October 2023
This is a long newsletter.
Be sure to look for the option at the end to view the full newsletter.
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The Two Great Times of Life
The late Master Nguyen Kim, who passed away several years ago, said that
"Fall is a special time of change. It is like our age as we approach winter, the Great Time of Death.
Then, we experience the Great Time of Rebirth again in the Spring.
“When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced.
Live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice.” Cherokee Proverb
I rather like this thought from our Native American brothers and sisters. ....... Thay Kozen
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RECURRING SERVICES - FALL 2023 SCHEDULE
All times are Pacific Time
SERVICES & STUDY in person and on ZOOM
SATURDAY Morning Service & Meditation 8:30am - 10am
8:30-9:00 Check-in; Service starts at 9:00
MONDAY - FRIDAY Morning Meditation 6:30am - 7:30am
M,W,F Evening Meditation 5:30pm - 6:30p
All above services take place at the Mt. Adams Buddhist Temple
46 Stoller Rd, Trout Lake WA 98650
2nd & 4th WEDNESDAY Thich Nhat Hahn Study Group 6:30pm
(for info about the study group, contact Bonnie at bon2626wit@att.net)
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SERVICES & STUDY In Person Only
TUESDAY Meditation 12 noon-1:00pm
1412 13th Street, Suite 200. Hood River, OR 97031
Last SUNDAY of month Meditation & Dharma Talk 2:00 - 3:00pm
Buu Hung Buddhist Temple 17808 NE 18th St, Vancouver WA
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Dear ones,
Today I would like to share about fear. Many great minds have spoken of this most ubiquitous of feelings. Buddha's teachings provide us with a way to overcome all fear.
There is an acronym that I think expresses Buddha's teachings.
"F.E.A.R. Face Everything and run or Face everything and rise". Hassan Noman
“A coward dies a thousand times before his death, but the valiant taste of death but once. It seems to me most strange that men should fear, seeing that death, a necessary end, will come when it will come.” William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar,
"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain." Frank Herbert, Dune
In the Abhaya Sutta, Shakyamuni Buddha said, “And who is the person who, subject to death, is not afraid or in terror of death? There is the case of the person who has abandoned passion, desire, fondness, thirst, fever, and craving for sensuality. Then he comes down with a serious disease. As he comes down with a serious disease, the thought does not occur to him, ‘O, those beloved sensual pleasures will be taken from me, and I will be taken from them!’ He does not grieve, is not tormented; does not weep, beat his breast, or grow delirious. This is a person who, subject to death, is not afraid or in terror of death.”
In the Heart of Great Perfect Wisdom Sutra "Without hindrance there is no fear."
Thich Nhat Hanh, the great Zen Master, not a stranger to danger. He explained one of the remedies to overcoming fear. He explained how understanding Oneness (Emptiness) and Dependent Arising helps us overcome fear: “The fourth notion to be thrown away is the notion of life span. We believe that we are born at one point in time, that we will die at another point in time, and that between is our life span. Most of us believe we’ll spend seventy, eighty, ninety, one hundred years on this planet and then we’ll be gone. When we look deeply, we see this is a wrong perception. In our minds, to be born means that from nothing we became something; to die means that from something we become nothing; and from someone we become no one.
May all beings be freed from the jailer that is fear..... in metta, Thay Kozen
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Every Saturday, - 10:30-3:30 - Saturday Helpers (see below for details)
OCTOBER 14 - Taking Refuge in The Precepts & Vows On line Zoom and in person
OCTOBER 21 - The Statues of Mt Adams Buddhist Temple (see below for details)
NOVEMBER - Buddhist pilgrimage to India (see below for details) CANCELLED
DECEMBER 31 - 108 bell ring in the New Year 2024
JANUARY 2024 - Buddhist pilgrimage to Vietnam & Cambodia (in planning stages- see below for more)
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I encourage everyone to do a minimum of a 1 week retreat and 2 additional 1-2 day retreats every every year. Recommended retreat centers are Deer Park in Escondido, CA, Great Vow in Clatskanie, OR, Cloud Mountain in Castle Rock WA.
...Thay Kozen
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Thich Minh Thien, (Thay Z)
Abbot of Budding Dharma
Arlington, Texas
Sangha In Your Practice
It is common in most Buddhist traditions to acclaim certain principles known as Taking Refuge. It is a statement made by an individual recognizing that the “Three Jewels” or principals in one’s individual practice becomes key to the practice itself. These jewels are named the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. The Buddha is a recognition of the traditional Teacher, Siddhartha Gautama, his teachings called Dharma given over 2500 years ago, and the community known as Sangha that adopted the Buddha’s teachings as guideposts for living.
