In our Vietnamese tradition Tết, short for Tết Nguyên Đán, is the most important celebration in Vietnamese culture. Tết celebrates the arrival of spring based on the Vietnamese calendar, which is mostly based on the lunisolar Chinese calendar



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Dear Ones,

Thay Vinh Minh and I have returned from our Taiwan and Vietnam journey.

(Please check out the photos at the bottom of the newsletter).

We will not have a Tet celebration this year due to weather and snow. Please join any Buddhist temple's celebration.

The determination of the first month of a new lunar year varies by culture. The more well-known celebrations include New Year's Day (or week) in the Chinese calendar and Tibetan calendar of East Asia; the Buddhist and Hindu calendars of Southeast and South Asia; the Islamic calendar and the Jewish calendar that originated in the Middle East; and the Nisga'a calendar from Canada.

At our temple we celebrate Tết Nguyên Đán in the Vietnamese tradition. This is a time of

visiting family, temples, friends, and taking care of any unfinished business of the previous year.

A new film, The Zone of Interest, has been released about Auschwitz and the commander's family who lived next door. Auschwitz was the Nazi prison where Jews and others were tortured and killed. The film does not show the atrocities of the prison camp, rather the life of the commander and his family living in luxury. It is a stark reminder that we can all live next to painful discrimination, violence, abuse, and tragedy. Let us cultivate the loving garden in our own hearts to work towards the ending of suffering for all beings. The film was shocking to me and a strong reminder of our own potential for cruelty and disregard towards others.

May we all have a Happy Lunar New Year,

Happy - Tết Nguyên Đán, 農曆新年, Losar (ལོ་སར་), 설날, Nisan, Imbolc

Many other faiths have other times and months for the start of the New Year.

Buddha teaches us that Attachment along with the 3 Poisons: Anger, Desire, and Ignorance,

are the cause of suffering.

May your Year be filled with Kindness, Joy, Health, and Peace.

in metta, Thay Kozen

A GIFT OF BUDDHA'S RELIC

According to the Mahāparinibbāṇa Sutta (Sutta 16 of the Dīgha Nikāya), after attaining parinirvana, the body of Buddha was cremated and the ashes divided among his lay followers. Small pearl like remnants (relics) of the Buddha's body were left in the ashes after the Buddha's cremation. Our small temple was gifted with one relic (remnant) of the Buddha. This relic originally came from Sri Lanka and was gifted to our temple to encourage the growth of western Buddhism. This is a wonderful holy relic from our historical teacher. We will have more updates coming soon. We are considering building a small Stupa like the photo above.

Upcoming Events & Retreats

FEBRUARY 4-25, Tuesdays, Rest & Digest with Emily Martin (see below)

APRIL 12-14 Yoga Retreat With Laurie Van Cott (see below)

I encourage everyone to do a minimum of a 1 week retreat and 2 additional 1-2 day retreats every every year. Recommended retreat centers are Deer Park in Escondido, CA, Great Vow in Clatskanie, OR, Cloud Mountain in Castle Rock WA.

...Thay Kozen

Thich Minh Thien, (Thay Z) Abbot of Budding Dharma

Arlington, Texas thayzzen@gmail.com

The Meaning of Life

Have you ever thought about this?

In 100 years like in 2123, we will all be gone and buried.  This will also be true of everyone we know like our relatives and friends.

Strangers will live in the homes we worked so hard to build.  Everything we owned, everything we have today will either belong to someone else, or will just be gone. All our possessions may  be forgotten as once owned or possessed by us.  This includes that car we spent a fortune on or our high tech stereo and tv.  Most probably it will all be scrap.  Maybe, just maybe, some of our precious treasures might be found in the hands of an unknown collector who may or may not even relate to us as the original owner.  This may even include our recorded thoughts, be they written on paper or this thing we know as the internet.  Our descendants will hardly know who we were, if they even remember us at all. How many of us even know our grandfather's father or what their stories were?

After we die, we may be remembered for a few years.  More likely, we may just be relegated to being a portrait on someone's bookshelf.  In a few years, even our history, photos and deeds disappear into history's oblivion. We may not even exist in anyone’s memories.

All of this happens to each one of us and not one of us escape from this path we call life.  Nothing escapes the power of impermanence.  This falls so solidly into what we know as one of the Five Remembrances we find in our dharma, namely; “All that is dear to me and everyone I love are of the nature to change.  There is no way to escape being separated from them.”

If we truly understand this deeply, along with the other Remembrances in the dharma, might not our thoughts, our actions and beliefs take on a different priority in our lives?  Would we be different people than we may be today?  Might societies make different choices and the directions of humanity and the cosmos be radically different?

This drive to obtain and hold on to more, which is what so many use their energies for, usually results in having no time for what's really valuable in this life and can slow down our efforts to undertake different priorities.  Might we not be better served to direct our energies and priorities to live and enjoy the walks we've never taken; give the hugs we didn't give; increase the hugs and kisses for our children and our loved ones; have belly laughs for the jokes we didn't have time for? Those could certainly be the most beautiful moments and would fill our lives with the joy and happiness the Buddha’s teachings are consistently trying to show us.

