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Mt Adams Zen Buddhist Temple

 

and Plum Mountain Buddhist Community
January 2015 Newsletter
May we all have a happy and peaceful New Year - the Year of the Goat
Mt Adams Zen Buddhist Temple is now on Facebook. Want to become a friend?
Dear Dharma Friends 

 

   May the infinite light of wisdom and compassion so shine within us that the errors and vanities of self will be dispelled; so shall we come to understand the changing nature of existence and awaken into spiritual peace.

May 2014 be filled with health, happiness, love, and prosperity for us all. May all beings find peace,

Ven. Kozen 

Meditation Intensives
Throughout 2015 we will have a full day of meditation or a multi-day retreat every month.  During these times we'll have sitting, walking, and guided meditation along with a vegetarian lunch (or meals for the longer retreats).  These intensives are a good way to focus on our personal meditation practice and to join with others who are also seeking peace. "Meditation is a solitary practice done well with others".  For more information please see our website: www.mtadamszen.org.  We ask for a $30.00 donation for the 1-day meditation intensives, but we'd rather have you than your money, so don't let financial concerns stop you from attending.  The longer retreats are live-in and vary in costs; please see our website. 

Samantabhadra Bodhisattva - Phổ Hiền Bồ T�t

In the Āvataṃsaka-sutra (Flower Garland Sutra, Flower Adornment Sutra, or Flower Ornament Scripture). the Buddha states that Samantabhadra Bodhisattva made ten great vows in his path to full Buddhahood:

To pay homage and respect to all Buddhas.

To praise the Thus Come One-Tathagata.[2] 

To make abundant offerings. (i.e. give generously)

To repent misdeeds and evil karmas.

To rejoice in others' merits and virtues.

To request the Buddhas to continue teaching.

To request the Buddhas to remain in the world.

To follow the teachings of the Buddhas at all times.

To accommodate and benefit all living beings.

To transfer all merits and virtues to benefit all beings.

The ten vows have become a common practice in East Asian Buddhism, particularly the tenth vow, with many Buddhists traditionally dedicating their merit and good works to all beings during Buddhist liturgies.

   

While not sexual, he is sometimes seen with his consort representing the union of Wisdom and Compassion.   

Atheists' new Ten Commandments 
Lex Bayer, an executive at AirBnB, and John Figdor, a humanist chaplain at Stanford University, delivered their own 10 "non-commandments" in a book they co-wrote: "

Atheist Heart, Humanist Mind." Bayer said the book forced him to clarify and articulate his own beliefs, and he thought others could benefit from doing the same. "A lot of atheists' books are about whether to believe in God or not," he said. "We wanted to consider: OK, so you don't believe in God, what's next? And that's actually a much harder question."

from:  http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/19/living/atheist-10-commandments/index.html?iref=allsearch    

1. Be open-minded and be willing to alter your beliefs with new evidence.

2. Strive to understand what is most likely to be true, not to believe what you wish to be true.

3. The scientific method is the most reliable way of understanding the natural world.

4. Every person has the right to control of their body.

5. God is not necessary to be a good person or to live a full and meaningful life.

6. Be mindful of the consequences of all your actions and recognize that you must take responsibility for them.

7. Treat others as you would want them to treat you, and can reasonably expect them to want to be treated. Think about their perspective.

8. We have the responsibility to consider others, including future generations.

9. There is no one right way to live.

10. Leave the world a better place than you found it.

It appears that folks are looking for a way to express and experience a meaningful and ethical life without religion.  Similar  to some Vipassana, insight, and mindfulness practices of some of our brothers and sisters who follow a non-religious dharma.  Ven. Kozen 

tranquil-lake.jpg
Sound Meditation and Manifestation Circle


January 15th & February 19th (Thursdays,2015)  
7pm - 8:30 pm.  

At Cascade Acupuncture Center, Bamboo Room
104 5th St, Hood River, OR  97031

 You are invited to start the year out by experiencing the power of sound vibration and clear intention to relax, release and feel renewed. We will tone, meditate, and focus our imagination, increasing the yum capacity for creativity and wellbeing.
 
