Living the Essential Buddhist Teachings - Retreat

This past weekend, January 14&15 was a retreat on the core Buddhist teachings and precepts.  For the first time, this year, Shao Shan Temple Formal Students were invited to select a topic that has been important in their life and present their experience working with a given precept or the 4 Noble Truths or the 8 Fold 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.

Winter animals - family program

For January's Family Program, we were delighted to have an in-person gathering on a beautiful, cold, sunny morning. We began by sharing our names and something we've noticed recently about the natural world, such as animal tracks in the dusting of snow, frozen mud, the varying amounts of snow in different places, and some surprise Canada geese in a nearby field. 

We then explored and acted out with our bodies how different types of animals manage the challenges of winter through body changes, migration, hibernation, dormancy, staying active, and storing food, and how humans similarly use a variety of strategies to survive and thrive in winter. We practiced some "hibernation meditation" and then made pine cone peanut butter bird feeders to support our feathered friends (and probably some furry ones as well) at this time of year. After hanging up the bird feeders in the woods, we joined the other adults in the Zendo for some bell ringing meditation and ended with a group OM

Bowing Week 2023

 As we begin the new year, here at Shao Shan Temple, we have again begun the year with "Bowing Week".  Every day this week in the early morning beginning the day with 108 prostrations before our usual online morning program.  With each bow chanting "Namu Kie Butsu", "Namu Kie Ho", "Namu Kie So".  

Shuryu Suzuki Roshi on Bowing (Zen Mind Beginner's Mind)

By bowing we are giving up ourselves. To give up ourselves means to give up our dualistic ideas. So there is no difference between zazen practice and bowing. Usually to bow means to pay our respects to something which is more worthy of respect than ourselves. But when you bow to Buddha you should have no idea of Buddha, you just become one with Buddha, you are already Buddha himself. When you become one with Buddha, one with everything that exists, you find the true meaning of being. When you forget all your dualistic ideas, everything becomes your teacher, and everything can be the object of worship.

New Year's Eve 2023

 

Shao Shan Temple observed the New Year's Eve of 2023 

with both an early-evening in-person ceremony 

and a later-evening online ceremony.

The in-person 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.

The online New Year's Eve was meditation followed by a ceremony including a 2022 Shao Shan Slideshow, ringing of bells, contemplating the passing of time, "touching the earth", and several readings.

2023 New Year's Greeting Cards

 Shao Shan Temple's

2023 New Year's Greetings

have been sent!  

Below is the message on the back of each.

-------------------------------------

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2023

This prayer tablet is an expression of Shao Shan Temple’s deep wishes and dedication to the welfare of the community.  It is a bridge between the temple and your everyday practice

This has been placed on the temple’s altar - it has been charged with the great energy of faith and courage. 

This prayer tablet is designed to be displayed in your home to bring peace and protection for the upcoming year.

This year’s message is

VAST -

OFFERINGS

( KO – KEN)

May peace and blessings extend from your home to the wider world in the upcoming year.

Each card is hand done in a multiple step process.  

Above photo shows the cards with the ink drying after being stamped with the red star and gold circle. 

To see additional detailed photos of the card construction process, see previous years' blog entries (2022 & 2021)