February 2023 - Happy Losar
Losar Bey Tashi Delek February 21, 2023
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This is a Long Newsletter. Please enable photos and read to the last article - Clouds
Services via ZOOM WINTER SCHEDULE
TEMPLE SERVICES Via ZOOM
MONDAY - FRIDAY at 6:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. via ZOOM
SATURDAY 8:30 a.m. - service + meditation via ZOOM & in person
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One time only class on zoom
SUNDAY, Feb 5th Cultivating Joy and Gratitude in 2023 10AM - 12PM
(register at http://www.sapphireheart.org/community-offerings)
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IN PERSON MEETINGS - (some on ZOOM)
SATURDAY MORNING SERVICE at 8:30am
M-F AM Meditation 6:30am - 7:30am
M-F PM Meditation 5:30pm - 6:30pm
46 Stoller Rd. Trout Lake WA
TUESDAY at 12 NOON -1:00 pm IN PERSON - not on ZOOM
1412 13th Street, Suite 200. Hood River, OR 97031
Thích Nhất Hạnh Study Group
Thích Nhất Hạnh study group meets on the 2nd & 4th Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.
AUTOMATIC TEXT REMINDERS
Rev. Scott has brought us into the modern age with text reminders for all of our meditation meetings.
You can sign up for a text meeting by:
Send a text to (833) 460-0792 with the messages below to subscribe to mediation service text reminders.
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For a Saturday Morning Service reminder, text sitsat
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Monday evening, text sitmonpm
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Tuesdays in Hood River, text sittuehr
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Tuesday evening, text sittue
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Wednesday evening, text sitwed
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Thursday evening, text sitthu
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Friday evening, text sitfri
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Weekday mornings, text weekdayam
For example, if you want reminders for Saturday morning services, you’d text sitsat to (833) 460-0792
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Above is a screen shot of our Saturday Morning ZOOM Meeting. Join us in person
or on ZOOM for meditation, Dharma Talk, and Sangha.
To Sangha
With the magic of electronics
We all come together
What a joy to see your faces
And feel your energy
And feel your spirit
And sit with you in quiet
It helps my own mind
Be quiet and still
It's with gratitude
That you allow me
To share this place
With all of you
Reminding me
To be here now.
....Much love, Norman
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Dear Ones,
I am an old man and I occasionally forget a meeting. Rev. Scott has brought us into the modern age with timed text reminders for all of our meditation meetings and scan QR codes. See above for sign up information.
Living in Gratitude
"Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others." - Cicero
"May I be a good doctor for those who suffer from illness,
a guide for those who have gone astray,
a lamp for those who dwell in darkness,
a source of treasure for those in poverty and need.”
Vows of Samantabhadra, Avatamsaka Sutra
Photo above - Thay Kozen gave the sermon at the Methodist Church in White Salmon WA in January. you can see the Facebook video here.
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My Stroke of Insight:
A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey
Jill Taylor was a 37-year-old Harvard-trained brain scientist when a blood vessel exploded in her brain. Through the eyes of a curious scientist, she watched her mind deteriorate whereby she could not walk, talk, read, write, or recall any of her life. Because of her understanding of the brain, her respect for the cells in her body, and an amazing mother, Jill completely recovered.
This book was recommended by a Dharma teacher and I agree. It speaks of the great connection to all things and the peace of acceptance of everything. It seems that the Ch'an teaching that "mind is Buddha, Buddha is mind" has been documented in this brain scientist's recovery. in metta, Thay Kozen
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Karl Plagge - "The German Soldier Who Saved the Jews"
This video is a historical documentary of one man's efforts to help save Jewish lives during the Nazi regime. It is the concept of Right Thought, sammà samkappa (one of steps of the Noble 8 Fold Path) which was taken at great personal risk. It is also the act of Avalokiteśvara, Quán Thế Âm, or 觀世音, the Bodhisattva who embodies the Great Compassion. Virtuous conduct is central to the Buddha's teachings. Applying the Noble 8 Fold Path to our lives is the practice leading to our liberation from samsara, the painful cycle of rebirth.
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SAVE THE DATE
September 1, 2023
We will be holding a ceremony welcoming the statues of
Kisitigharba Bodhisattva and Maitreya Buddha
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Welcome the statue of
Địa Tạng Bồ Tát, also known as 地藏菩薩, Jizō Bosatsu, or Kisitigharba Bodhisattva. His name is often translated as Earth Treasury or Earth Womb. He took a vow not to achieve Buddhahood until all hell realms are emptied
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Welcome the statue of Phật Di Lặc also know as 彌勒菩薩, Miroku Bosatsu, or Maitreya. (his name means friendship)
Maitreya is a bodhisattva who is prophesied to appear on Earth, achieve complete Enlightenment, and teach the Dharma. According to scriptures, Maitreya's teachings will be similar to those of Gautama Buddha (also known as Śākyamuni Buddha).The arrival of Maitreya is prophesied to occur during an era when the teachings of Gautama Buddha have been forgotten by most of the world.
