News - Great Vow

Kaz Tanahashi
Kaz Tanahashi
January 27

On January 20 - 22 we were happy to host Kaz Tanahashi at Great Vow. Kaz led a calligraphy retreat, and on Saturday gave a calligraphy performance (photos from the performance appear on this page). The calligraphy performance was themed on Kaz's teaching of the Ten Laws on the Art of Joyful Living, which are offered below.

 


 

Ten Laws on the Art of Joyful Living

 
1.  Your happiness is more important than anything else.
2.  The happier you are, the more you can help others.
3.  Smiling makes you happy.
4.  The more relaxed you are, the happier you are.
5.  A moment of meditation can help you refresh yourself.
6.  The lower your expectations are, the happier you are.
7.  Happiness attracts happiness.
8.  The ultimate healing is to live joyfully at each moment.
9.  The more fully you face your own death, the more joyous you become.
10. You can always improve your art of joyful living.


Jogen's Shusso Hossen
Jogen's Shusso Hossen
December 30

On December 11 Jogen Salzberg completed his year as Shusso in a Shusso Hossen ceremony. During the ceremony Jogen gave a talk on Case 18 of the Blue Cliff Record "The National Teacher's Seamless Monument". He then answered questions from the community about the case, and his experiences during his year as Shusso.

As with each Shusso who graduates, a pine tree will be planted on the monastery grounds in recognition of Jogen's efforts and sincere practice.

 

Precepts Ceremony
Precepts Ceremony
September 7

On Sunday, September 4th a joint 5-Precepts and Jukai ceremony was held at Great Vow Zen Monastery. 

Five people took the five precepts and received a wagessa. Three people took Jukai and received a lineage chart showing their place in our lineage, as well as a rokusu (small representation of the Buddha's robe) and a new Dharma name.

Pictured above, in front of the table, from left to right:

Monica - Jikin    -     Betty - Reiyu     -       Amy - Kisei

 

24 Hour Chant for Peace 2011
24 Hour Chant for Peace 2011
August 10

On August 5 - 6 Great Vow hosted the 9th Annual 24 Hour Chant for Peace.  

The 24 Hour Interfaith Chant for Peace is an annual event at the monastery bringing together many spiritual traditions to share their unique expressions of devotion. This year we began with an amazing two hour offering from Shantala which kept the energy high through the entire event. Many groups returned who have been attending since the first Chant for Peace in 2003.

Next year's 10th annual Chant for Peace will be August 10th-11th; be sure to mark your calendars!

Click here to view more images from this event, and previous 24 Hour Chants for Peace

Jizo Bon
Jizo Bon
August 2

On July 30 we celebrated Jizo Bon at Great Vow. Jizo Bon is a traditional celebration in Japan, and we have adapted it for our community. The activities began at 3pm and included painting lanterns, shakuhachi music, Obon dancing, dinner, a shadow play, desert, and finally a lantern procession through the Jizo Garden. The evening ended with a Ksitigarbha ceremony, and fireworks.

View more photos of the event by clicking here

Buddha's Birthday
Buddha's Birthday
May 19

On Sunday, May 8 we celebrated Buddha's Birthday at Great Vow. The celebration included the traditional ceremony of bathing the baby Buddha with sweet tea. There was also a shadow play of the story of the Buddha, and a birthday cake.

Watching the Shadow PlayWatching the Shadow Play

Shadow PlayShadow Play

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buddha's CakeBuddha's Cake

5 Precepts Ceremony at Great Vow April 24th
5 Precepts Ceremony at Great Vow April 24th
April 28

Congragulations to Jenefer, Amy, Brad and Bob on taking the 5 Precepts. May your vows and wagessa serve you well. Here are some pictures of the event.

 

Apr 2011 5 PCPTS GV: Hogen and ChozenApr 2011 5 PCPTS GV: Hogen and Chozen

 

Amy and others 5 precept 2: Hogen and Chozen Talking about the 5 PreceptsAmy and others 5 precept 2: Hogen and Chozen Talking about the 5 Precepts

Precept Takers Kneel Before the TeachersPrecept Takers Kneel Before the Teachers

Precept Takers Doing BowsPrecept Takers Doing Bows

BowsBows

Taking VowsTaking Vows

Bob Receives His WagessaBob Receives His Wagessa

Jennifer Recieves Her WagessaJennifer Recieves Her Wagessa

Words from Hogen
Words from Hogen
March 18

Dear Sangha,

There is so much in the news that reminds me of the first noble observation of Buddhism: that there are problems, serious problems everywhere.  From the giant catastrophes such as the earthquake in Japan, the violence in Libya and the 450,000 people displaced by civil war in the Ivory Coast to one family’s struggles with illness and joblessness. Everywhere we turn we are reminded that no one is safe from difficulty and distress.  It is almost impossible not to become anxious when we look honestly at the possible disruptions and challenges that we are facing and may have to face.  What hope do we have?  How can we live?  What can we rely upon?

One thing is certain, that when confronted with life’s very real challenges, knowing theories about timeless wisdom is no help.  When we are laying in bed at night and overwhelming anxiety wells up in our hearts, knowing how we ‘should’ respond does not help.  When we are hungry even world class photos of food are not filling.  Rocked by trauma, how we are ‘supposed’ to feel, what we ‘should’ understand, what we ‘think’ we know, is of little support.  A real catastrophe washes away all our hopes, dreams, shoulds and oughts.

For me, this is when spiritual practice becomes extremely compelling.  Usually, our spiritual and psychological lives revolve around how to be more happy, effective or successful. But when we know death is coming (and a lot sooner than we hoped) there are more urgent questions: “What is it that is alive right here?”  “Where can I turn for help?” “What is real right now?”  “Who is the one who is suffering?”  “What is the truth that is always present?”  When we are compelled to ask these questions no one else’s answers are of any use.  What we have read, believe or been told will not do!  We must know for ourselves!

Of course, writing about this matter requires words and so it seems that these questions are intellectual and require thinking.  These questions are like the finger pointing at the moon. The words only direct our attention to what is more intimate than words.  What is more intimate than words is our direct experience.  It is not a particular experience.  We naturally meet crises with an intense aliveness, a compelling demand from deep inside us to look at what is real.  It may present as anxiety, or numbness,  anger, deep depression, or curiosity, but whatever our experience our attention is caught.  It is our deepest life saying, “pay attention!”

This is what we can always take refuge in – the compelling experience of being alive.  This experience is the essence of all seeing, hearing and feeling.  It permeates all body, emotions and thought.  In fact everything that comes forward whether we regard it as magnificent or dreadful comes from the same source.  No matter what comes towards us or from within us, this is our ultimate refuge.

This attention to the source of life is a refuge available at all times, in every place.  But we must practice and recognize it.  Initially we have to learn to turn our attention away from our thoughts and conceptual mind.  We let the churning of our minds still, like allowing the mud to settle so we can see the water.  But, then we turn our awareness to seeing both mud and water, to seeing thought and the space in which it is held.   We experience life and creation, death and destruction and the space in which they are held.  We see ourselves respond completely too each changing condition.  And whether our responses are skillful or unskillful they are all held in the dreamlike nature of our own life.  This is the essence of practice.  This is refuge.

 
Hogen Bays
Co-Abbot Great Vow Zen Monastery

 

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