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A special view of the Columbia River separating Oregon and Washington. Mists, sunset, and shadows
remind us that every moment is precious, right now, this moment is all that we have.
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We are pleased to invite you to the ceremony welcoming
a statue of Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva/ Địa Tạng Bồ Tát on September 16th at 9am
(also know asじぞうぼさつ, Jizō Bosatsu, 地藏菩薩, 지장보살 Jijang Bosal, พระกษิติครรภโพธิสัตว์, Sa Yi Nyingpo, or ས་ཡི་སྙིང་པོ་ to our small temple.
There will be several dozen monks and nuns in attendance, chanting, feasting, metta, general merriment. Come join in the celebration, enjoy the Temple grounds, and soak up the fellowship!
If you plan on attending:
Please RSVP to Cam Tran (Dharma name: Ngoc Dieu) at 503.863.8465
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Giving
For those of new to ethnic Vietnamese traditions there are practices you may wish to engage in.
We will have lion dancers who do fun acrobatic tricks and will "eat" your money tips.
Bring some paper money with you to" feed" the lions.
Dana
Lay people use red envelopes with money inside to give to monks and nuns. The custom of Dana, or generosity, set forth by the Buddha, is a compassionate, ethical practice based in the realization of interconnectedness, and a way that you can support a teacher and community of practice in sustaining the realization of Truth.
We are expecting at least 30 Buddhist Clergy (maybe more), so 30 + envelopes with some cash inside. Give as you are able.
Giving Dana is not a requirement to attend the ceremony.
The exquisite paradox in Buddhism is that the more we give – and the more we give without seeking something in return – the wealthier (in the broadest sense of the word) we will become. By giving we destroy those acquisitive impulses that ultimately lead to further suffering.
For many of our ethnic Buddhist clergy Dana is their only source of income.
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Kṣitigarbha is one of the four principal bodhisattvas in Mahayana Buddhism. Often depicted as a monk with a crowned head, he carries a staff to force open the gates of hell and a wish fulfilling jewel to light up the darkness. He took a Great Vow not to achieve Buddhahood until all hells are emptied and all beings in hell are freed. He is therefore often regarded as the bodhisattva of hell-beings. |
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SERVICES - FALL 2023 SCHEDULE
All times are Pacific Time
TEMPLE SERVICES 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
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TUESDAY Meditation 11:00 am - 12:00 noon in person only
1412 13th Street, Suite 200. Hood River, OR 97031
2nd & 4th WEDNESDAY Thich Nhat Hanh Study Group 6:30pm
Last SUNDAY of month Meditation & Dharma Talk at 2:00pm - 3:00pm in person only
Buu – Hung Buddhist Monastery 17808 NE 18th St, Vancouver, WA
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Buddhist Pilgrimage in October-November is in the planning.
We will be going to the Buddhist Holy sites in Northern India. We hope to meet with His Holiness, The Dalai Lama in Dharamshala. In addition we will make short stops in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and Japan. Please contact Thay Kozen if interested in making the journey
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Bodh Gayā, India
home of Buddha's enlightenment
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Dhamek Stupa, Sarnath, India
Buddha's first sermon
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Angkor Wat, Cambodia
World's largest religious building
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Dear ones,
Well September is here and we are nearing Saturday, 16 September, for our welcoming ceremony for Kṣitigarbha and Budai. We are expecting a large crowd so come early if you are planning to attend. The ceremony will start at 9:00am. Many people have worked to purchase the statue and ship it to our temple, may its presence bring awareness of the Buddha's teachings to the hearts of all who see the statue. May all whom supported this efforts feel the blessings of the Buddha.
In our Memorial Garden we are also erecting the statue of Thiền Sư Khương Tăng Hội, the great Thien (Zen,Ch'an) master of Vietnam. We currently have the cremated remains of 1 monk and 1 nun that have requested to have their ashes placed in our garden. In addition there are the cremated remains of 8 lay people. We hope to add statues of the 6th Patriarch, the Venerable Dajian Huineng, and also Thích Quảng Đức, the great protector of Buddhism in Vietnam.
Digging for our new Dharma Hall foundation will be started this next week. The Memorial Garden is one third of the way done, and the engineer is working on the final plans for the building. It is all such a joy.
We have volunteer work days scheduled on Saturdays September 2 and 9 to help finish up preparations for the celebration. We have weeding, raking, planting, and shrub trimming to get done. Call Thay Kozen if you would like to help out during the week.