Both statues were donated by the Vietnamese Buddhist community to encourage the growth of peace.
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Thich Nhat Hanh, Thay, passed away on 22 January 2022
at Từ Hiếu Temple in Huế, Vietnam, at the age of 95.
It is with deep reverence and appreciation that we remember
the most Most Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh. Thank you Thay.
His great Bodhisattva practice helped change the world....Thay Kozen
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Thich Minh Thien, (Thay Z) Abbot of Budding Dharma
Arlington, Texas thayzzen@gmail.com
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It’s In The Moment
In this human life, birth to death becomes a compilation of moment to moment experiences. Some are exceedingly memorable while others we most likely cannot even recall. The Buddha had it right when he taught that pretty much all of our struggles, from frustrations to anxiety, from anger to sadness, from grief to worry, all stem from the same thing. The struggles come from being too tightly attached to something.
Chasing past moments that we might wish to recreate often provides little solace for finding the happiness we experienced in the past. Being controlled by guilt of our past failings can cause us pain and shame for something we cannot change. Past experiences again are just memories, both good and bad that cannot be eliminated or changed.
Similarly, attaching strongly to desires for what we think will bring us future happiness can set us up for disappointments. If our desire for happiness is strongly based on what we want or don’t want and those things do or don’t come to fruition, then unhappiness might be what we experience going forward.
Life unfolds only in the present moment. So often we let the present slip away, allowing time to rush past unobserved and not taken advantage of and squandering the precious seconds of our lives as we worry about the future and ruminate about what's past. "We're living in a world that contributes in a major way to mental fragmentation, disintegration, distraction, decoherence…” says Buddhist scholar B. Alan Wallace.
Our practice encourages us to live more in the moment. Living in the moment is what we know as mindfulness and is a state of active, open, intentional attention on the present. When we become mindful, we realize that we are not our thoughts. We become an observer of our thoughts from moment to moment without judging them. Mindfulness involves being with our thoughts as they are, neither grasping at them nor pushing them away. Instead of letting our lives go by without living it, we awaken to seeing each experience as it occurs.
The Four Foundations of Mindfulness, as taught by the historical Buddha are key things that we should practice being mindful of. The Buddha identified them as our bodies, our feelings, our minds themselves, and phenomena / the world around us. By training and practicing in mindfulness within these four foundations, we see more and more how all of these things really are outside from our conceptual ideas of them. Training in the four foundations of mindfulness is a focus in seeing reality with more clarity and equanimity. One of the best tools for discovering the focus on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness exists perfectly in our practice of Meditation.
So there we have it; a recipe for reducing our suffering and increasing our happiness. All we have to do is practice it. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? But if we look at how many of us find flaws in our practice to adopt meditation as continual and regular occurrence, we see that it isn’t as simple as it sounds. It’s however always in the moment and in the choices we make.
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
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Hugh Jackman on Meditation
"If you put Buddha, Jesus Christ, Socrates, Shakespeare, Arjuna, Krishna at a dinner table together, I can't see them having an argument."
"In meditation, I can let go of everything. I'm not Hugh Jackman. I'm not a dad. I'm not a husband. I'm just dipping into that powerful source that creates everything. I take a little bath in it. It's not just finding quiet; it's finding bliss. And that is natural, that is for everybody.
You see it in babies, you don't have to teach it to them. We somehow forget. And what meditation has done for me, and for Deb, and the kids, is to get us back to that thing we've forgotten. Which is, it is our birthright to be happy, to be alert, to actually connect with people in a real way.
I meditated before I hosted the Oscars, I meditate before I go on stage, I meditate in the morning and lunch time. When I'm on a film set, the energy is finer, and the decisions you make are more authentic, and you're more able to listen to other people. It has helped me in every way. Immeasurably.
Meditation is all about the pursuit of nothingness. It's like the ultimate rest. It's better than the best sleep you've ever had. It's a quieting of the mind. It sharpens everything, especially your appreciation of your surroundings. It keeps life fresh." ~ Hugh Jackman
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Losar (Tibetan New Year) is celebrated February 21, 2023
Losar is Tibetan New Year and marks the start of the Tibetan year which is based on a 12 lunar month calendar. The day it falls on is very close to the date of Chinese New Year. The date each year is determined by astrologers based in Dharmsala, India.
