Homage to the Buddha. Homage to the Dharma. Homage to the Sangha. |
If we are to practice effectively, then practice must not become far down on our list of priorities. It is important that we do not become so "overwhelmed" with "things to do" and "family and job" that we neglect the very thing that will prevent us from feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. "Stop and See" is very good advice here. |
|
Rev. Master Koten Benson, Head of the OBC and prior of Lions Gate Buddhist Priory |
|
|
Stop for just a moment and put your hands in gassho, stop for a moment to clean your altar and offer incense, stop for a moment when your attention is caught by something out of the ordinary, to arouse gratitude for this life. When you have a co-worker or situation that is troubling you, write it on a piece of paper and put it on your altar. At the end of the day offer the merit of your day for all those who are suffering. Send an email to your prior or fellow lay person. Recite the Precepts. The means of training are thousandfold. |
Because we are in a society that does not support practice, then it is up to us to "make a way" so that our practice does not become stale or neglected. Sangha refuge is essential in this but we need to make the effort and push past "things and feelings" to attend a Zoom meeting with our fellow trainees. There are lots of them available. |
Do not tell yourself "stories" about your life that result in despondency, cynicism,and neglect of the things that help, or you will start to believe those "stories" and fall away from faith and practice. |
All of the above require "grasping the will" and "turning the wheel.” Try this and you will see instant benefit. |
This article was published before in an email and the Lions Gate Newsletter. |
Wishing everyone a Happy New Year and a Peaceful 2026
May there be Peace and the causes of Peace.
May there be Peace and the practices of Peace.
May there be Peace and the willingness to both receive and give Peace. |
Content:
- News from the North American temples
- News from the European temples
- Dharma offerings
- From the editor
|
|
|
Funeral for Houn Serena Seidner on October 17th.
Rev. Master Serena died peacefully at her daughter’s home in Oakland on September 12th. She had been a monk for 27 years. Many monks and lay trainees were joined by her daughter, Jennifer Bowman, and her husband to rejoice in Rev. Serena’s passing into eternal meditation, a Buddhist expression we often use for death.
Rev. Serena spent her early life in Santa Cruz, later moving to the San Francisco Bay Area; she was employed for many years in a management position for the state of California. Rev. Serena lived in Albany around the corner from the Berkeley Priory, where she was a long-time member. She was also a lay minister in the Order.
|
|
|
|
Rev. Serena ordained in 1998, was Transmitted in 2002, certified as a Teacher of Buddhism in 2005, and named as a Master in 2012. She served as the monastery’s bursar for over 20 years, as well as the assistant novice- master and sewing instructor. Due to health complications related to the altitude at Shasta, Rev. Serena reluctantly moved several years ago to the Bay Area to live with her daughter.
We are grateful for her many years of strong and bright training as a member of our community and her exemplary selfless service in helping numerous people in their practice and training. |
|
|
Funeral for Houn Vera Giordano on November 22nd.
Rev. Vera’s funeral was attended by over 35 people, both monastic and lay, along with her parents, John and Chrissie, and her twin sister Amie and partner, Theresa. Rev. Vera died at peace on 15th October in a San Francisco hospice. She had left Shasta last January to pursue treatment for an aggressive form of breast cancer. She was only 47 years old, and her death was a cause of sadness for all who knew her.
Rev. Vera grew up in upstate New York and Connecticut, attended Yale and Washington Universities, and after graduation traveled to Ghana to work in a program supporting women facing abuse. She later was a social worker empowering homeless people to achieve confidence and independent living conditions.
|
|
|
|
Rev. Vera explored many monastic communities before settling on training at Shasta Abbey. She was ordained by Rev. Master Kodo Kay in April of 2014, Transmitted by her in July of 2020, and certified as a Teacher of Buddhism in 2024. Rev. Vera was also the monastery bursar for a short period leading up to her death. She was much loved by all her universal kindness and commitment to the Buddha Dharma. |
|
|
Memorial for Phil and Suzanne Kane on November 8th.
The Buddha Hall was a full house for the memorial service for Phil and Su-zanne, who died within days of each other in October, both after a long period of illness. We were joined by Phil’s son, Andy, and his wife, Me-gann. Rev. Master Enya was the celebrant, with a special dedication offered by Rev. Master Helen of the Redding Priory.
Suzanne was a long-time member of the Shasta congregation and had been a lay disciple of Rev. Master Jisho Perry. She was admired for her dedicated effort in making the hour-long drive over a dangerous stretch of highway every Sunday to attend services and events at the Abbey regard-less of the weather—sun, rain, snow, or ice.
|
|
|
|
Suzanne and Phil met in the late 1970’s, married in 1980, and moved to their large rural property (‘the Ranch’) in Cassel on Hat Creek, near Burney, in the late 1990’s. They were very active in animal rescue, and many of their friends from that network attended the memorial. Suzanne happily saved her first dog at the age of three (see photo).