May we all find the great peace of the Buddha, in metta. Thay Kozen
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SEPTEMBER 1-3 - Mt. Adams Yard Sale (see below for details)
SEPTEMBER 2 - Volunteer Day - Grounds cleanup (see below for details)
SEPTEMBER 9 - Volunteer Day - Grounds cleanup (see below for details)
SEPTEMBER 21-24 - Insight Retreat with August Jensen CANCELLED
OCTOBER - NOVEMBER - Buddhist pilgrimage to India, China, Japan, Vietnam,and Thailand is in the planning stage
OCTOBER 16-22 Fall Retreat - CANCELLED FOR INDIA/CHINA PILGRIMAGE - dates soon
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I encourage everyone to do a minimum of a 1 week retreat and 2 additional 1-2 day retreats every year. Recommended retreat centers are Cloud Mountain in Castle Rock WA, Great Vow in Clatskanie OR, Deer Park in Escondido CA.
...Thay Kozen
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Cloud Mountain Retreat Center |
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Our first granite columbarium monument will house the cremated remains of 20 individuals. |
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We will start digging the footings for the new Meditation Hall next week.
The Memorial Garden
is part of the new Temple Complex. It will contain a Columbariam to hold the ashes of Temple/Sangha members. Much progress has been made on its creation in the last month.
- We have received the columbarium structure
- Rock is chosen and ordered
- A memorial plaque is being designed
- Gates to the area are installed
- The fence is partially finished
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May all who use the new temple find peace. |
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Dharma Stream Bridge. Mañjuśrī bodhisattva sits atop the gate asking us to cut the darkness of ignorance, desire, and anger |
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Shakamuni Buddha sits under a Naga. The Nagas are a divine, or semi-divine, race of half-human, half-serpent beings that reside in the netherworld. |
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Shinto Shrine sits near the Naga Buddha. Shinto is Japan's indigenous religion and is a nature religion, called The Way of The Gods |
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Thay Kozen leaving the South Gate of the Memorial Garden |
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Outside the North Gate to the Memorial Garden |
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Inside the South Gate of the Memorial Garden |
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Thich Minh Thien, (Thay Z) Abbot of Budding Dharma
Arlington, Texas thayzzen@gmail.com
Expectations and Impermanence
This month I have been evaluating my expectations in terms of my understanding of impermanence. Buddhism, is a spiritual philosophy that many of us are attempting to follow and understand that delves deep into the nature of existence and provides valuable insights into our human condition. A central teaching within this practice encourages us to examine and understand the transitory nature of all things. As we all have our expectations, it is interesting to consider how our expectations relate to the concept of impermanence.
Impermanence, also known as "anicca" in Pali, is one of the three essential characteristics of existence found in Buddhism; the others being suffering (dukkha) and non-self (anatta). Impermanence teaches us that nothing in this world, including ourselves and our experiences, remains fixed or permanent. Whether it is the changing seasons, the birth and death of living beings, or the constant flux of thoughts and emotions, Buddhist dharma asserts that impermanence is an inherent quality of existence. The attachment and craving for permanence often lead to disappointment, frustration, and ultimately, suffering. By acknowledging and embracing the transient nature of all things, we can develop a deeper understanding of the impermanence of our own lives, paving a way for liberation from attachment and suffering.
Our expectations are deeply intertwined with our perceptions and experiences, and we learn that expectations arise as a result of ignorance and the illusion of control. Perhaps you have found yourself clinging to expectations in an attempt to find stability and security, and when we experience our expectations going unfulfilled or not lasting as we hoped they would, dissatisfaction and suffering often follow. Our practice suggests that expectations arise from attachments to outcomes, people, or circumstances, and by clinging to fixed expectations, we limit ourselves and create barriers to experiencing the present moment fully. Recognizing this, we are encouraged as individuals to try to detach from expectations and embrace each moment as it unfolds. By being open to whatever arises and cultivating non-judgmental awareness, we can develop a state of equanimity that transcends the turmoil caused by any unmet expectations.
I am finding that the interplay between impermanence and expectations lies at the heart of so many Buddhist teachings. Impermanence reminds me that change is the only constant and attempting to hold onto my own expectations contradicts this fundamental truth and often leads to suffering when confronted with the unyielding and natural forces of impermanence. When we embrace impermanence and understand the limitations of expectations, we begin to transition towards mindfulness and acceptance. With our acceptance of impermanence and letting go of expectations we begin to experience inner peace. When we release the need for things to be a certain way, we free ourselves from the burden of control and open ourselves up to the possibilities of the present moment. This acceptance enables us to appreciate the beauty and wonder of each fleeting experience without being caught up in unrealistic expectations.
