Meditation Retreat - first snow

With the change of seasons -the weather becomes colder and our focus becomes more interior.  This was    reflected in the well-attended sesshin (meditation retreat) this past weekend. Beginning with the powerful, ancient purification and confession ceremony: Ryakufusatsu, the weekend included sitting and walking meditation, delicious meals with garden vegetables, a Dharma Talk by Kenzan on the Lotus Sutra, the first snow of the season and a celebratory closing tea with treats at the end.  Thanks to all who particiated.

Memorial Ceremony - 1st annual

Last night was a beautiful fire-lit ceremony in the mossy wooded Shao Shan Temple Cemetery.

The Memorial Ceremony was the first of what we hope will be an annual event.  It is a special time to honor deceased loved ones and those who are interred in the Shao Shan Temple Cemetery.  The ceremony included some elements of the Obon Ceremony that we have usually celebrated in August (a time to honor the ancestors and to invite them to be with us for a celebration).  We included our spiritual lineage as well as deceased loved ones. Gratitude to all who participated in this meaningful occasion and to all those who have gone before us and made it possible.

May Universal Brilliance prevail!

Leaf Mandalas & Balancing Branches

Amidst falling golden leaves, the teens in the family program today, explored intentionally impermanent art (inspired by the outdoor sculptures of Andy Goldsworthy).  They created balancing branch sculptures and leaf mandalas and other designs and at the end of the program shared them with their parents. 


 Also Taihaku led a guided meditation for teens&parents and a discussion for the parents.

Visitors from Afar & Chanting Pilgrimage

Shao Shan Temple was honored this past weekend to welcome Ishibashi Shonin (Oshonin-san),  a monk from the Nipponzan Myohoji Order.  





Oshonin-san was instrumental in the initial founding of Shao Shan Temple.

He led a chanting session during the Saturday morning program.  

On Sunday, amidst beautiful fall foliage, we had a 5 mile Chanting Pilgrimage.  Walking a loop beginning and ending at the Temple, we went along dirt roads and mountain trails, including the top of Little Sacred Mountain.

NAMU MYO HO REN GE KYO

Also recently we had a visit from Ranbir, from London, .  Ranbir was a couple of weeks at Hokyoji during the time Taihaku trained there.  This was his first visit to a Zen Temple in the United States.

Ranbir preparing to go up to White Jewel Mountain Retreat