Bodh Gaya statue of the Buddha's Parinirvana. We celebrate Wesak (Buddha's birth, awakening, and death) during May and June this year. |
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This email is long, please click on this message "View entire message" at the bottom of the page to see the whole newsletter.
In this edition:
Tu Viện Bồ Đề Temple visit
Temple services
Greetings from Kozen
Thay Z Dharma Lesson
Train of Tears
Construction Update
A Buddhist Mantra
Khenpo Karten Rinpoche's Wisdom
Shinrin-Yoku Forest Bathing
Ngo Thanh Loan (Vien Anh) and Xuan Đo's Visit
Summer Tick Warning
Recovery Dharma
I was dead and revived video
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Tu Viện Bồ Đề Temple members visited our temple on Saturday, 28 May. Led by Venerable Master Thich Thanh Tri, it was a lovely visit filled with Dharma talks and good fellowship.
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TEMPLE SERVICES
Via ZOOM
MONDAY - FRIDAY at 6:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. via ZOOM
MONDAY at 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. via ZOOM
SATURDAY 8:30 a.m. - service + meditation via ZOOM & in person
Special Vajrayana and Theravada education from March - September 2022
1st and 2nd Saturdays - Mahayana teaching
3rd Saturday - Vajrayana teachings Khenpo Karten Rinpoche
4th Saturday - Theravāda teachings Ven. Bhante Patthago
SUNDAY LGBTQ+ Group 7:30 p.m.
IN PERSON MEETING
THURSDAY at 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. IN PERSON
1412 13th Street, Suite 200. Hood River, OR 97031
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Thich Nhat Hanh study group on the 2nd & 4th Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.
Shinrin Yoku FOREST BATHING June 18 2022. 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m
The Japanese practice of shinrin yoku, or Forest Bathing, is good for both physical and mental well-being. It is proven to reduce stress hormone production, improve feelings of happiness, free up creativity, lower heart rate and blood pressure, boost the immune system, and accelerate recovery from illness.
ONLINE CLASS - at above zoom meeting
June 4 - Practicing Gratitude and Moving Meditation 10:30 - 11 a.m.
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2022 Retreat Schedule
We have limited dates for in person retreats. Please accept our apology if the dates below do not match our previous commitments. We will be planning several more online educational events later this year.
In-person retreats
June 18 – Shinrin-yoku 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Aug 12 – 14 Meditation Retreat Friday 5 p.m. - Sunday 3 p.m.
Oct 4 – 9 Fall Retreat + Shinrin-Yoku Tuesday 3 p.m. - Sunday at 3 p.m.
(Sunday is Shinrin-Yoku)
Dec 8 - Midnight meditation 11:30 p.m. - 12:30 a.m.
Dec 31 - Midnight meditation and ring the great bell 108 times 11:30 p.m. - 12:30 a.m.
ZOOM & Online education - Ways to meditate
(classes will be available on our you tube channel)
May 14 - Sitting Ch'an - Thien, Zen 10:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
May 21 - Sitting Vipassana Meditation
May 28 - Practicing Walking Meditation
June 4 - Practicing Gratitude and Moving Meditation
ZOOM Online education - Taking Refuge study classes
(classes will be available on our you tube channel)
Nov 12, Saturday at 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Nov 19. Saturday at 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Nov 26, Saturday at 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Taking Refuge Ceremony - ZOOM and in person
December 3, Saturday 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
I encourage everyone to do a 1 week retreat and 2 additional 1-2 day retreats every year. Recommended retreat centers are Cloud Mountain in Castle Rock WA, Great Vow in Clatskanie OR, Deer Park in Escondido CA............Thay Kozen
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Dear ones,
The nation has reached a heartbreaking milestone of 1 million confirmed deaths from COVID-19 since the coronavirus pandemic began over two years ago.
May we all take good care of ourselves and each other.
Thay Kozen will be visiting other temples, join us this month at:
Tu Viện Bồ Đề Temple, Renton WA - Sat 11 June, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Co Lam Pagoda Seattle, WA - Sun 12 June 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
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Welcome Yogis June 3rd to 5th
Self Care is Oxygen For Our Souls - Self Care & Community
Evolution of the Soul
Explore what brings us meaning and how to access healing and growth through yoga and meditation.