Impermanence illuminates the transient nature of existence, reminding us to let go of fixed expectations and to embrace the present moment. By acknowledging impermanence and detaching from expectations, we can cultivate a deeper sense of mindfulness, acceptance, and inner peace. This beautiful practice we embrace offers invaluable experiences and teachings that encourage us to navigate the ebb and flow of life with equanimity, creating space for growth, transformation, and the development of genuine well-being.
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
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Rest and Digest
Join Emily Martin and Scott Rower for a Rest and Digest Mindfulness Course. This is a four-week introduction to mindfulness class to learn how to calm stress and flare less. This course is for anyone with a chronic GI condition.. Class runs September 12-October 3, 2023.
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Saturdays Sept. 23-Oct. 7, Oct. 14-15
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 14and Sunday, October 15th. 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 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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Sat. Sept. 23 at 10:00 a.m.
Rev. Scott (Minh Tự) and Rev. Debbie Nelson (Minh Tánh) will give an overview of the purpose of and significance of taking Precepts & Vows
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Sat. Sept. 30 at 10:00 a.m.
Rev. Emily Martin (Minh Tăng) and Rev. River (Brother Yinxin) will talk about the Four Noble Truths
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Sat. Oct. 7 at 10:00 a.m.
Sister Minh Bao and Rev. August Jensen (Minh Nhẫn) will talk about the Noble Eightfold Path
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE TEMPLE
Mindful Gardening and Cleaning - This Saturday!
Looking for a way to serve the Mt. Adams Buddhist Temple and Trout Lake Abbey? Want to spend a mindful day in the shadow of Mount Adams? Work side by side with fellow practitioners and make new friends?
Work is one way to practice dharma mindfulness and sangha.
"Zen is not some kind of excitement, but concentration on our usual everyday routine.” – Shunryu Suzuki
Join us on the first and second Saturdays in September to help keep the lovely grounds of the Abbey beautiful and under control. We'll be sprucing up the outside and cleaning the temple. Work gloves recommended!
Mark your calendar:
September 2 and 9
No experience or RSVP necessary. The workday starts at 10:30am and ends at 3:30pm.
46 Stoller Rd Trout Lake WA
Share Meditation and Mindfulness
Do you feel the desire to share your peace and loving kindness with those in distress?
Local meditators are needed to help adults and juveniles practice meditation at NORCOR in The Dalles. If you are within driving distance, available Tues or Thurs afternoons (possible weekend time in the works), and looking for a way to perform right action, this is an opportunity for you. No experience necessary and you will be trained. We hope to expand the Adult meditation program at NORCOR to the Youth facility. We will keep the newsletter up to date if that happens.
See the interview below with Richard Withers, the founder of the NORCOR Meditation Ministry.
Current volunteers consistently state they gain more than they give!
Contact Thay Kozen for more info.
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From our Friends at Doorway Into Light on Maui
Aloha friends,
As you can imagine, and I'm sure many of you have seen the news, Maui is traumatized and reeling from what happened here in so short a time. It appears the number of dead will slowly rise to somewhere above or below 500. Most homes were working people, many Hawaiians, and many Hawaiians whose families have been on their land since before the whiteman came, the missionaries, whalers, sugar barons and tourists.. Hawaiian royalty chose Lahaina as their home long before Honolulu.
There is so much grieving and too, much anger. In the midst of it all, so many of Maui's people are filled with the aloha spirit.Their generosity in volunteering, offering services, sharing what they have... once again shows who we are as a community.
The question for us at Doorway Into Light was/is how best can we utilize our funeral home, our community resource center, our skills, our time and our hearts in supporting the recovery process that will likely take years, long after the news and cameras move on...
We are the only nonprofit funeral home in Hawaii, now since 2012. A certified green funeral home providing green burials and ocean body burials and many services not offered in most funeral homes.
And I am honored and proud and delighted to say we are transforming what a funeral home acts like and what peoples' experiences are. We're not in the business of selling anything. It's ministry for us and we 'hold' people and love people in the midst of maybe the most difficult time of their lives.
It's spirit work.
SO HERE'S OUR ASK
We've been providing low-cost and no-cost funeral services to those families with little and no money.
We're now wanting to help families who have had someone die in the Lahaina fire. We're seeking funds to provide free burial services to these families. In this time of grief we would like to support them by eliminating the additional monetary burden that comes with death.
