Tuyết Sơn Thiền Tự

Mt Adams Zen Buddhist Temple

 

April 2016 Newsletter
Dear Dharma Family,
   Happy Spring to us all!  Spring is such a wonderful reminder of the renewal of life.

   In this political time - let us remember to practice loving kindness even when our emotions run high.  Such a turmoil can happen as differing views become expressed.  Remember thoughts and feelings are just that - they may or may not be based in reality.  May we all be kind to ourselves and each other.

   We have a new face book site Mt Adams Buddhist Temple. Our previous site was set up by a person no longer here and it was difficult to manage. Laughing - Thay Kozen is hacking his way through the new face book page as well as working on a revised website. 

My intent is to be here for all three services daily, but occasionally, I am called away. If you need to talk with me or you need to be sure that I'm here, please call ahead.  509.637.5995... Kozen

Monk and Nun Visiting Trout Lake Temple
Thay Nhuan An and Su Co Gioi Buu will spend time at Mount Adams Zen Buddhist Temple in June and July.  We are happy to welcome these two Vietnamese clergy.  Please plan a visit to meet them.
                 
                                   Thay Nhuan An                                                                              Su Co Gioi Buu
10 Buddhist Numbers
Taken from a talk by Thay Kozen. There are many groupings within Buddhism. These 10 are ones that Thay Kozen thinks we would do well to remember.
1 - There is just one - not two
2 - Two Truths - common truth and higher truth
3 - Three Treasures - Buddha, Dharma, Sangha
4 - Four Great Vows - Beings are numberless, I vow to save them ,    . The deluding passions are inexhaustible I vow to end them all, The gates of Dharma are many - I vow to enter them, The Buddha's way is supreme, I vow to become it.                                                                
5 - Five Aggregates -
            rupa: form
            vedana: sensation
            samjna: perception
            samskara: formative principal
            vijanana: consciousness
6 - Six Buddhas prior to Shakyamuni           
            Vipashyin
            Shikin
            Vishvabhu
            Krakuchchanda                                                                                                            
            Konagamana 
   Kashyapa
7 - Seven Purities, purity in the;                                                                                                         
           
   the precepts 
   in heart 
            in views
            in doubt-discrimination                                                                                            
            in intellection
            in judgment
   in nirvana
8 - Noble Eightfold Path
            correct views (samyagdrsti)
            correct thought (samyaksamkalpa)
            correct speech (samyag-vac)
            correct conduct (samya-karmanta)
            correct livelihood (samyag-ajiva)
            correct zeal; effort (samyag-vyayama)
            correct rememberance of the right Dharma; mindfulness (samyak-smrti)
            correct meditation (samyak-samadhi)
9 - Nine Worlds
            Bodhisattvas
            Pratyekas
            Sravakas
            devas
            Men                                                                                                                                               
            asuras  
           animals
            hungry ghosts
            denizens of hell
10 - Ten Precepts
            not to kill
            not to steal
            not to commit sexual misconduct
            not to lie
            not to sell liquor
            not to speak of the faults of lay or home-leavers
            not to praise self or disparage others
            not to hold back teaching or materials
            not to harbor anger
            not to slander the three treasures
Sa Di Minh Thien ("Thay Z")'s monthly column


While I consider Mount Adams Zen Temple as my Sangha, I do live in Arlington, Texas.  So when I am home, I very frequently join with the "Awakening Heart" Sangha in Dallas for the shared experiences of meditation, fellowship and teachings.  It was founded by Brother ChiSing, a follower of Thich Nhat Hahn.  Brother describes the purpose of "Awakening Heart" as an organization fully based in Mindful Living, celebrating Interfaith Buddhist Spirituality with a focus on Mindfulness, Zen and Holistic Meditation.  Brother has been dealing with cancer and I have been asked from time to time to offer a Dharma talk at his Sangha.  In February, I was asked to speak on "Celebrating Wisdom".  In formulating my remarks, I recognized some of my own personal internal struggles between my concepts of Knowledge versus Wisdom.
 
