Bodhisattva Precept Ceremony 2025

 In January, Shao Shan Temple has a ceremony for formally receiving the first five Bodhisattva precepts and making a commitment to a Buddhist way of life.  This is also an occasion for Sangha members and the families and friends of those receiving the precepts to join together in support of the commitment being entered.   

This year, on Sunday, January 26th, 2025, Steven Melamed, Kyle Stevens and Arthur Demarais participated in this ceremony, receiving the five precepts.  Thanks to all who joined in a spirit of renewal and intentions which support a life beneficial for all. The ceremony was followed by a joyous time of refreshments and social connection.

Living the Essential Buddhist Teachings Retreat 2025

 

This past weekend, January 18th &19th was a retreat on the core Buddhist teachings and precepts.  This was the third year of this popular program where Shao Shan Temple Formal Students spoke on a topic that has been important in their life and present their experience working with a given precept or element of the 8-fold noble path.  This emphasized that these teachings are not abstract concepts but ways of being that we can all bring into our lives.

The weekend included several periods of meditation each day in addition to times of sharing and discussion, lunch and informal social time.  This year several people stayed overnight and had a full weekend retreat.

Beautiful variety awareness - January Family Program

 For January's in-person Family Program, the children explored the theme of paying close attention, particularly to differences and similarities. 

We started by sharing interesting things we had been noticing in nature, including the cold weather, the snow and varying types of snowflakes, and deer and other wildlife. We then played a game called Sharp Eyes, in which each person secretly changed one small thing about their appearance and the group tried to figure out the change. 

Next, we each selected a clementine from a large bowl of clementines and studied our clementine in depth, aided by the use of magnifying glasses, prior to returning it to the bowl. The clementines were then mixed up and each of us tried to find our particular clementine. Surprisingly, it wasn't nearly as hard as it seemed it would be! We discussed what seemed similar about the clementines, and also what made each one unique. After enjoying our clementines and noticing how

each slice and each bite was a little different, we practiced some breathing meditation, aware of similarities and differences in each breath. 

We then ventured outside and looked at the wide variety of snowflake shapes with magnifying glasses and under a stereoscope/microscope before joining the adults for some bell ringing meditation, in which each ringing of the bell was perfect and a little bit different. We closed with a group OM.

Bowing Week 2025

 As we begin the new year, here at Shao Shan Temple, we have again begun the year with "Bowing Week".  Every day this past week in the early morning beginning the day with 108 prostrations before our usual online morning program with people joining either in-person at the Temple or online from their own homes. 

We begin each day's bowing session with this chant:

The one who bows and the one who is bowed to are both, by nature, empty.

Therefore the communication between them is inexpressibly perfect.

Our practice is within the Net of Indra reflecting all Buddhas everywhere.

And my own person is reflected in all Buddhas, to whom with my whole life I go for refuge. 

(from Plum Village, "Touching the Earth gatha")

And with each bow chanting "Namu Kie Butsu", "Namu Kie Ho", "Namu Kie So".  

 

New Year's Eve 2025

Shao Shan Temple observed the New Year's Eve of 2025 with a full evening of meditation, ceremony, outside fire, refreshments and ringing of bells.

The  New Year's Eve began with meditation, followed by a time for a "personal year review" - reflecting on the past year and what we wish to continue and what we wish to refrain from.  

A vigorous Heart Sutra with drum accompanied people offering incense after which we proceeded to the outside fire circle.  

Celebratory refreshments and social time were enjoyed in the Sangha Hall.

We continued the Shao Shan tradition of 108 minutes of bell ringing. This sound meditation is an often surprising encounter with the changing subjective experience of the length of one minute.

Ending the year of the Dragon and entering the year of the Snake.

Happy New Year 2025!