Friday 3:30 pm to Sunday 1 pm
contact Laurie VanCott <gorgeyoga@gmail.com>
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Dragon Fly Preschool
The preschool is located here on our temple grounds. It seems to be a wonder-filled experience for young children. We are grateful to support the efforts of the school which provides a special form of natural loving growth in a safe environment for young children.
It is organized and run by parents and professional educators.
It is a joy to hear children's laughter all over our small farm....Thay Kozen
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Below is a letter exchange by a Sangha member and Thay Kozen
after the terrible racially motivated attack in Buffalo.
Sangha member - "You say we cannot change the world. If that is the case, and it appears it is, what pray tell is the point of all the meditating and praying and bowing and bell wringing and robe wearing and bread eating and wine drinking and temple/church building . What is the point and purpose of our countless rituals that cannot change the world. I suppose it could be said that the point and purpose is to change ourselves. If that is the case and we actually are changing ourselves, which I’m not really sure we’re doing, but if indeed we are wouldn’t it stand to reason that the world would be changing in response to our changing nature? And yet it is not and there seems to be no end to suffering. So what is the point?"
Thay Kozen's response - "Good Questions! We cannot change the world - and we can be part of the energy to change the world.
All of our actions (Karma) adds to the energy of all of life. Our offering of merit, for example, takes a bit of pain out of the suffering of others.
Our robes, bowing, incense, chanting, and meditation allow us to personally strengthen and grow and increase the merit we can offer others. Our growing awareness allows us to practice greater kindness and compassion which affects others, the effect being a kinder place for all.
Today in our morning sangha we talked about "What does racial prejudice mean? What have I done to promote it or diminish it?" The response was quite wonderful - White folks growing up with all white folks - learning about race from family or friends - and making a choice to embrace or let go of what they were told. Admissions of parents being prejudiced about race or ethnicity and how that has affected us. So, we as a group advocated for racial equality and brought the current inequality into our conscious mind. One heart at a time we work on ourselves and add to the healing energy of life for all of us.
As for suffering - the Buddha (he was such a clever man) told us that suffering exists and has an origin, can be ended, and gave us a path for ending it. He said it will always be present for many people. He went on to explain that most of us will live our lives feeling dissatisfied (in suffering). In our small way, in our small Sangha, we work towards our own awakening and peace for all beings.
White supremacy, I think, has been present for a long time and has recently been empowered. Per Wikipedia - "White supremacy or white supremacism is the belief that white people are superior to those of other races and thus should dominate them. The belief favors the maintenance and defense of any power and privilege held by white people." The theory about "The Great Replacement" seems to be a driving force in the White Supremacy movement.
I am sad about the suffering of our brothers and sisters of color. May thoughts and fears about separation between races and religions fade from our hearts and country. May we see all races, religions, and ethnicities as our brothers and sisters...... in metta....Thay Kozen ......On a personal note - If my great god-daughter was in charge of the universe, then only purple unicorns would rule the world!
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Thich Minh Thien, (Thay Z) Abbot of Budding Dharma
Arlington, Texas thayzzen@gmail.com
Liberation of Views
As I enter Budding Dharma Buddhist Temple, part of my devotional practice is the lighting of incense. There are three primary altars; the main altar, the altar of the Medicine Buddha and the memorial altar. At the main altar I recite the following chant: “Precepts incense, Liberation of Views incense, clouds of lighted incense pouring into the dharma realms. Offering to the highest Teachers in the Ten Directions, I respectfully bow to the altar of the incense cloud, Bodhisattva.” The part of this chant that resonates so strongly with me is the …Liberation of Views… part. In that devotional recitation, I envision all of my views about everything, drifting away like the smoke of the incense, and with it, much of the suffering I know I experience because of my ignorance, delusions, greed and anger contained in my views. And it is not only my own personal sufferings but those I inflict on the world and others when the darker side of views and beliefs take precedence over the cultivation of actions and thoughts that can open a path of liberation to these sufferings.
