26th Anniversary Celebration/Ceremony!

 On Sunday, September 13th, we commemorated Shao Shan Temple's 26th Anniversary - 26 years since the Opening Ceremony in the year 2000.  

Prior to the Ceremony itself, there was the option of a time of meditation.

An important aspect of Anniversary Ceremonies now is honoring Shao Shan Temple's founding abbot - Taihaku Nishiren Diaosho - who created, envisioned and manifested this beautiful place of practice.  There was the option of offering incense for her during the Heart Sutra chanting

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.  

The celebration was followed with abundant refreshments and fiddle music!

September Introduction to Shao Shan Temple

 

Saturday morning, September 5th, amidst trees heavily laden with crabapples, was an in-person "Introduction to Shao Shan Temple" program.  Fifteen new people travelled from near and far to come together to learn about Shao Shan programs.  Julie joined as a sangha representative.  The Introduction program offers an overview of the Temple, history, programs offered, a short guided meditation, the opportunity to ask questions and a brief tour of the grounds.  

Nature Spirits Pilgrimage 2026

Amidst light mist, 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.

 All of nature joined in our ceremony as we were joined by little orange newts, hopping toads and the hooting of owls.  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.  We sat in meditation on top of White Jewel Mountain and in the Temple.

The program was followed by a light lunch including vegetables fresh from the Temple Leafye Garden.

Maintenance Weekend 2026

This year's Maintenance Weekend was August 14-16, 2026.  Work included: weeding, cleaning, harvesting vegetables, processing vegetables for storage, sewing, painting, sanding and setting up the Mountain Retreat tent.

Deep gratitude to everyone who joined together as the life and breath of Shao Shan Temple!

Wawasiki Pilgrimage 2026

 

Shao Shan Temple's founding abbot, Taihaku Roshi, began her spiritual practice at Wawasiki Ashram in the 1960s.  Wawasiki is only 15minutes from Shao Shan Temple and it was always Taihaku's wish/intention that a connection be maintained between Shao Shan and Wawasiki.

In this spirit, an intimate group of us paid homogage to Taihaku Roshi in the Temple small room 

and then pilgimaged together to Wawasiki.At Wawasiki, we met with one of the community members and then we sat meditation in that sacred space.