In the photo below Prayer Flags at our temple with Mount Adams in the background.
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Research shows being around trees
or bodies of water reduces some health issues.
Going for a walk in a park or along a lake or a tree-lined space may reduce the need for medication for anxiety, asthma, depression, high blood pressure or insomnia, a new study found.
“Physical activity is thought to be the key mediating factor in the health benefits of green spaces when availability or active use of green space are considered,” said study coauthor Anu Turunen, a senior researcher at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare in Helsinki, in an email.
Shinrin-Yoku, Forest Bathing, offers many health benefits.
Come and join our temple for Forest Bathing during the summer....Thay Kozen
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FULL MOONS in 2023
The full moon is one of the most sacred times in the Buddhist calendar.
Siddhartha Gautama, who later became known as the Buddha, was born on a full moon. His renunciation was on a full moon day. He became enlightened on a full moon and finally left his human form under a full moon.
Many traditional Buddhist communities all around the world attend Buddhist monasteries and temples for religious and spiritual activities such as making offerings (financial gifts, food and robes for monks, incense, flowers, landscaping plants, household supplies, etc.), listening to Dharma talks, meditating, and chanting,The time of a full moon is an auspicious time to meditate on the great cycles of life.
.....Thay Kozen
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(August 31 Super Blue Moon - the biggest Full Moon in 2023)
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Paramitas: The Ten Perfections of Mahayana Buddhism
Mahayana Buddhism developed six paramitas or perfections early in its history. Later, the list was fleshed out to include ten perfections. The Six or Ten Perfections are virtues to be cultivated and practiced on the path to realizing enlightenment. To add to the confusion, Theravada Buddhism has its own list of Ten Perfections. They have several items in common, but they are not identical.
Although the Six Perfections are complete in themselves, the additional items in the list of Ten Perfections add the dimension of the bodhisattva path. A bodhisattva is an "enlightenment being" who has bowed to bring all other beings to enlightenment. The bodhisattva is the ideal of practice for all Mahayana Buddhists.
With the additional four "perfections, we see the fruits of wisdom manifested in the world. In some ways this recalls the Oxherding Pictures of Zen Buddhism, which represent stages of enlightenment. Realization of great enlightenment is represented in the eighth and ninth pictures. The tenth shows an enlightened master walking in a marketplace, bestowing blessings. Read on for the complete list of the Mahayana Ten Perfections.
Perfection of Generosity is about more than just charitable giving. It is generosity as an expression of selflessness and an acknowledgment that we all inter-exist with each other. Without attaching to possessions or to ourselves we live to benefit all beings.
The Perfection of Morality is not about living according to rules -- although there are Precepts, and they are important -- but living in harmony with others. Sila Paramita also touches on the teachings of karma.
Ksanti means "unaffected by" or "able to withstand." It could be translated as tolerance, endurance and composure as well as patience or forbearance. It is a patience with ourselves and others and also an ability to bear hardship and misfortune.
The word virya comes from vira, an ancient Indo-Iranian word ancient that means "hero." Virya is about tirelessly and courageously overcoming obstacles and walking the path as far as it goes.
Meditation in Buddhism is not done for stress relief. It is mental cultivation, preparing the mind to realize wisdom (which is the next perfection).
The original Six Perfections ended with wisdom, which in Mahayana Buddhism is equated with the doctrine of sunyata, or emptiness. Very simply, this is the teaching that all phenomena are without self-essence. And wisdom, the late Robert Aitken Roshi wrote, is "the raison d'être of the Buddha way."
Very simply, upaya is any teaching or activity that helps others realize enlightenment. Sometimes upaya is spelled upaya-kausalya, which is "skill in means." One skilled in upaya can lead others away from their delusions.
This one is sometimes called Perfection of Aspiration. In particular, it is about dedicating oneself to the bodhisattva path and living the bodhisattva vows.
9 Bala Paramita: Perfection of Spiritual Power
Spiritual power in this sense could refer to supernormal powers, such as an ability to read minds. Or, it could refer to the natural powers awakened by spiritual practice, such as increasing concentration, awareness and patience.
The Perfection of Knowledge is the implementation of wisdom in the phenomenal world. We can think of this as something like the way a physician uses knowledge of medicine to heal people. This Perfection also ties together the previous nine so that they can be put to work to help others.
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A Mandala for the New Year
created by Julia Siporin
Mandala is a Sanskrit word that loosely translates to mean
“circle” or “center.”