In his book, Being Peace, Thich Nhat Hanh said that for things to reveal themselves to us, we need to be ready to abandon our views about them. He said that our own life has to be our message and that we can find joy and happiness in the present moment. He interprets the teachings of the Buddha through mindfulness which brings us into concentration. Concentration brings insight and this insight liberates us from our ignorance, our anger and cravings. When we are freed from our afflictions, happiness becomes possible.
How can we be happy when we are overloaded with our own views contaminated by anger, ignorance and craving? There are many conditions of happiness that are present, but without cultivation of loving kindness, generosity and compassion in each moment, we miss recognizing these opportunities for happiness because we are not mindful. Instead, we are caught up in our own beliefs and views which come to the forefront and can affect our actions.
In an interview, Thich Nhat Hanh said that intellectually, people know that they should live in the present moment, but the habit energy that has been there for a long time is always pushing them to rush around, so they have lost their capacity to be in the present moment in order to live their life deeply. In the practice of Meditation and Mindfulness, we open the doors to liberate our views to what is real and available in each and every moment.
And so as I light the stick of incense and recite this incense chant, may my views be liberated from my own ignorance, delusions, greed and anger. May my views be open to each moment of learning and awakening to loving kindness, generosity and compassion. The wonders of this practice are that we are not bound to our past or the present moment. The Buddha taught that every experience, no matter how bad it appears, holds within it a blessing of some kind. The goal is to find it. When we accept liberation of our views and learn from them, change is not our enemy. It becomes our teacher.
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
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Train of Tears
Members of Riverside Community Church United Church of Christ publicly apologized on May 13, 2022, for their silence as a church on May 13, 1942, the day 431 people of Japanese ancestry were forced onto train cars in Hood River to be transported to detention centers in California by order of the U.S. military.
Thich Minh Tinh (Thay Kozen) and Sadi Minh Tam (Ted) attended and led a Metta Practice..
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The Open Patio and Temple Entrance (Phase One) of our New Temple Complex is near completion. We're digging the foundation for the temple (Phase Two) in June.
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The current patio is almost complete, and the footings for the new temple have been laid out. Above is the sloped sidewalk forms for the handicapped entrance. |
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Artist's concept of our new temple building.
The electrical conduit is in for power, the handicapped access ramp is formed and will be poured with cement the first week in June.
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We have started digging the foundation for the temple. We've planned the north end to be all glass which will frame in Mt. Adams and allow our Buddha statue to be highlighted in front of the mountain. The Temple foundation ditch is on the far left of the photo above. It will connect to the patio via a door where the temporary plastic film wall is right now.
Suco Hue Huong, of Buu Hung Monastery in Vancouver WA
was the driving force behind the decision to build a new temple.
We all remain grateful to her insistence to spread the Buddha's Dharma.
Thank you for all your kind & generous donations.
We've been saving for over 10 years and can now begin on phase 2 of 3 phases of building.
We have a $100,000 matching grant - every dollar you donate will be matched up to $100,000.
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If you shop on Amazon Smile every purchase donates some money to our temple,
Please consider joining Amazon Smile with Mt Adams Buddhist Temple as your charity.
Our Temple has received $1,073.22 as of March 2022 from Amazon Smile
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A Buddhist’s Mantra
by Steve Goodheart (based on the Prayer of St. Francis)
May I be an agent of love in this world.
Where there is hatred, let me bring loving-kindness;
Where there is injury, forgiveness;
Where there is doubt, insight;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
May I console as well as be consoled.
May I understand as well as be understood;
May I love as well as be loved;
For in giving, we receive;
In forgiving, we are forgiven;
In dying to self-centeredness, we are born to the deathless.
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Although not everyone can happily undergo the hardship of dealing with people of these degenerate times, do as well as you can. At least try not to harm them. From "A Calendar for Mindful Living", at the Manjushri Dharma Center.
written by Khenpo Karten Rinpoche and translated by Jampa Tharchin, 2017.