All welcome- No experience required- Pre-regististration appreciated
 
Facilitated by Beth Welton-Miller, MS, LMT
For over 30 years, Beth has lived her passion for personal and relationship transformation helping people connect with their core essence. Her professional experience includes teaching workshops and working individually with people using body centered and energetic healing practices.
 
Reserve a space by e-mail to beth@vibrant-living.com or calling 503-680-5810
 
Suggested Contribution:
$10 - $20.   Payable at time of event.
 
Other Opportunities:
Beth is available for Intuitive Guidance, Energy Clearing and Balancing sessions at Cascade Wellness on Thursday's.   
 
For more information:  www.vibrant-living.com
We are a small Thien (Zen) Buddhist Temple practicing  "laughing farmer zen" - living our practice, sitting zazen, being here - right now!

Services & Meditation   

 

New Winter Schedule  

 

Morning Meditation  6:30AM 

Tuesday - Saturday

 

Evening Meditation
6:30 PM
Thursday - Saturday

 

 
Morning Services
9AM

Thursday - Saturday

****************   

Sunday Evening meditation at 6:30 pm at Trinity Natural Medicine
1808 Belmont Ave, Hood River, OR  

 

**************** 

1st Sunday of the month at Buu-hung Buddhist Monastery 17808 NE  18th St, Vancouver, WA  

Tel: (360) 718-6158    3:30pm - 4:30 pm   


January

4 Buu Hung Monastery

10 - 11 two day retreat   21 CRCC Prison Visit  

 

February  

1 Buu Hung Monastery        

18 CRCC Prison

18 New Years celebration at Co Lam Pagoda (Chinese New Year) 

 

March

1 Buu Hung Monastery 

18 Mar CRCC Prison visit   

The Buddha tells us that as we think we become. Let us today commit to thinking in terms of love and kindness towards all

 


2015 Tentative Schedule  

we are still waiting for confirmation for some of these dates. 

 

January

Jan 1  New Year - Gregorian
(meditation 12/31 - 1/1 11:30pm - 12:30 am)
Jan 5  New Year - Mahayana

 

February

Feb 7  Parinirvana or Nirvana Day
Mahayana Buddhist festival marking the anniversary of Buddha's death.
Feb 19  New Year - Lunar -Tet - the Lunar New Year - 2015 is the year of the goat or sheep (green sheep or green wood sheep year)

March

 

Mar 7  Magha Puja Day (1250 enlightened sages came to Buddha on their own to pay him their tribute)

April   

 

April 1 - May 31 Thich Vinh Minh in residence

April 4  New Year - Therevada

April 11  Buddha's Birthday (Thien/ Chan)
April 22  Earthday - Celebration to promote ecology and respect for life on the planet as well as to encourage awareness of the growing problems of air, water and soil pollution.

May

 

May 1-3  Spring Retreat
May 9  Wesak or Buddha day The most important of the Buddhist festivals. It celebrates the Buddha's birthday, and, for some Buddhists, also marks his enlightenment and death.

June

 

June 13  Amitabha Buddha Day

July

Jul 11   Asala - Dharma Day
- The anniversary of the start of Buddha's teaching his first sermon ,"The Wheel of Truth", after his enlightenment.
July 25Ullambana or "MuaVu Lan" (Obon) mother's day and ghost days celebrated or Aug 28 Ancestors' Day

August

 

Aug 1  Avalokiteshvara Day  (Quan Te Am/ Kannon)
Aug 22  Ksitigarbha Day
            

October

Oct 5  BodhiDharma Day
Oct  23-25  Fall Retreat

 

December

Dec 8  Bodhi Day
- some Buddhists celebrate Gautama's attainment of enlightenment under the Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya, India. (meditation 12/7 - 12/8 11:30pm - 12:30 am)

This is our first draft of the 2015 schedule.  We are waiting for 2 other monks to give feedback.  The official schedule will be published in February.