After the service, everyone processed to the animal cemetery for the scattering of the cremated remains of over 20 canine friends that Phil and Suzanne had rescued and given a home to over the years. Suzanne was also the source for the Abbey’s adorable temple dog, Ranger. |
We will miss all of these wonderful Buddhist trainees, each of whom embodied a shining example of the Bodhisattva vow to assist all beings. |
|
|
December
The community held its annual winter monastic retreat December 1-8. After the midnight Abbess's Dharma Ceremony on the 7th, we celebrated an abbreviated Buddha's Enlightenment Festival on the morning of the 8th. The next week, with the help of a number of congregation members, we put up our holiday decorations.
|
|
|
|
Feeding the Hungry Ghosts at Wallowa Buddhist Temple
Segaki 2025 drew a hungry crowd to the Wallowa Buddhist Temple on October 26th, many of whom were drawn to our delicious homemade cream buns. Three enthusiastic kwatzers had put in a little extra practice using the new lightweight clash cymbals purchased especially for the occasion. Rev. Master Clairissa served as celebrant and we all enjoyed a festive potluck meal following the ceremony, which took place indoors this year with meditation hall doors and windows open wide. Even amidst all that goes on during this ancient and complex ceremony, at center all grew very still together.
|
Intensive Workshop on Meditation and Practice
The Saturday Day Retreat for December departed from our usual format, as we neared completion of our weeklong Rohatsu retreat. Generally we invite participants to drop in for as many hourly sittings as they wish on our monthly day of silent introspection. This December 6th, Rev. Clairissa offered a special two-hour Intensive Workshop on meditation and practice, with a short formal sitting including a posture-check, a nuts-and-bolts discussion on meditation and practice, and a little working meditation together to decorate the hall for our Buddha’s Enlightenment Sunday on the 7th. Those who joined in the workshop particularly appreciated a chance to explore various alternatives for sitting formally when dealing with chronic physical pain.
|
Remarkable Autumn Weather in the Wallowas
We have continued to enjoy beautiful fall colors and warmth thanks to prolonged autumn weather in our mountains, with mostly rain instead of snowfall even well into December. Temperate conditions in the Wallowas have allowed monks and friends to do our many outside seasonal chores like raking up pine needles and splitting and stacking firewood with exceptional ease and delight.
|
On Statues and Ceremonial in a Soto Zen Temple
The Wallowa Buddhist Temple website offers a page exploring the use of statues and ceremonial in a Soto Zen temple. You are warmly invited to have a look.
Some wonder why Zen temples even have statues and ceremonial, particularly in a tradition which outside of Asia sometimes is approached as more of a philosophy or way of life than a spiritual practice. How might anyone who visits a Zen Buddhist temple, especially those puzzled by the presence of statues and rituals, come to understand the iconography and ceremonies they encounter there? The page begins with the following Dharma Question & Answer, which then is followed by a more detailed explanation:
Question: If everything has Buddha Nature, why does a Zen temple have statues, and what is the purpose of doing Buddhist ceremonial?
Answer: To help set all beings free.
|
Individual retreats at the Wallowa Buddhist Temple
Since its beginning, hosting individual retreats has always been one of the main functions of the Wallowa Buddhist Temple. Retreats are currently being offered only for monastic and lay members of the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives, and for those who follow our practice of Serene Reflection Meditation. If you are considering an individual retreat here with us, we invite you to contact us via our website to discuss the possibility.
|
Rev. Master Meido and Rev. Master Clairissa |
Lions Gate Buddhist Priory
|
40th anniversary
On October 5, we held ceremony and Zoom meeting with several of the congregation members to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Priory. There has been an OBC presence in the BC area since 1974 with the establishment of the first Vancouver Zen Priory which lasted two years. The core members of that group continued a meditation group for many years, and when Rev. Master Koten arrived from Shasta Abbey, they invited him to establish Lions Gate in a small rented house in the city. We are deeply grateful for his (and everyone’s) many decades of teaching and practice.
|
|
|
Visit
We were delighted to welcome Mark Beaver, formerly Rev. Fudoshin, for a two week visit in October. We all appreciated his being here.
|
|
Remembrance Day
On November 11, we attended the Remembrance Day ceremonies in the village of Lytton at the site of the newly rebuilt Canadian Legion and the restored cenotaph. It is the first time this ceremony was held there since the 2021 wildfire.
