Gratitude & Work Practice Family Program

For this November's Children's Program we explored the theme of gratitude. We practiced "hot chocolate meditation," pretending to smell delicious hot chocolate (or another warm beverage of choice) on the breath in through the nose, then imagining cooling the drink down with the out breath. We then read a story about things that make us happy and created our own gratitude journals to bring home. After enjoying a scrumptious snack, we joined the adults in wood-stacking work practice, as a way to express our gratitude to the temple by participating in its care.

Red Pine Removal

The red pines which threatened the Temple buildings were removed the week of October 28th, 2019.  The project was carried out by a professional team which had a level of precision and safety combined with respect for the Temple.  This phase of the project has been completed successfully and we look forward to cleaning up, removing stumps and settling it in.  

Autumn Leaves Family Program

For the October Family Program we celebrated autumn while exploring the life cycles of trees and leaves. We practiced meditating as trees, dug into the layers of earth to find decomposing leaves from various autumns past, made leaf rubbings, attempted to catch leaves as they fell from trees, raked leaves to care for the Pet Cemetery, and made a big leaf pile to jump in. 
Inside the temple we listened to the bell with our whole being and several children tried ringing the bell themselves.

Annual Remembrance Ceremony

The Annual Remembrance Ceremony took place Friday evening October 4th.  The dark evening was magically lit with candles and firelight.

There was time to honor deceased loved ones, the spiritual lineage and those who are interred in the Shao Shan Temple Cemetery.

The evening included a candlelight procession up to the cemetery and chanting. 

Rev. Eitoku's visit - Sept 28&29

Shao Shan Temple was honored to host visiting teacher: Rev. Eitoku Kato this past weekend, September 28 & 29.   Rev. Eitoku is the Abbot of Ryougonji Temple in Japan and a dharma brother of Rev. Taihaku.  They spent several years practicing together at Hokyoji Monastery in Japan.

On Saturday, he and his wife joined the study group and then gave a demonstration of Baika - a type of melodic Buddhist hymns. On Sunday, Rev. Eitoku gave an inspiring Dharma talk on compassion and answered questions over tea.

Thanks to both Rev. Eitoku and his wife for making the long trip to be part of Soto Zen Buddhism in America.

Sunday teaching - group photo