When I began exploring the benefits of what the Buddha taught, I was mostly a singular practitioner, sitting in my meditation space alone, not interacting much with others; in fact not even realizing the strength that is available in being an active member of a sangha. My Teacher encouraged me to join sangha, and though I did not disagree, I did little to make that happen, I guess that reflecting back on my life, I was never much of a joiner. But here is what I learned the Sangha does provide.
1. Support and guidance: The sangha provides a supportive and nurturing environment for individuals on their spiritual journey. It offers guidance, teachings, and mentorship with experienced practitioners who can help each other understand and practice the teachings of the Buddha.
2. Preservation of teachings: The sangha plays a crucial role in preserving and transmitting the teachings of the Buddha. If there are monks and nuns in the sangha who dedicate their lives to the study and practice of the Dharma, their life practice ensures its continuity and offering to future generations.
3. Inspiration and role models: Being part of a spiritual community allows individuals to interact with experienced practitioners who have progressed further along the path. Their presence serves as an inspiration and motivation for others to deepen their practice and develop qualities like compassion, mindfulness, and wisdom.
4. Opportunities for learning and growth: Through participating in sangha activities such as group meditation sessions, Dharma talks, and retreats, practitioners have opportunities to learn from others' experiences and perspectives. This collective wisdom helps in one's personal growth and understanding of the teachings.
5. Social support and connection: Being part of a sangha provides a sense of belonging and community. It brings together like-minded individuals who share common values and aspirations, fostering a sense of social support, connection, and unity.
6. Practice of generosity and virtue: Sangha members can find opportunities to support other practitioners for personal needs, connection and group support of activities undertaken by the Sangha.
The Buddha said that the water in the four oceans has only one taste, the taste of salt, just as his teaching has only one taste, the taste of liberation. Therefore the elements of sangha are the taste of life, the taste of liberation, and we have to practice in order to become the salt. Thich Nhat Hanh said that a sangha is a community of friends practicing the dharma together in order to bring about and to maintain awareness. The bottomline is that the essence of a sangha is awareness, understanding, acceptance, harmony and love.
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
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Statues in Buddhism tell the story of great teachings.
We have 3 new statues at the temple. Each one tells a story about some aspect of Buddha's teachings.
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Ceremony celebrating the 30 foot statue of Kṣitigarbha
also know as Địa Tạng Bồ Tát, じぞうぼさつ, Jizō Bosatsu, 地藏菩薩, 지장보살 Jijang Bosal, พระกษิติครรภโพธิสัตว์, Sa Yi Nyingpo, and ས་ཡི་སྙིང་པོ་
On September 16, 500 people plus 30 monks and 15 nuns gathered to welcome the statue of Kṣitigarbha. Supported by sister Temples in Oregon, Washington, Texas, and Georgia, the crowd chanted Buddhist teachings, made offerings to the temple and attending clergy, ate delicious Vietnamese food, met new and old friends, and basked in the metta (loving kindness for all beings) and sunshine. It was a beautiful day made possible by the hard work and planning of dozens of people.
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Temporary Shakyamuni altar in new temple structure |
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Lay people lined the path as monks and nuns proceeded |
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Clergy walked through Tori Gate to Kṣitigarbha statue
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The Venerable Heng Lai (Left) and the Venerable Hogan Bays Roshi (Right) from Great Vow Monastery were officiants |
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The Tibetan Lama (left), joined Thay Kozen (center) and Thầy Hải Chánh (right) to dedicate the statue |
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Lay people made many offerings |
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Lion dancers ended the statue dedication ritual |
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The new parking lot was the scene of the main lion dance show.
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The following video shows the entire service, including the chanting the day before the dedication. If you want to start with the Saturday service, skip ahead to 35 minutes. This is a very long and mostly real-time video. You can play it at 2x speed by clicking on the "gear" icon. |
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Welcoming the statue of Budai
(also known as Bố Đại, 布袋; 포대, 布袋, Hotei Laughing or fat Buddha)
Budai is a nickname given to the ancient Chinese monk Qici, who is often identified with and venerated
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Saturdays Sept. 23-Oct. 7, Oct. 14
The Temple is offering a fall session of three classes for those interested in learning more about the foundations of Buddhism before the Taking Refuge ceremony in October. These prep classes are recommended but not absolutely necessary for participating in the Taking Refuge in The Precepts & Vows Ceremony on Saturday, October 14. The Precepts & Vows Ceremony sets an intention to follow the Buddha’s teaching and to do the best we can. This is a ceremony commonly taken over and over again, as we practice to be the best version of ourselves we can be. There is no passing or failing. There’s just doing our best to practice.
