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.

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.

Buddha's Birthday - 2026

 

On an unusually chilly May Sunday (were there a few snowflakes?), we joined together for a warm-hearted celebration of the Buddha's Birth.

An enthusiastic group gathered to celebrate Buddha's Birthday at Shao Shan Temple and nature joined in with the calling of the baby ravens in their nearby nest. 

Participants were invited to join in a noble procession carrying parasols, walking sticks decorated with colored streamers, bubble wands and little bells. The procession was accompanied by bells, drums, and conch. 

There was the telling of the story of Buddha's birth.

Everyone had the opportunity to ladle pure water over a statue of the baby Buddha accompanied by Shakuhachi flute music. 

The ceremony was followed by a delicious abundant potluck, and gifts from Shao Shan for people's home altars! 

April Garden Opening Ceremony & Work Day

 

This past Saturday was a Temple "Garden Opening Ceremony" to begin the garden growing season.  The ceremony included walking in procession around the garden chanting the "Marvelously Beneficial Disaster Preventing Dharani", ceremonially planting the first seeds, and chanting our "Garden Chant". We also read a Thich Nhat Hanh quote about being aware of what kinds of thoughts we "water" within ourselves - whether wholesome or unwholesome.

planting the first pea seeds

We worked pulling out last year's plants, tilling the soil and shaping the garden beds.

Garden altar foreground with many folks working

snacks were also available for work breaks!

Wow!  The Leafye Garden is transformed and ready for this year's season!  

Thank you to the many who helped! (just in time before another snow)