Bamboo for resilience, lichen for slowing down and giving ourselves some breathing room, red berries for warmth, love, friendship, and fire/vitality, acorns for our intentions and dreams to flourish and grow strong, evergreens for endurance, chestnuts for abundance, delphinium for the vast blue sky of awareness and clear water of clarity.
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As we approach the temple, we see Mt. Adams in the horizon. The inspiration of nature gives us mindful moments of peace. We are so very blessed to have such beauty around us, may all beings develop it inside as well.... Thay Kozen |
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The entrance to the Temple Patio |
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Our new temple complex is getting worked on even in the heavy snow and very cold winter.
You can contribute to our building fund at
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108 Mala Beads, the Buddhist Rosary
by Monk Mala
There is no evidence of Mala Beads being used before Buddhism was introduced around the world. So it is safe to assume that while many religions now use Prayer beads in some form – Buddhist Prayer Beads were first used by Buddhist and then adopted by Hindus. Muslims and Christianity.
Popular legend on the origins of Buddhist mala practice says, King Vaidunya once said to the Buddha: “In recent years, disease and famine have swept my country. The people are distressed, and I worry about this night and day without interruption. Ours is a pitiful condition. The totality of the dharma is too profound and extensive for us to practice, given these circumstances. Please teach me just the main point of the dharma so that I may practice it and teach it to others.”The Buddha replied: “King, if you want to eliminate earthly desires, make a circular string of 108 bodhi seeds and, holding them always to yourself, recite, ‘I take refuge in the Buddha. I take refuge in the dharma. I take refuge in the Sangha.’ Count one bead with each recitation of these three.”
Later in history the Catholic “rosary,” so named when travelers to India mistranslated the Sanskrit word japamala as “rose beads,” was adopted into Christianity. Its one hundred and fifty Hail Marys (completed by going through the beads three times) were a substitute for observing the monastic hours, in which all one hundred and fifty psalms were chanted.
We ring the Great Bell at our temple 108 times on the solar and lunar new year's eves... Thay Kozen
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Rowena Wildlife Center
A licensed wildlife rehabilitation facility for select injured and orphaned animals in Oregon
and Southwest Washington.
Nature's vicissitudes and the tenuous lives of wild animals would be an abstraction except for the dozens of daily interactions we have with both in our neighborhoods. The constant thrum of a non-human world passes into our lives without remark. But we are frequently moved by the intensity and depth with which animals are immersed in the present. The robin listening to underground worms, the songbirds fluttering hyperactively at a feeder - they are indigenous representatives of the land and air around us. We are enriched by the moments when we glimpse our homes through their eyes. Wildlife rehabilitation is the recognition that our animal neighbors deserve our care.
Caring for all beings is a "Right Action" that expresses the heart of compassion -
know as Quán Thế Âm, 觀世音 , Quan Yin, Avalokiteśvara.........Thay Kozen
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Cultivating Joy and Gratitude Online Workshop:
Sunday, February 5th, 10 am to 12 pm
Would you like to welcome the new year with appreciation and gratitude for what you already have instead of what needs to change? Would you like to learn simple and practical meditation tools to enhance joy and abundance in your life? If so, join us for an online workshop to usher in a new year filled with kindness, joy, and gratitude. Your guides, Kristen Lebacqz, MFT and Mindfulness Meditation Teacher, and Emily Martin, Science and Mindfulness Meditation Teacher, will facilitate a joyful and lively conversation coupled with meditation techniques to welcome 2023.
Cost: sliding scale $40-$50.
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Dennis took this beautiful photo of clouds in Trout Lake WA |
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Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell
Rows and floes of angel hair And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere I've looked at clouds that way
But now they only block the sun They rain and snow on everyone
So many things I would have done But clouds got in my way
I've looked at clouds from both sides now From up and down, and still somehow
It's cloud illusions I recall I really don't know clouds at all
Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels The dizzy dancing way you feel
As every fairy tale comes real I've looked at love that way
But now it's just another show You leave 'em laughing when you go
And if you care, don't let them know Don't give yourself away
I've looked at love from both sides now From give and take, and still somehow
It's love's illusions I recall I really don't know love at all
Tears and fears and feeling proud To say "I love you" right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds I've looked at life that way
But now old friends are acting strange They shake their heads, they say I've changed
Well something's lost, but something's gained In living every day
I've looked at life from both sides now From win and lose and still somehow
It's life's illusions I recall I really don't know life at all
I've looked at life from both sides now From up and down and still somehow
It's life's illusions I recall I really don't know life at all
May this beautiful song reminds us to live a life free from illusion, living every day.....Thay Kozen
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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://mtadamsbuddhisttemple.org/ |
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