These classes and the ceremony will follow the regular Saturday morning meditation service which is from 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. They will follow the closing of the service shortly after 10:00 a.m.
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This is a long newsletter.
Be sure to look for the option at the end to view the full newsletter.
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A new educational offering at the Temple:
The Statues of Mt. Adams Buddhist Temple
What they represent and how to interact with them
The Temple is blessed with an amazing array of statues. There are statues as you enter the property, statues around a new square near the new temple site, statues in the temple, and statues scattered throughout the property and lining the paths of the contemplation garden. Have you ever wondered why all these statues are here and what they mean?
You may have heard that Buddhists do not worship a deity, but doesn’t it look like worship when you see bowing and offering to statues? What’s really going on? Is there a way for you to include these objects in your practice?
Thay Kozen will lead a group tour of the larger statues, focusing on their stories and the ways to interact with them on Saturday, October 21 at 10:15, directly after the Saturday Sangha. Come enjoy fall at the Abbey and learn a little more about the Buddhist heritage! We’ll meet in the parking lot between the temple and the Big Bell. You are welcome to bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the grounds afterwards. In the Northwestern spirit, we will walk rain or shine, so bring your raincoat if necessary.
Click the button if you are interested in this. There is no link, but your click will help us gauge interest.
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Who are we all?
Does Size Matter?
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Should I bow to you? Why?
Are You Gods?
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Buddhist Piigrimage to Vietnam
Thay Kozen will be leading a group to visit temples in Northern Vietnam and Angkor Wat In Cambodia at the beginning of January For more details, contact Thay Kozen by email RE: Vietnam Pilgrimage.
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If this email link does not work for you, use your email app to kozen1@embarqmail.com |
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One of the many beatiful Buddhist temples in northern Vietnam. |
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Angkor Wat, Cambodia, the largest religious structure in the world. |
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Our Sister Temple Holds Joyful Retreat |
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Buu-Hung Buddhist Monastery in Vancouver, WA, led by the Venerable Suco Hue Hong, supports our country Temple in many ways, providing support for ceremonies and for our new Temple. Our Rev. Scott leads a service there once a month. They held an “Eight Precepts” retreat at Mt. Adams Temple in September on a beautiful weekend. Students came from both the Vietnamese and American temples.
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Celebrants and Lay People in the Temple |
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A break for delicious, bountiful food |
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A great end at the Avalokiteshvara statue
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Volunteer Opportunities with the Temple
Volunteering to help others is part of the Eight-Fold Path: Right Action. We have the following opportunities for volunteering with the Temple.
Saturday Morning Help
We are explanding our Summer Saturday volunteer days and inviting volunteers to the Temple every Saturday from 10:30-3. Activities will vary by season. We started the harvest in our orchard in September, and we need to process the abundance into salable food: apple and pear sauce, butter, dried fruit, jams. Cooking or preserving experience in NOT required. Join like-minded friends of the Temple to produce money-making products to keep our lights on and our residents fed!
If you are interested iin continuing to see voluteer opportunities with the Temple, click the button below. No link, but it will help us determine future content.
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NORCOR Meditation
NORCOR is a 5-county jail and holding center in The Dalles. We have been teaching meditation to the Adults In Custody there since before the pandemic. The practices we teach (including the Metta Meditation, the 14-step meditation, and sitting meditation) give people tools that allow them to pause in times of confrontation, temptation, and stress. Our goal is to equip them to lead their best lives. Training requires a background check and brief training. All are welcome. If you have some time on Tuesday or Thursday afternoon, please join our team of volunteers who go in pairs to share. Contact Thay Kozen if you are interested.
The Juvinile program is not operational yet, we hope it will be in the future.
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Stay in a Nichiren Temple Hostel in Seattle
You can enjoy an overnight stay in a Nichiren Temple that is a temple by day, hostel by night. Very comfortable cots are put out in the temple each night to accommodate adventurers and budget travelers. Located in Seattle’s International District (ID), the Seattle Choeizan-Enkyoji Temple is one block away from ID’s best dim sum at Dim Sum King where they serve best-in-class dim sum at budget prices. 501 South Jackson #202, Seattle, Washington 98104 (1 minute walk from Union Station) Nichiren Buddhists revere the Lotus Sutra and part of their practice is chanting Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō which means “Glory to the Dharma of the Lotus Sutra.”