When I first became interested in following the teachings of the Buddha, my primary focus was in learning and practicing Zazen meditation.  As my path became clearer and I approached adopting the practice of a Buddhist monk, my ego struggled with feeling less than because many of my contemporaries had so much more time in studying the Dharma than I have had.  This of course was my own ego creating these feelings of less than by comparing my meager knowledge to others who have studied for years and years.  I saw I was creating my own suffering in judging myself for not making enough progress in gaining knowledge quickly enough.
 
In Buddhism, I have heard it said that knowledge might be regarded as an obstacle to understanding.  Thich Nhat Hahn has said, "...that knowledge is like a block of ice that obstructs water from flowing.  If we take one thing and cling to it, even if truth itself comes as a person and knocks at our door, we won't open it.  For things to reveal themselves to us, we need to be ready to abandon our views about them."  The Buddha, at the end of his life, told his followers to not blindly follow his teaching but to go and make them real for themselves.  This helps me make a better distinction in my mind between the concepts of Knowledge and Wisdom.

I now better recognize that while studying the Dharma and teachings of the Buddha and all the writings of wonderful teachers who came after him is worthwhile and necessary, the Wisdom of Buddhist philosophy is that we are encouraged to be discerning in regard to any teaching, to relate the teachings to our own experiences and reflect on how the teaching can help us develop insight that promotes well-being.  Clinging to anything is a source for suffering in oneself and in others.  We have all seen the damage done by individuals and groups who erect monuments (real and virtual) to their version of the truth and cling to it.  No matter how well intentioned, this fosters arrogance, self-righteousness and a closed mind.  As we gain Wisdom in recognizing these tendencies in ourselves, we are encouraged to ask ourselves if our perception is accurate and what else could be true.  I am learning to accept Wisdom as a guiding force and support it through my study to gain Knowledge. I believe that as we open the doors to an expansion of our awareness, we also open our hearts and minds to compassion and loving kindness.  What could be better than that?

As a side note, Brother ChiSing lost his battle with cancer on March 8th.  I will always have gratitude for his knowledge and loving approach to the teaching of Dharma and his wisdom that is evidenced everywhere in his "Awakening Heart Community" which continues on with the goal of reducing suffering in the world.  

Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."     
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
We are a small Thien (Zen) Buddhist Temple practicing  "laughing farmer zen" - living our practice, sitting zazen, being here - right now!
at our temple 
Monday - Friday at 6:30 AM
Friday at 6:30 PM
Saturday at 9 AM

*****************
at other locations
Trinity Natural Medicine
1808 Belmont Ave, Hood River, OR  
Mondays at noon 

**************** 
 
Buu-hung Buddhist Monastery 
17808 NE  18th St, Vancouver, WA  
Tel: (360) 718-6158    3:00pm - 4:30 pm    


1st Sunday of the month
 
No Vancouver service in April due to our retreat here 
Temple Calendar
  
APRIL
 
2-3 Retreat - Buu Hung
3-11 Kozen on Retreat at Chùa Thiên Ân
22 Earthday - see flyer 
 
MAY
7 Buddha Day at the temple
14 Buddha Day at CRCC


JUNE
4-5 Metta Retreat here

see the full schedule at the bottom of this newsletter
Are you or your group a support for the Northwest Dharma Association? 
  The are a clearing house for Buddhist Activity in the Northwest and need our support.

    
read more about the NWDA at http://www.northwestdharma.org/ 

Moods of Mt Adams

just past sunset

Alpenglow

This is so very accurate.  As we begin to understand the world, everyone and everything becomes our teacher.

 


I recently found this old photo of 3 dear friends.  Matsuoka Roshi along with Rev. Ken and Rev. Fern McGuire meet at the headquarters of Soto Zen in Japan.  I still miss Ken and Fern they died natural deaths within 24 hours of each other.
For Local folks in the Gorge
Many locals have a special awareness of our earth and our environment.  Please join faith based communities and others in this awareness raising event.

