Zen Summer Camp for All Ages! - August 2026

 

The fifth year of Zen Summer Camp for All Ages was a blast! This year we offered a theme that extended throughout the weekend, which was the "Bodhisattva's Four Methods of Guidance." These methods are: giving, kind speech, beneficial actions, and cooperation.

Each morning the entire group gathered in the zendo for Temple Time, which included meditating to the sound of the big bell, setting up the altar, introducing ourselves, and singing a song, written and composed by Kenzan, about the Bodhisattva's Four Methods of Guidance. The children (and child-like adults) then departed for their morning activities. Each day we began the children's activities with a name game and a team-building cooperative activity, such as working together with a parachute, passing a hula hoop around the circle while all holding hands, and playing "Bodhisattva tag." We then ate snack and headed off on an adventure. 

On the first day we journeyed to the Leafye Garden, where we enjoyed munching on the bounty of the vegetable garden and then offering green beans and carrots to the community for lunch. On the second day we read the story Roxaboxen by Alice McLerran, about a group of children who created and adventured in an imaginative playscape. We then carved walking sticks, which also doubled as imaginary horses. Afterwards, some of the group created their own version of Roxaboxen in the woods near Connie's Pond, while others hiked up to the tent platform on White Jewel Mountain. For the third day we split up into four groups and Jisho facilitated a community theater extravaganza about the Bodhisattva's Four Methods of Guidance. Each group picked one method of guidance (such as giving), and created a short skit, first illustrating what happens when we do not practice the method, and then the alternative when we do practice the method. The adults joined the children in the woods as audience members for a wonderful theater performance.

On each day, while the children adventured, the adults had a 30minute guided meditation, a time of discussion and an activity.  On Friday the activity was yoga for meditation, on Saturday calligraphy and on Sunday forest bathing.

After these activities, we all reconvened for delicious lunches, followed by a food offering walk and a closing circle.

Many thanks to Jisho, Daishin and family for traveling from Zen Fields in Ames, Iowa for the fourth year in a row to support this program, as well as to the volunteers who helped make it happen. We hope to see you at Zen Summer Camp next year!

Trees! - July Family Program

 For July’s Family Program we celebrated the gifts of trees. 

We began by sharing things we had been noticing about the natural world, including the warm temperatures, foggy mist, and interesting animal encounters. We then discussed our relationship with trees, and how everything from the air we breathe to the shelters we live in, the fires that keep us warm, and the paper we use to read and write are all thanks to the trees. We practiced a dancing tree meditation, in which we observed various trees and then moved our bodies as the trees moved. We then went into the woods to get to know several different kinds of trees. We explored how knowing the names of things can help us feel more familiar with them, but also how direct observation can help us truly get to know and connect with what is right in front of us. 

Once acquainted with some of the trees in the forest, we made various kinds of leaf art, including leaf rubbings and painted leaf stamps. 

Finally, we joined the adults in the zendo for a purification ritual, bathing ourselves in incense smoke, also a gift from the trees.

Jukai - Bodhisattva Vows - 2026

 

Shao Shan Temple

Sunday, July 5, 2026

The ancient formal ceremony of Jukai was held on Sunday.  This year Felicia Messuri made the commitment to become a formal student of Shao Shan Temple.  She received the 16 precepts, a Buddhist name and has become Kenzan’s student.  

Felicia's new Dharma Name is TEI-JIN meaning "Stable Benevolence".  

This ceremony was an occasion for the families and friends of those receiving the precepts and Sangha members to join together in support of the commitment that Felicia is entering.  It was followed by light refreshments.

Thanks to all who joined in a spirit of renewal and intentions which support a life beneficial for all.

Summer Mini Practice Period 2026

 

This year, June 19-28, 2026 was an 10 day Summer mini-practice period with the opportunity to join a monastic-like schedule for all or part of the time.  

The first seven days included 5 periods of zazen (meditation), formal meals, chanting services three times a day, and blocks of work practice.  Participants engaged in a variety of work practice including: sewing, cooking, weeding, and painting.

The final four days was a meditation retreat (sesshin) and closed with an informal lunch.

Sewing Wagesa envelopes

Outdoor bowing for the Summer Solstice Ceremony

Food offering walk in the rain

Vegetable garden weeding

Umpan - signalling meal time

Making breakfast gomasio(sesame salt)

Taihaku Roshi's 5-year Memorial Ceremony

This past Sunday, May 24th, 2026 was the 5th year anniversary of the passing of our beloved founding abbot, Taihaku Nishiren Diaosho.  

We honored her this year with a full day combination of meditation retreat (1/2 day Zazenkai), ceremony of chanting and offering incense, a procession up to the cemetery with flower offerings, followed by an abundant potluck.  

The cool rainy day was black-fly-free(!) and was made brighter and warmer by our coming together with deep reverence and affection.