Every minute of life is priceless and will never be repeated.  Our practice and our dharma points the way to this meaning of life.   Take time to enjoy it. We can practice gratitude for, and celebrate this gift of our existence.  Always remember Master Dogen’s Reminder: “Let us respectfully be reminded: LIfe and death are of supreme importance.  Time swiftly passes by and with it our only chance.  Each of us must aspire to awaken.  Be aware:  do not squander your life.”

Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa

Precepts - What are they and what do they mean?

Precept: a general rule intended to regulate behavior or thought. (Oxford Dictionary online)

From the 5 precepts of Buddhism to the 10 commandments of Christianity to the 5 vows of Jainism, most religions include moral precepts. What are the Buddhist precepts for lay people?

1. Do not kill. Do not let others kill. Find whatever means possible to protect life. Do not live with a vocation that is harmful to humans and nature.
2. Do not steal. Possess nothing that should belong to others. Respect the property of others, but prevent others from enriching themselves from human suffering and the suffering of other species on earth.
3. Sexual expression should not take place without love and commitment. Be fully aware of the suffering you may cause others as a result of your misconduct. To preserve the happiness of yourself and others, respect the rights and commitments of others.
4. Do not say untruthful things. Do not spread news that you do not know to be certain. Do not criticize or con­demn Tthahet you are unsure of. Do not utter words that can cause division and hatred, that can create discord and cause the family or community to break. All efforts should be made to reconcile and resolve all conflicts.
5. Do not use alcohol and other intoxicants. Be aware that your fine body has been transmitted to you by several previous generations and your parents. Destroying your body with alcohol and other intoxicants is to betray your ancestors and your parents and also to betray the future generations.

A Deeper Dive

The above five precepts are generally accepted by most Mahayana Buddhists as guidelines for lay people. There are several other lists that may give more insight into the different branches and depth of practice of various groups. Here are some links to other precept lists. And please note that the precepts in modern Mahayana Buddhism are the same for monks and nuns, and both can also be called monastics or priests. In 1966, Thich Nhat Hanh ordained members of the order of Engaged Buddhist, which continues today in the Plum Village study centers. My favorite is from historic Tibetan Buddhism: "Destroying towns, villages, cities or large areas by means such as fire, bombs, pollution or black magic." How does that fit with our carbon footprint?

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"How things are, and how I want them to be..."

Thoughtful, Wise Words From A Sangha Member

I am an old, bald, and arthritic man. And fortunate and grateful too, because everything works pretty well.  Although my body has served me well over my life, I’ve always been at least a decade behind in how my body is, and how I want it to be.

 In my thirties, I watched the hair from my head wash down the shower drain, and although there was no physical pain, I suffered as a result, because I was attached to my head of hair. 

At 75, my body isn’t able to do what it used to do when I was younger.  There are aches and pains in my body that didn’t used to be there.  I have experienced sickness that created new pain and limitations.  I was fearful and unhappy about it, and I suffered.  Then I started to notice pain in my fingers when doing ordinary things, and see the finger joints swell. I suffered.  

That said, I’m grateful  and fortunate that the physical pain I’ve experienced has been low and manageable, and I have received excellent medical care. So many parts of my body still work exceedingly well.

A benefit from my practice is that I have realized that there are two kinds of suffering from aging.  The first is the suffering that comes from my attachment to wanting my body to be more perfect than it is. The second suffering comes from any actual physical pain.  In my case, the suffering from wanting my body to be different than it is, can be worse than the actual pain.  So from my practice, I have been able to lessen the first suffering, and move to greater alignment with how I view myself, and how I actually am.

Hopefully the lessons I’m learning through the aging process can be applied to everything else, to reduce the difference in how I see life, and how it really is.  I’d rather be an old man that is content and grateful, instead of grumpy and unhappy.

My metta goes out to those who suffer from great pain. May all beings be well and happy, and know love and peace.

How do I Become a Vegan?

Does Vegan cooking have to be difficult? Will I have to learn new cooking techniques and ingredients? Won'te it be expensive? I can hardly boil water! At my age? I've heard these questions a lot.

Here are some resources that just might convince you to try it! Those who've switched once they're out of their teens and like vegetables generally say it's a wonderful change.

Veg News Magazine - https://vegnews.com/

a plant-based magazine that also has print copies if you prefer those. They have many recipes and articles about techniques you may want to try.

Pick Up Limes - https://www.pickuplimes.com/

easy and practical recipes without "weird" ingredients, some with videos and an "intro" package email when you sign up. Also has a pay app.

Sweet Potato Soul - https://sweetpotatosoul.com/

focuses on home-style cooking specialties like meat loaf, chili, loaded nachos, mostly with easy to find ingredients. Supportive videos help with transition

Brownble - https://www.brownble.com/

A mostly paid site with a large free content library of support, technique, and recipe videos, like "Tofu Mastery" and "Vegan Condensed Milk"

Tending our Garden in the Modern World:

Cure Division through Deep Listening and Understanding Oneness

Last month we explored the metaphor of weeding a garden for the work we do to eliminate unskillful thoughts and feelings. This month, let's take a look at how we divide the world into groups and how to stop that.