Dharma Books for Prisons
Every 2 years our temple collect Buddhist books and mails them off to prisons in Washington, Oregon, and Arizona.  This year we have had hundred of books donated.  We still have the books for prisons in Arizona un-mailed, as we are waiting for them to let us know their regulations.  We include Pureland, zen, and Theravada literature in these mailings.


Debbie and Dennis pack up Buddhist books for shipment to prisons in Washington State.
2016 Schedule
April
2-3 Precepts Retreat with Buu Hung Monastery -   Please Register + 
3-11 Temple closed - Kozen on Retreat at Desert Zen Center (Chùa Thiên Ân), Lucern Valley California  
8-10 NCNM Qigong Retreat -   Private
11 Temple closed - Buddha's Birthday - no service - Kozen on Retreat
15-17 NCNM Qigong Retreat - Private
22-23 NCNM Qigong Retreat - Private
23 Earth Day Service - 9AM
Please Register +
30 Beltane - Druid Event
May
6-8 Yoga Retreat -
Please Register +
7 Retreat - Buddha's Birthday - 7am - 4 pm Service at 9am -   Please Register +
13-14 Laurie Vab Cott Yoga Retreat - Private
14 - Kozen at CRCC Retreat, Connell WA - Prison Buddha Day
20-22 NCNM Retreat Taiji - Private
June
1-July 31 Thay Vinh Minh,  Thầy Thích Nhuận Ân, Sư Cô Thích Nữ Giới Bửu in residence
3 Sufi Retreat
4-5 Retreat - 2 day - Metta  Please Register +
18 Summer Solstice - Druid Event
26-30 Qigong Retreat - Pam Tindall - Private
July
1-5 Zikr Dances of Universal Peace - Private
7-10 Druid retreat
15 Thich Minh Thien Ordination
Please Register +
16-17 Precepts retreat with Buu Hung Monastery Please Register+
30 Lughnasadh - Druid Event
August
6 Ulambana Service 9am +
20 retreat - Ksitigarbha Retreat - Death and Dying - Please Register +
September
10 Retreat - one day Meditation -
  Please Register +

24 Autumn Equinox - Druid Event
30-Oct 2 NCNM Qigong Retreat - Private
October
 
7-9 NCNM Qigong Retreat - Private

TBA  China and Taiwan Pilgrimage - Please Register +
14-16 NCNM Qigong Retreat - Private
21-23 Fall Retreat -   Please Register +
29 Samhain - Druid Event
November
18-20 Meditation Hut Retreat (live like a monk)  Please Register +
December
8 Bodhi Day - meditation 12/7 at 11:30pm to 12:30am 12/8  Please Register +
17 Winter Solstice - Druid Event
30 Midnight Meditation - 12/30 at 11:30pm to 12:30am 1/1   Please Register +

 
EWG Environmental Working Group) singles out produce with the highest pesticide loads for its Dirty Dozen™ list. This year,  Apples, Peaches, Nectarines, Strawberries, Grapes, Celery, Spinach, Sweet Bell Peppers, Cucumbers, Cherry Tomatoes, Snap Peas (Imported), Potatoes, Hot Peppers Kale, & Collard Greens
Each of these foods tested positive a number of different pesticide residues and showed higher concentrations of pesticides than other produce items.
 
EWG's Clean Fifteen™ list of produce least likely to hold pesticide residues consists of Avocados, Sweet corn, Pineapples, Cabbage, Sweet peas (frozen), Onions, Asparagus, Mangoes, Papayas, Kiwi, Eggplant, Grapefruit, Cantaloupe (domestic), Cauliflower, & Sweet potatoes.

Relatively few pesticides were detected on these foods, and tests found low total concentrations of pesticides on them.
 

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

509.395.2030  (e-mail -put in the @ sign) kozen1 at embarqmail.com