SokukoJi Sangha News
January 2013
Click to jump to Stories: Ango & Rohatsu Sesshin Retreats Ango Retreat Temple Space Well Used During December’s Sesshin Sesshin Retreat SokukoJi Buddhist Community had a good turnout for December retreat ac vi es at Unyo’s Birthday the temple. Several members were able to spend the night at the temple, some New Jizo Shrine several nights, which made good use of the new sleeping quarter, cozy as it was. Other members who had other obliga ons were able to join up during the day. Prac ce Resident Takes Refuge Vows We are working on arranging more sleeping space for upcoming retreats. We will host our annual Memorial Day weekend retreat this year at the temple to con nue Help Us Help Others to make good use of and to support the space we are so fortunate to have. This will be held from Thursday evening of May 23rd through Monday May 27th. We will Monthly Video Dharma have details about this in the next newsle er, or visit our website at sokukoji.org. Monthly Audio Dharma For further stories and photos of the retreats, click here.
Help Us Help Others It is easy to forget about dropping a few bucks in the dana box when we visit the temple. We are prac cing, vis- i ng with sangha, reading, having coffee or tea and we may pass the box and think “oh I’ll put something in there later” or “other people will contribute” or “a few bucks won’t make a difference”. But o en there is nothing in the box, or very li le, even a er an all day sit at month’s end sesshin.
SokukoJi is a 501c3 not for profit organiza on. We run on retreat and resident tui on, Sokuzan’s income from a forever recovery, which is not enough to support this prac ce environment without help from the community. Our website calendar page has suggested amounts for various services for par cipants, or please donate at our dana page.
Monthly Video Dharma Click here to watch Sokuzan talks about close personal rela onships, a achment, and suffering, or watch other dhar- ma talks at our Video Dharma. Monthly Audio Dharma Click Audio Dharma and select “Shikantaza Basic Si ng instruc on by Sokuzan” to hear a short audio clip which Sokuzan gives instruc on on basic si ng medita on, or listen to other dharma talks. 2012 Ango Retreat And Photos During Ango, which was the first four days of the month, there were a variety of prac ce forms to par cipate in. We learned how to facilitate book study groups, did some brush and ink awareness prac ce, and learned about oryoki, which is a ritualized style of meals some mes prac ced during retreat. Sokuzan also led us through an awareness prac ce called “opening the eye mind” where we experimented with visual consciousness. Sokuzan gave a Dharma talk each day. Oh yeah, we sat too, doing three block si ngs per day.
We shared some great meals to- gether in the community room, with plen- ty of food donat- ed and prepared by the retreat par cipants.
Group photo of some of the par cipants at the end of Ango.
Unyo’s Birthday Celebrated During Ango
Following an Ango community meal, par ci- pants celebrated Unyo’s birthday. 2012 Rohatsu Sesshin Retreat And Photos
For Sesshin, on the 5th through 8th, the schedule was intensive in si ng and walk- ing medita on from early morning un l late in the evening. All meals were served oryoki style in the zendo, with simple fare of miso soup, fruit, vegetables and salads. The designated tenzo, or head cook, was apprecia ve of all the help in meal prepa- ra ons and clean up. We took turns filling the roles of the meal server and the doan, who led the meal chants. Sokuzan gave a Dharma talk each day on the Sandokai, which is a new chant in our morning ser- vice in place of Jeweled Mirror Samadhi. An oryoki meal setout and ready to eat following chants.
Jo Taylor opening her oryoki set for lunch. Laura from St. Louis is ready to eat! Sco si ng as doan during Rohatsu and oryoki.
New Jizo Shrine in the ShoShin Memorial Garden
We now have a Jizo Shrine in the ShoShin Memorial Garden. The shrine houses the figure of Jizo, a Bodhisa va who is also referred to as Ksi - garbha in Sanskrit. Jizo Bodhisa va is known in Japanese folklore as the protector of deceased children and helps guide travelers in the six realms of suffering. Jizo shrines are commonly found in Japanese graveyards. Offerings are made to the shrine to help with healing in mes of loss and grief, to pay respect to loved ones, and to honor one’s vows.
The Jizo figure was sculpted of clay by Sokuzan Bob Brown. The shrine was designed by Sokuzan and built by Don McLean. There is a drawer be- neath the shrine that contains incense and matches. You are welcome to visit the garden and offer incense to the shrine.
Below is a view of SokukoJi’s Memorial Garden. (It’s winter me and not as green as it is in the summer.)
Prac ce Resident Takes Refuge Vows The newest prac ce resident who came to SokukoJi this fall has taken refuge vows with Sokuzan. Burley will now go by his new dharma name “Kanzan” during his residency. May he con nue his prac ce discipline and realize the Buddha’s Way.
When we see we're always changing, we trust openness instead of creden als. We finally see there is no stable iden ty behind anything. Come and look at the wall. — Sokuzan
Fact: SokukoJi’s First Wedding Was to between Marc and Patricia Freed who were married on January 8, 2011.