To arrange for a stay, call the caretaker, Mike, at (206) 356-7405.
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The Neuroscience of Meditation - Part 1: Reducing Pain & Stress |
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This month's Health Corner looks at the beneficial effects of meditation and mindfulness from a medical perspective. Many studies have shown improved health and mental health as a result of regular meditation, but how does that happen in our brains?
Neuroscientist Dr. Sara Lazar explains what research shows about pain and stress reduction caused by meditation in an article from Heartful.ness Magazine.
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Interfaith Power & Light
Interfaith Power & Light is a national nonprofit that inspires and mobilizes people of faith and conscience to take bold and just action on climate change. We envision a stable climate where humans live in right and just relationship, interconnected with a healthy, thriving, natural world.
Love is central to who we are and we are committed to ending the suffering caused by climate change. Because we embrace faith and spirituality, we are grounded in the interconnectedness of the sacred, the natural world, and one another.
Our work is designed to inspire and engage individuals, families, and faith and local communities to embody spiritual and societal transformation by reducing their climate pollution while building a new relationship with the Earth. With a national office and a network of state affiliates, we work on practical solutions in homes and faith communities such as conducting an energy audit and installing solar. And we work on passing strong climate legislation at the state and national level.
Bill Bradlee ,Senior Organizing Director and Affiliate Liaison, did a personal retreat at out temple in September 2023 and shared the actions of his group................What a great organization....Thay Kozen
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Recovery Dharma is a peer led movement and a community that is unified by the potential in each of us to recover and find freedom from the suffering of addiction. This book uses the Buddhist practices of meditation, self inquiry, wisdom, compassion, and community as tools for recovery and healing. We welcome anyone who is looking to find freedom from suffering, whether it’s caused by substance use or process addictions like codependency, sex, gambling, eating disorders, shopping, work, technology, or any obsessive or habitual pattern. We approach recovery from a place of individual and collective empowerment and we support each other as we walk this path of recovery
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The Recovery Dharma Organization just gave our temple a grant of 15 Recovery Dharma books - such a wonderful act of generosity! We have been buying Recovery Dharma books on Amazon as we are able to afford them, we just purchased 10 books. We provide meditation instruction at NORCOR, a 5 county jail in The Dalles, Oregon. The vast majority of our group attendees (Adults in Custody) are dealing with chemical dependency. We refer them to 12 step programs and RD. We try to give a RD book to individuals who regularly attend our Buddhist meditation groups or who are Buddhist. While we are NOT a recovery meeting, we focus on Buddhist concept of dealing with the eight fold path, the 3 poisons and chemical dependency. I highly recommend this book and organization.
We keep copies of the RD book in our temple for individuals to take home with them....Thay Kozen
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An Ode to Sangha, One of the Three Jewels |
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Regular morning Sangha member Norman Teinowitz woke early for the morning service one day recently, and this poem came to him.
Norman finds peace and mindfulness in the woods around his Stevenson, WA home. He also serves as a member of the local Search and Rescue in the Gorge, as well as a HAM radio emergency volunteer. He lives in Stevenson, WA, a town with one flashing light.
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What is my morning practice
Waking early
Go to zoom
See all the people in the sangha
Smiling faces
They share their
Different feelings
Question of the day
Sharing their hearts
Thay Kozen's robe dances
Reverend Scott's shirt sparkles
My heart feels at peace
Meditation
Dancing around the light
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What is the most important thing in life? Money? Success? Fame? Feeling good through chemistry? Watch this video to hear about the dramatic change in life realized by a famous international wrestler who discovered these didn't matter. Now he lives each moment and understands impermanence. Very moving.
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Buddhist Terms
Dharma or Dhamma = In Buddhism, dharma means "cosmic law and order" as expressed by the teachings of the Buddha. In Buddhist philosophy, dhamma/dharma is also the term for "phenomena". It can also be thought of as the teachings of our historical teacher, The Buddha, or Buddhist Masters down through the ages.
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Days of Note in October
2nd - International Day of Non-Violence
5th - Do Something Nice Day
7th - National Forgiveness Day (U.S.A)
9th - Thanksgiving Day (Canada)
9th - Indigenous Peoples' Day / Leif Erikson Day / Columbus Day
10th - World Homeless Day
14th - Be Bald and Free Day (in honor of our monastics)
15tth - Navaratri Begins (Hindu)
28th - National Make a Difference Day (U.S.A.)
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