Throw the Ball, an Elephant and Piggie book by Mo Willems. In the book Piggie is excited to have fun while learning to throw a ball, while Elephant feels it is very important to practice seriously and develop the skill to throw a ball properly. In the end we discussed how we can learn something from each of them, and we practiced meditating together with qualities of both Elephant and Piggie, upright and alert while also relaxed, joyous, and playful.