Animal senses & tasty gifts - children's program

We celebrated our fully in-person Children's Program this month by appreciating the great abundance of late summer. We started with gratitude for the shelter of the temple awnings during a beautiful rainstorm, while we shared interesting things that we have observed in nature. We then explored our various animal senses (deer ears, fox walking, bear nose, owl eyes, and groundhog taste) as we ventured on a nature walk to the vegetable garden. Along the way we encountered numerous gifts: brilliant red dahlia flowers, tart crabapples, pungent spearmint, juicy blueberries, and crunchy carrots, among many others. We then helped the Garden Day crew with planting, weeding, and harvesting in the vegetable garden. We reflected on the many gifts we continue to receive from Taihaku, who dedicated her life to caring for this land and community.

Temple Nature/Land Greeting

 Every year in August we have a time of greeting and gratitude to the Temple land and all the nature and protecting spirits that support our practice.

This year's simplified program, on Saturday's beautiful sunny morning, was rich in experience.  We began in front of the Temple and walked with chanting past the Peace Pole garden, the supporting buildings, the pet cemetery, down to Connie's Pond, then back up to the Cemetery and continuing up to White Jewel Mountain, then down the other side to the vegetable garden and back through the woods, past the house to the front of the Temple and closing with a poem written by Taihaku.

Walking with chanting

Standing meditation on top of White Jewel Mountain

Food offering (fish!) at Connie's Pond

Community Meeting - July 24

 

On Saturday, June 24 the Shao Shan Temple Community met to discuss the status of the temple, now that the 49-day period of official mourning for Taihaku had ended.  Some Sangha members participated in person in the Sangha Hall and others participated via Zoom.  Kenzan opened the meeting with a brief report regarding succession plans, preparations for Taihaku’s formal funeral in September, a financial update, temple programming,  and matters related to the transfer of Taihaku’s land to the Shao Shan Temple non-profit organization.  A question-and-answer period followed.  Members of the sangha asked a variety of questions ranging from new programming,  to how best to support Kenzan and the temple.  It was clear from the discussion that the sangha was fully supportive of Kenzan’s leadership and together were ready to begin a new chapter in Taihaku’s 700-year plan for Shao Shan.  Thank you to those who provided light refreshments for the meeting.

49 Day Ceremony honoring Rev. Taihaku

Sunday, July 11th, 2021, was the 49th day since the passing of Rev. Taihaku Priest into final nirvana.  Shao Shan Temple sangha and extended community joined together for a time of offerings, chanting, dedications and sharing.  Many shared their gratitude for Rev. Taihaku's passionate enthusiasm, her heartfelt caring, her authentic dedication and her embodiment of the Dharma teachings.  Even as we close this formal time of transition, mourning and honoring,  her presence continues to be felt through the Temple and to inspire us in our practice.

 

The Vines Connecting Us - garden-children's program

 

In honor of Taihaku's love of children and gardening, we broadcast this month's Children's Program from Taihaku's Vegetable Garden. 

We also tried our first "hybrid" Children's Program, in which some participants joined virtually and some in person for the first time ever. For the program we read and acted out the book Squabbling Squashes, written by Carol Lingman and Shohaku Okumura and illustrated by Minette Mangahas. The book takes place at the garden of a Japanese monastery, where several squashes are arguing about who is bigger and who the monks like more. One monk comes to teach the squashes how to be more peaceful through meditation, and also to recognize their vined interconnectedness. 

We then practiced meditating and imagining vines connecting us to all beings. 

The in-person participants then assisted with the Community Garden Day, caring for the abundant plants that Taihaku started several months ago, which we all now continue to carry forward.