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森林浴
Shinrin-Yoku Forest Bathing
Shinrin-Yoku is a Japanese term that translates to “Forest Bathing” in English and involves spending free time wandering in nature. This therapeutic method was developed in the 1980s in Japan, and was designed to enhance well being, health, and joy. It’s used widely in the country for purposes of preventative healthcare in Japanese medicine.
The core philosophy is simply to immerse yourself in nature by activating our five senses: seeing, hearing, touching, smelling and tasting while in the forest. Different researchers, mainly from South Korea and Japan, have carried out studies to evaluate the health benefits of forest bathing. They found out that Shinrin-Yoku helps create a relaxing neuro-psychological effect resulting from the changes in the body’s nervous system. In turn, the body’s stress hormones such as Cortisol and Norepinephrine are minimized, and the immune system boosted.
Congratulations to students who have been in our training class at the temple and are now certified to teach forest bathing: Chris Fischer, Emily Martin, & Scott See
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Seeing the forest, really observing the realness of each leaf, each bush, each tree; mindfulness meditation in action. |
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Seeing - not just looking |
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After a long forest bathing day, participants practiced metta. Then had a vegetarian meal and tea. The warm dry room was a welcome retreat from the rain and cool weather. |
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Heart Circles allow us to share and express feelings. While there are scientific studies about the benefits of Forest Bathing, the experiential journey of mindfulness is the goal. |
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Intimacy with trees and forest |
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Health benefits of Forest Bathing are well documented |
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Ngo Thanh Loan (Vien Anh) and Xuan Đoà visited our temple, |
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Ngo Thanh Loan (Vien Anh) made a lovely flower offering to the Buddha |
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Summer Tick Warning
According to science news, the rise of tick borne illnesses keeps growing. A newly identified disease, alpha-gal allergy (by the bite of a lone star or blacklegged tick), may cause individuals to become allergic to meat. (Alpha-gal Syndrome or AGS)
Add that to Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, weather changes, and a growing deer population, and we have an almost perfect storm.
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Recovery Dharma--Transforming Addictions
and Other Harmful Habits by
Richard (Dick) Withers
Recovery Dharma - Transforming Addictions by Richard (Dick) Withers
Recovery Dharma (RD) was founded in 2019 with publication of the book Recovery Dharma. Local RD meetings are now available online and in-person throughout North America and around the globe. RD meetings include meditation, dharma study and sharing. Drawing from successful elements of 12-Step support groups, RD provides a program of powerful tools to support recovery from alcoholism and addictions (substance or otherwise).
Columbia Gorge Recovery Dharma is thankful for the encouragement and support provided by the Mt. Adams Buddhist Temple and the Temple community.
Columbia Gorge Recovery Dharma currently meets online:
Sundays at 6:15 pm and Wednesdays at 7:00 pm: (Pacific Time)
Meeting ID: 658 513 8476 Password: 516313
From the book Recovery Dharma:
Recovery Dharma is a peer led movement and a community that is unified by the potential in each of us to recover and find freedom from the suffering of addiction. This book uses the Buddhist practices of meditation, self inquiry, wisdom, compassion, and community as tools for recovery and healing. We welcome anyone who is looking to find freedom from suffering, whether it’s caused by substance use or process addictions like codependency, sex, gambling, eating disorders, shopping, work, technology, or any obsessive or habitual pattern. We approach recovery from a place of individual and collective empowerment and we support each other as we walk this path of recovery together. [Download or order a copy at recoverydharma.org]
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I Was 'Dead' For 10 Minutes - What I Saw Changed Everything
Dr. Lani Leary has over twenty-five years of experience as a psychotherapist working with chronically ill, dying, and bereaved clients. Dr. Leary also garners wisdom from her own profound near-death experience, and has sat with over 500 people as they died.
Many people in many countries, of many religions and cultures, have reported similar thoughts
in near death or resuscitated death experiences. Their lives often change
and they become more conscious, gentle and kind.....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 Zen Buddhist Temple 46 Stoller Rd., Trout Lake WA 98650 509.395.2030 www.Mtadamszen.org
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