As a 501c3 nonprofit, all donations are tax deductible. Any size donations are very welcome.
Thank you so very much for reading through this and for your consideration. Please keep Maui in your prayers. May this find you well as we all increase our capacity to meet these times.
Love
bodhi
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Anger
Anger is one of the Three Poisons as taught by the Buddha, along with greed and ignorance. They are harmful in this life, here and now. Living your life with these emotions influencing you in overt and subtle ways takes you down the path of Suffering.
The harm you do will ultimately cause harm to yourself. and you are condemned to an endless cycle of unhappiness.
The fifth Remembrance is "My actions are my only true belongings. I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. My actions are the ground on which I stand."
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Recovery Dharma--Transforming Addictions
and Other Harmful Habits
From the book Recovery Dharma:
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 together.
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The Gains and Losses of Volunteering
A Tribute to Sangha Member Richard Withers
Richard Withers may be a familiar name to you. He has worked hard since moving to the Columbia River Gorge in 2017 to start and carry on multiple programs that support and compliment the work of the Temple - 11th Step Recovery Dharma Groups, the NORCOR Meditation Ministry, the Thich Naht Hanh Study Group (with wife Bonnie). Richard is taking a break from NORCOR for a year after five years as facilitator and weekly teacher. We thought this would be a good time to thank him and share some of his wisdom about volunteering.
How did you get your start in volunteering with the incarcerated?
"I was fortunate in early recovery from a long alcoholic career to find a recovery support group at the Mindfulness Community of Milwaukee (WI), a Zen practice Center.... I learned to meditate in this "11th Step" program and at other meetings in the Milwaukee Sangha. ....I was asked to consider taking meditation practice into correctional facilities in Wisconsin. I didn't think that this was something I would want to do....but in recovery we learn to take the suggestions of other people seriously over our own personal reservations or desires."
How did you start at NORCOR (a 5-county jail in The Dalles)?
"In June of 2018, NORCOR (added) meditation training as part of a structured recovery course for adults in custody with histories of substance/alcohol abuse. ...Meditation classes were held once or twice weekly with an average of about 18 to 20 participants. Course 'graduates' who remained in custody requested continued opportunities for group meditation. Eventually, meditation opportunities were expanded to the whole population. Beginning in March of 2020, community programing (religious services, AA, NA and Meditation) was closed down and I began meditation visits by video phone with individuals, and then small groups - primarily from the mental health unit - onlline (approximately 150 sessions). As restrictions eased at the facility and as other volunteers were recruited and trained, I continued visits one day a week with 2 to 3 group sessions each visit."
Why have you continued to work with incarcerated people?
"I found that volunteering in this way had a powerful and profound impact on my recovery, personal growth and practice, as well as providing a positive and observable impact on the lives of those involved (not just adults in custody)."
Were you afraid or nervous about being inside a jail?
"Not at all for my own personal safety, but I was nervous about not breaking the rules or causing harm. I didn't want to jeopardize the program before it got off the ground."
Why would a person want to participate in a program like this?
"To strengthen and mature personal practice.... Answering the call (however you hear it) to ease suffering and promote the well-bing of others. (Right Action) Existing volunteer programs in correctional settings have the benefit of a history of developing trust among participants - adults in custody, staff and volunteers."
What do you gain from this activity?
"In addition to the above, I know that the experience has made me more compassionate and accepting, less judgmental, more curious".
What did you lose?
"I continue to see my stereotypes and judgments diminish as I engage with folks I didn't realize I would identify with and who are struggling with the same fears, confusion, cravings and challenges that we all face in one form or another."
What would you want to say to other folks thinking of volunteering?
"Just Do It! Keep it simple. Take a full breath. Take the next step. Smile. Do the next right thing. Say "hi" for me."
Many thanks to Richard for organizing and teaching for so many hours in this program. It continues today and is always recruiting for new teachers who want to decrease suffering. Contact Thay Kozen if you are interested!
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Health Corner
"To keep the body in good health is a duty… otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear. Your body is precious. It is your vehicle for awakening. Treat it with care.” Siddhartha Gautama
We Live Longer If We Physically Exercise
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There are canonical indications that the Buddha recognized the benefits of regular exercise and moderate eating and encouraged his followers to do both. In the Cankama Sutta or "Walking Meditation Sutra" the Buddha extols the benefits of walking meditation –
"Monks, there are these five benefits of walking up & down. What five? One is fit for long journeys; one is fit for striving; one has little disease; that which is eaten, drunk, chewed, tasted, goes through proper digestion; the composure attained by walking up & down is long-lasting. These, monks, are the five benefits of walking up & down."
