Thriving wetland residents

As spring begins to turn to summer, the wetlands surrounding Shao Shan Temple are teaming with life.  Beavers sculpt the landscape into terraced ponds thriving with geese, ducks, turtles and frogs.  (and black flies, mosquitoes, deer flies, ...)

Whenever we cast bread upon the water,

may we be mindful of the countless creatures who depend upon this water to survive.

Let us be good stewards of our water resources

for the benefit of all beings.

        Poem written for the Food Offering spot near the beaver dam 

        by Nancy Schultz 2019 Nature Retreat

In-person individual meetings

 As one of our first opportunities to return in-person to Shao Shan Temple, we are scheduling times for Shao Shan Temple regular participants to come for an individual time of meditation and meeting with Taihaku and/or Kenzan.

The meditation and meeting times take place in a screen gazebo set up outside the front of the Temple (black flies!) with face masks.

Welcome back!

Prayer for today

In these times of fear, anger and unrest, 

may we give to all those we meet or think about, 

the gift of respect, the gift of caring, the gift of fearlessness.  

May we see each person, being and thing as a shining jewel in the vast web of interconnectedness.  

Recognizing that we are not separate, 

recognizing that each has the spark of Buddha Nature.

May there be peace in the nation.  

Peace born of safety.  

Peace born of mutual respect and care.  

Peace born of lovingkindness.

New Shao Shan Temple Board Meets

The organizational aspects of Shao Shan Temple have matured in corresponse to the growth and needs of the Sangha.  As such, it has been necessary to have more complete and detailed Bylaws.  These were just recently approved.  Also new Board members have been elected to include several committed Formal Students of Shao Shan Temple.  The new Board will  continue defining and detailing Shao Shan Temple’s policies and guidelines.

Existing board members Taihaku and Kenzan welcome new Board Members: 

           Stella (Shaoren) Marrie

           Noah (Jikirin) Weinstein

           Max (Kinsho) Schlueter

With sincere gratitude also to the exiting Board Members, Anne Lynn and John Klee, for their nearly 15 years of service in support of Shao Shan Temple.  Thank you.

Buddha's Birthday Blessing

This morning, Sunday, May 24th, Shao Shan Temple hosted our first virtual Buddha's Birthday celebration with the intention to extend blessings to the world.  

Each participant had the opportunity to share a blessing or poem or simply offer a flower.  This sweet brief occasion allowed all to connect with each other and with the wish that all beings may awaken.

Awakening

 "In the past we understood that the material is also the sacred-- that spirit pervades the tangible world" -  Norman Fischer

Now the green world awakens

meaning it was only asleep

until causes and conditions--

the light and warmth of our tilted planet--

called it forth.

This dandelion is an awakened being;

she blooms not only for herself

but for the bumble bee, in matching jacket,

who draws his nourishment from her.

The lilac buds who slept all winter

on bare branches, tightly  wrapped

swell and burst their bundlings.

Fiddleheads rise up from their knobby, brown sleep

unfurl trustingly toward the light

softening into green feathers.

Through grass and leaves and flowers

we see our own awakening

we feel our own awakening,

we love our own awakening.

I am not separate from this shining dandelion

I am not separate from this graceful fern

I feel in me the purple promise of the lilac buds.

As one, we awaken.

Glenda Bissex

May 23, 2020 for Buddha's birthday