Year: 2016

The word courage comes from the Latin coeur, which means ‘heart’ – it originally meant to tell the story of who you are with your whole heart. Shin’ei speaks to fully inhabiting our lives, seeing things all the way through. Who is it you think you are and whose story is it anyway? This talk… Read more »

Save the date for a celebratory event the first Saturday of April. On April 2nd we will put up the workshop building. We’re going to make it a festive afternoon and evening, with a barbecue dinner and a band with a caller and dancing. The event doubles as our annual fundraiser, raising funds to help… Read more »

As a result of your gifts and pledges, we are moving forward to complete the kitchen. Appliances (refrigerator, dishwashers, microwave) were delivered today. Tiles for the kitchen backsplash (graciously donated by Ann Sachs) were completed and grouted, and they look beautiful with the cabinets and the countertops. The new trash and recycling building is up,… Read more »

We had a very successful fall, and raised the funds needed to finish the Sodo and the workshop. You helped us pass our stated goals for the Indiegogo crowdfunding, the August-December Matching Challenge, and the three-year Lotus Blooming Campaign as a whole (see chart). Even better, we did so faster than planned: Lotus Blooming was… Read more »

Sometimes the troubles of the world overwhelm us, and we sink into despair. We may feel depressed or angry as we see the suffering around us. Despair is actually a crucial experience in practice. How do we work with this state and the accompanying emotions? How do we move forward with compassion to ease suffering… Read more »

This Sunday we will celebrate Nehan, a festival that commemorates the death of Shakyamuni Buddha. It celebrates the transmission of the Dharma (teaching) throughout the ages – a transmission that is not dependent on the physical presence of the original teacher. After the Nehan ceremony, Bukkai’s talk will be based on the Buddha’s last words… Read more »

As a result of your gifts, work continues full speed ahead in the kitchen. We installed the cabinets last week so they could be templated for counter tops. This week, they are being moved to allow for plumbers and electricians to work toward installation of sinks and appliances. Sherman and Jiko help Fujaku with this.… Read more »

In Dogen’s chapter Kajo he says that the thoughts and words of the ancestors are “everyday tea and rice.” Having just returned from a sesshin in which this fascicle, which translates as “Everyday Activity,” was studied, Seido offers some reflections on Dogen’s meaning within the context of our lineage tradition. On Valentines Day, this talk… Read more »

As a result of your gifts, work continues on the kitchen, with the cabinets in the process of being installed. The convection oven has come in. Countertops are planned, and will take a while. We are hoping to cook in the kitchen for Jukai. Once we have a working kitchen, the building will feel more… Read more »

On February 7, 2016, Kakumyo Lowe-Charde was installed as Co-Abbot Pro Tem. This begins his kessei term, where he serves as co-abbot, training his own shuso, for a period of 11 months, when he will be tested. More than 80 people witnessed at least some part of this ceremony, many participating in it in various… Read more »

This Sunday, February 7, a special ceremony will take the place of the usual Sunday service and Dharma Talk. It includes a procession where the incoming Co-Abbot Pro Tem arrives at the temple, doing bows, intoning dharma phrases, and is greeted by the sangha amidst much ceremonial. The procession includes temple officers and representatives from… Read more »

On January 30, 2016, Kei’un finished her year as shuso with a Hossen ceremony. She presented a verse from the “Litany of the Great Compassionate One” (part of Vespers), and invited all attending to question her about it. Om to the one who leaps beyond all fear… Thy life is the completion of meaning; It… Read more »

Sodo front steps, engawa building and kitchen cabinets are the main focus for volunteer effort this week. Come and help us out, and enjoy the benefits of work practice with Sangha. We can use your help anytime that we’re on schedule and not on retreat, just let Ikuo (ikuohull at gmail.com) know beforehand so we… Read more »

A recurring theme in Kyogen’s Dharma Talks was finding or discovering what is ours to do. This Sunday David Choten Robinson will present a student talk on how his practice and work with this theme informed his ability to meet opportunities and challenges while living in Uganda in 2012. This talk was given January 31.

After an impressive volunteer effort, our engawa decking is nearing completion. This Saturday afternoon (starting at 1:30 after the Kanzeon Festival), and during our regular Wednesday work party, we will make a final push to lay the remaining boards. Come help us – the more hammers banging the better! Next week we begin installing our… Read more »

Two of our region’s leading foundations recently joined our efforts for Planting Zen in Siskiyou Square with grants totaling $55,000. Unlike other grants we have received, these gifts support construction costs associated with our project. Oregon Community Foundation granted $35,000 toward completion of Phase 1, and Spirit Mountain Community Fund awarded $20,000 toward our Community… Read more »

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