Modern sedentary living is endangering our capacity for spiritual work by increasing our chances of developing dementia, heart disease, diabetes, and other health problems associated with poor nutrition, inactivity, and obsesity. Right action demands that we use diet and exercise not to increase physical prowess and sex appeal for ego’s sake but to correct nutritional deficiencies and maintain adequate bodily fitness.
According to the UK’s Chief Medical Officers, the following benefits of being active daily are: it helps reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and other diseases; it helps maintain a healthier weight; it helps maintain ability to perform everyday tasks with ease; it improves self-esteem; it reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety.
The internet is a source of plentiful information on nutrition and exercises that can improve and maintain physical fitness. The U.S. Government's Health.com website is a good place to start, as is the UK's NHS Website. Many of the commercial websites one sees on the internet are selling workout programmes aimed at body-obsessed folks who want the lean or ‘ripped’ look of celebrities like Brad Pitt and Jennifer Lopez. Nevertheless, these websites usually provide some free content such as demo videos on how to perform popular exercises correctly and safely in order to maximise their benefits, and the workouts they recommend can be adapted to suit one’s particular requirements.
It’s most important to seek medical advice before starting any exercise programme or making sudden dietary changes – especially when one’s health is in doubt or if one is aware of a pre-existing medical conditions.
Including moderate exercise in your daily practice is important for body, mind, and spirit. Do it mindfully and without the thought of attainment.
This article is a condensation of Diet, Physical Exercise, And Buddhist Spiritual Practice by Paul Lockey, from the trustinginbuddha.co.uk website
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Film Documents Ancient Buddhist Statue Carving in Japan |
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"Carving the Divine is a documentary film that offers a rare look into a 1400-year-old Buddhist woodcarving tradition and the practitioners struggling to preserve its legacy in a rapidly changing Japan.
Carving the Divine has become the official selection for 30 film festivals, showing in a total of 22 countries, and won awards at 13 festivals worldwide, such as winning the Best Director Award of a Foreign Language Documentary at World Cinema Milan and premiering at the famous Raindance Film Festival in London.
The art of Busshi is one of the most significant cultural legacies of Japan. Yet at this point, this tradition is virtually unknown to the Western World. These statues have been an integral part of Japanese culture for 1400 years for a reason. And it will be my great pleasure and privilege that Carving the Divine will be the first experience of these cultural treasures for many people around the world."
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Yujiro Seki
Director, Writer, and Producer of Carving the Divine
If you can't see the film at a screening, it is available to watch any time by renting it for $9.99 on Vimeo at the link below. Consider inviting some friends to join you to view it!
There are several trailers and more information about the filmmaker at the 2nd link below.
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The Buddha taught that "this exists because that exists"
Everything is related to all and connected with all other things. This being one with the moment now. Acceptance of "what is" is thus-ness. I can feel that however, I still like to have things the way I want, and end up laughing at myself.
Think of it like a row of dominoes standing in a row on end about 1/2 inch apart. Each tile is separate yet when one falls it starts a chain reaction to cause all others to fall. All of our world is part of a whole. Everything, every act, every word matters and impacts everything else. The video below is a joyful example of inter-connectedness. 1 small push can change so many things.
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Our temple is part of a group of churches called MAMA. We help the folks who sometimes slip through the cracks of our social systems, by raising money for Washington Gorge Action Programs. Come and shop September 1-3. Donations of clothes, furniture and any other goodies are welcome. |
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Dates of Note in September
4th - Labor Day (U.S.A)
6th - Janmashtami, one of the most important Hindu festivals
15th - Beginning of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year and High Holy Days
16th - Mexican Independence Day (Vietnam, San Marino, Saudi Arabia and many other countries celebrate in September)
16th Kṣitigarbha Statue welcoming at the temple
22nd - Native American Day (U.S.A)
23rd - Autumnal Equinox, first day of Fall
25th - Yom KIppur, Jewish Day of Atonement
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May the Infinite Light of Wisdom and Compassion so shine within us
that the errors and vanities of self may be dispelled;
so shall we understand the changing nature of existence and awaken into spiritual peace.
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Mt Adams Buddhist Temple
46 Stoller Rd., Trout Lake WA 98650 509.395.2030 https://www.mtadamsbuddhisttemple.com/
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