The wars in the headlines from around the world and the deep divisions within the United States cause us all distress. How can we deal with them?

First, an opinion piece from the Washington Post points out how our human nature causes us to divide the world into groups, probably initially for our survival; but in modern times it causes the horrific suffering we see around us.

Second, an excellent article from Daisaku Ikeda, a controversial figure in Japanese Buddhism and acclaimed leader in the anti-war and world peace movement.

Finally, a video of Thich Nhat Hahn's lecture on Global Suffering and Deep Listening as a cure for division.

Women and Buddhism

A Very Early Gender Equality Story

Women were included in Buddhism since its earliest years, and their monastic ordination dates back more than 2,500 years, said Judith Simmer-Brown, emeritus professor of contemplative and religious studies at Colorado’s Naropa University, a liberal arts school associated with Buddhism. But as monasticism spread from India to other countries, there often were extra requirements to become ordained in those patriarchal societies.

“Full ordination for women has been very difficult,” Simmer-Brown said about some branches (of Buddhism). “Even though Buddhist teachings always say that women have equal ability to become enlightened and may even be better suited for enlightenment than men.”



That's why we're featuring a story about a Tibetan Diety called Tara. Historically, she was a girl who was taunted by boys that she would have to wait and be reborn into a male body before she could study the dharma and be enlighted. Well, she showed them! She not only achieved enlightenment herself but also the ability to lead others there, and is called "The Liberator.". In her one lifetime!

Reportedly, her reply to the boys was “Here there is no man nor woman—no self, no person, no consciousness. The labels ‘male’ and ‘female’ have no essence; the foolish worldly ones are thoroughly mistaken.”

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. Learn more about the course and register below. Class runs online for four Tuesday evenings Feb 4-25.

Laurie Van Cott of Gorge Yoga has a couple of slots left. Go to her website to grab them!

Science & Buddhism

Cold, Flu, and Covid Season

"I Am of the Nature to Grow Ill. I Cannot Escape Sickness"

Antecdotal and Scientific data indicate that we at or just past the peak of Covid-19 cases for the winter. There is a nasty beyond-a-cold respiratory virus going around with a long recovery period. We all know those that are in treatment for various cancers. How can our Buddhist Practice help us deal with illness?

Buddhist physicians and ethicists have referred to medicine as the most suitable analogy for the Noble Truths: Know the sickness, Abandon the cause of the sickness, Aspire the cure and Rely upon the medical treatment. In the same way one should: Know the suffering, Abandon the cause, Obtain the cessation And follow the Path.

Below is a link to an article from a Chan (Chinese) Buddhist writer about accepting our illnesses as a teaching experience.

Death Doula? What's That?

Our collegues at Doorway Into Life are offering Death Doula Certification (see Below). But what does that mean? Here's an excellent article from the Louisville Courier-Journal answering that question! Note: a subscription pop-up may appear, but you can close it and read the article.

Doorway Into Light's

2024 Death Doula Certification Program

January 18 - June14, 2024

Requirements:

• 12 hours of bedside sitting with the dying each month.
• Submitting our summary report form for each sitting.
• Meet online together 2X each month on Thursdays 2pm-4pm Hawaii Time
• Recommended reading list
• Submit a final paper (500 words max)

YOU CAN STILL SIGN UP!

Some photos of Thay Vinh Minh's and Thay Kozen's recent journey to Taiwan and Vietnam

If you want to view any of these photos in more detail, and they are worth it, right click on it and select open image in new tab (for Chrome)

Meeting Buddhist teachers and making new friends

Beautiful Buddhist art abounds throughout Taiwan and Vietnam

A planned temple of many architectural wonders

This beautiful temple is on an island in the middle of a lake

The dear nun to Kozen's left was very kind and helpful. She guided us to many temples and hosted us to a great lunch. she attended our welcoming ceremony for our tall statue here last fall.

The oldest temple in Vietnam

Friends joined us from the US and Vietnam as we traveled.

Our US contingent L to R, Donald Emily, and Mark

Beautiful temples everywhere with monks and nuns educating and supporting the population.

The many arms and heads of Avalokiteśvara tells the story of unlimited compassion and caring

We met "little monks" (children) who were on their way to school

Traveling to different temples was a great joy.

Emily chose a Vietnamese dress and made friends everywhere

A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

If you've read this far, thank you! If you have ANY comments, complaints, or suggestions, please email the newsletter editor at gvljohnsons4@gmail.com. We also especially enjoy including poetry and other art from our community, so if you've got something Buddhist-themed to share, send it! You may see it featured in a future newsletter!

Mt Adams Zen Buddhist Temple   46 Stoller Rd., Trout Lake WA 98650 509.395.2030   

 www.mtadamsbuddisttemple.org