Month: October 2014

From Saturday, November 1 at 3pm, to Sunday, November 2 at 6:30 am we will hold a Founders Vigil at the Siskiyou House, 3105 NE 84th Avenue. This date is close to the anniversaries of the deaths of both of our founders, Keido Chisan Koho Zenji (d. November 1, 1969) and Roshi Jiyu Kennett (d.… Read more »

If you watch your mind with any regularity, you’ve noticed that awareness is heightened when we realize that things are not as we expect, and is lowered when we perceive things as routine. But, like all generalizations, there are exceptions. Understanding these provides some useful handholds for practice. This talk was given on Sunday, November… Read more »

On Thursday, November 6, at 7pm, we will do the 49-Day Memorial Service for Abbot Kyogen Carlson. This will be at the First Unitarian Church downtown at 1211 SW Main St. There is limited street parking, but there are pay lots across the street and nearby. We encourage carpools and alternative transportation when possible. Many… Read more »

Our first ceremony in the new Sodo was a wet one. On Friday, in anticipation of Sunday ceremonies, they tarped the roof, which was sheathed with plywood, but still had gaps that let the rain in. The tarp was supposed to keep the rain out. However, Saturday we had high winds most of the day.… Read more »

The Segaki Festival is for “feeding the hungry ghosts,” all those beings desperate for the truth but unable to accept the teaching they need. We set up an altar for their benefit, laden with food but with no Buddha or Bodhisattva images nearby, representing the compassionate giving of truth without doctrine. We focus on cleansing… Read more »

On October 16, almost 20 people showed up to do priming and taping of the outside walls. The reason for doing this is to cut down on drafts and to make the walls as tight as possible. As you can see (above), the wheelchair ramp has been started, and the roof is largely sheathed (that… Read more »

Twice a year, the sangha has an opportunity to hear from our governing bodies and to ask questions and give feedback. This forum is primarily sponsored by the Board of Directors, giving updates on where we are with the multiple transitions we are going through. The Dharma Council also gave a brief report. Listen to… Read more »

The roof sheathing is well underway as of this morning. Soon the inside of the Sodo will be protected from the rain. The last of the below-ground pipe systems has been completed. The sewer line is installed and has been buried. It runs from the Sodo to the pump station and on to a connection… Read more »

On October 12, Abbot Gyokuko Carlson took on a Zen koan that goes like this: Dogo and Zen-gen went to a house to show sympathy. Zen-gen hit the coffin and asked, “Alive or dead?” Dogo replied, “I won’t say alive, I won’t say dead.” Zen-gen demanded, “Why won’t you say?” Dogo repeated, “I won’t say.”… Read more »

Bukkai will speak on one of the Jataka Tales. In our culture, the full moon brings up images of a “Man in the Moon,” but in the East, particularly in Korea, you can’t talk about the full moon without thinking about the rabbit in the moon. She read and commented on the story and everyone… Read more »

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