Is your group part of the Northwest Dharma Association?
If not, it is time to join!  If you are a solitary practitioner or without a sangha you can still offer dana (financial support).  They are a clearing house for Buddhist activity in the Northwest and need our support. Read more about the NWDA at

PO Box 487, Trout Lake WA 98650     www.MtAdamsZen.org

509.395.2030  (e-mail -put in the @ sign) kozen1 at embarqmail.com
 Plum Mountain
Buddhist
  Community
January 2015 Newsletter
 
Weekly Schedule: Daily 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Service with short recitation and half hour seated meditation, at 516 W. Cushing in Aberdeen. This is except for Fridays and when Thay Kobai is away from the Harbor. Our regular community (sangha) gathering is Tuesday evenings at Cushing St. 6:30 to 8 p.m. We do some movement and sitting meditation, with plenty of guidance for newcomers.  Thay Kobai or a senior student gives a short talk on Buddhist principles followed by Q&A and discussion.

Events in January

3 January, Saturday: Celebrate Transit! All who wish may join Thay Kobai in a fare-free bus ride to celebrate the restoration of Saturday bus service. We'll board the #10-B at Thay's place, 516 W. Cushing St., at 9:40 a.m., then transfer to the #20 at Aberdeen Station at 10:00 a.m. We'll ride to Hoquiam, get off and then lounge at Tully's before deciding where else to go. Quinalt? Ocean Shores? Elma? Or just a pleasant day in Hoquiam.

6 January Tuesday: Community Meditation, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. We do some simple movement and seated meditation, followed by a short talk by Thay Kobai on "Meditation, the Eighth Element of the Eight-Part Map of the Path" and a Q&A. See details above.

4 January, Sunday:  Full Moon Ο
 
8 January, Thursday: Kobai on Coffee Talk,  9:10 a.m., 1450 AM, 100.5 FM and streaming.

13 January, Tuesday: Community Meditation, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. We do some simple movement and seated meditation, followed by a short talk by Thay Kobai and a discussion. People of any or no faith are welcome.

20 January, Tuesday: Community Meditation, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. We do some simple movement and seated meditation, followed by a short talk by Thay Kobai and a Q&A discussion. People of any or no faith are welcome.

20 January, Tuesday New Moon Ϲ

27 January, Tuesday: Community Meditation, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. We do some simple movement and seated meditation, followed by a short talk by Thay Kobai and a Q&A discussion. People of any or no faith are welcome. Check with Thay Kobai if you have questions.

TBA  Wednesday in January: Lunch Under the Bridge for Chaplains on the Harbor. We meet at 10:00 a.m. in the kitchen at St. Andrew's Episcopal in Aberdeen. We'll make coffee and do hot water for tea and hot chocolate, then pack the carts and walk (and roll) over to the DOT bridge site to start serving about 11:00 a.m. Thay Kobai will announce to local sangha when date is set.
  
Some Dharma:

My long-time monk friend Santidammo Bhikkhu sent me a box of new books of his for free distribution. The Thai community pays for the printing and distribution of them and I'm very grateful to have them. There are several titles about the life of the Buddha and the Thai Forest monk tradition, including translations of the work of Ajahn Buddhadasa.

In his book called Meditation is Mind Culture, Santidammo describes the process of meditation in very unique and simple ways. "Sitting in meditation is making peace." I have always found this to be true. Our practice is about discovering that we need fewer and fewer enemies.

"When we do this mindfulness practice," he continues, "we become more and more familiar with our mind, and in particular learn to recognize the movement of the mind, which we experience as thoughts. No matter what kind of thought comes up, we should say to ourselves: That may be a really important issue in my life, but right now is not the time to think about it. Now I'm practicing meditation."

I know writers and poets who have insisted on having paper and pencil nearby when they are doing seated meditation. I myself have struggled with this. It's as if I might have a crucial insight during meditation that will never come back unless I make it permanent by writing it down.
But this is just more grasping, more taking these random movements of the mind as if they were important. But they're often no more than hot flashes. If they are truly momentous, we'll remember them later.

It's very hard for us to face this fact, but our thoughts are rarely important.

/Thay Kobai

Copies of Santidammo Bhikku's titles can be requested through Atammayatarama Buddhist Monastery at www.atamma.org.

Our newsletter is now incorporated into Trout Lake Abbey's monthly newsletter. There are photos as well as dharma content on that newsletter. To subscribe, email: business@tlabbey.com.

We are happy to be a member of the Northwest Dharma Association
and encourage you to consider joining.

We are also affiliated with Open Gate Zen Center in Olympia. For information on their programs go to www.boundlessmindzen.org.

If you do not want to receive this newsletter, please email info@plummountain.org