|
|
|
Woodshed/storage/workbench area
Much work has taken place at the Priory over the fall. Rev. Owyn completed the woodshed/storage/workbench area, installing lighting, and shelves for the gas cans and generators. We are really grateful for all his hard work in creating an efficient, useable, multi-purpose space. We also had several loads of gravel delivered and levelled in our new expanded parking lot, and some ditching was done along the driveway road.
|
|
|
|
|
Zoom Dharma meetings
The Priory offers Zoom Dharma meetings on Thursday evenings and Saturday afternoons. These consist of a 30-minute meditation period followed by a Dharma Talk and discussion by Rev. Master Koten or Rev. Master Aurelian. If you are interested in joining one of the meetings, drop us an email at lionsgatebuddhistpriory@gmail.com.
|
|
|
Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey
|
September
After a very busy summer the monks had a more contemplative schedule, which was made possible by the generosity of several lay trainees who came to help support the community. There was working meditation in the mornings, with the afternoons comprising largely of meditation periods and quiet contemplative time, along with preparing the evening meal. The residents organized their own schedules and decided who would help each day. There was no formal teaching, though there were opportunities to talk with monks more informally. Overall, the experiment was very successful, and the community is very grateful to everyone who contributed. We are exploring ways the lay sangha can offer to support the monastery on a more regular basis, and this experience was very helpful in showing us the willingness everyone has to help in some way.
|
Segaki
This year’s Feeding the Hungry Ghosts retreat was led by Rev. Master Olwen, and monks from other OBC temples were invited to give teaching. Rev. Master Kōten, the new Head of the Order, gave a talk in the ceremony hall via video link, and Rev. Master Fuden of Dharmazuflucht Schwarzwald, who was of course a Throssel monk for many years, sent a recording of a lecture which the retreatants listened to during a meditation period. Those talks, plus those of Rev. Master Olwen are now on Throssel's website, along with much more Dharma teaching, including the latest articles from abbot Rev. Master Berwyn's Short Writings series.
A week earlier, Rev. Master Kōten had given a talk over Zoom to the monastic community, and answered questions, which was much appreciated.
|
|
|
Ceremonies
Several memorials have been held, including one for a dear fellow monk from Shasta Abbey, Rev. Master Serena who sadly died in September. And in November we remembered long-time lay minister Brian Gay who died in Malaysia in August. He was instrumental in helping to deepen our connection to the Sangha at Cheng Hoon Teng, the temple in Malacca where our Founder Rev. Master Jiyu was ordained. We offer gratitude for the lives of them both.
|
|
|
|
Visiting Monks
It was a pleasure to welcome four monastic visitors this Autumn: Rev. Master Haryo arrived from the USA in October for a few months’ stay, and in November the new assistant head of the Order, Rev. Master Aiden, came for a weekend together with Rev. Master Leandra. Also Rev. Master Mugō’s trip up from Telford Priory coincided with the above visits.
|
Visit to a nearby Vihara
Rev. Kyōsei writes: “We were invited to go to 'Aruna Ratanagiri' Harnham Buddhist monastery which is in the Theravada Thai Forest tradition, and we were warmly met by Ajahn Punnyo who showed us around. We walked down to the lake on their property, which has a wooden walkway all the way around it, and we passed three secluded kutis (small huts) where some of the community have retreats. A special island had been made for swans, and we also saw a few mallard ducks and hares around the area, and many trees of various kinds which had been planted over the years. We then made our way to the retreat house and guest facility.
After looking around there we went to the large reception room which has a wood burner, and had tea with pleasant discussions (photo below). We were also invited to Abbot Luang Por Munindo’s reception room where we sat and had an interesting dialogue. We expressed our appreciation and also invited their monks to one day visit Throssel.”
|
Next Year
Our 2026 calendar is now online. We hope to see as many of you as possible at some point during the year.
|
|
|
Great Ocean Dharma Refuge
|
|
|
Turning Wheel Buddhist Temple
|
Festival of the Buddha’s Enlightenment
On Saturday the 6th of December we celebrated the Festival of the Buddha's Enlightenment together at the temple, with some lay Sangha members attending in person and others joining via zoom. Below is a photo of the main altar, set up for the festival.
After the festival ceremony Rev. Aiden gave a Dharma Talk, which is available on the temple’s website.
|
The temple altar set up for the Festival of the Buddha’s Enlightenment |
Autumn Day Retreat in Nottingham
It was lovely to meet with members of the Nottingham group for a day of meditation and practice at the Day Retreat in Chilwell on Sunday the 21st of September. There were twelve of us there altogether, and the building was nice and quiet as the library which shares the building with the community centre is closed on Sundays.
As well as meditation periods we also celebrated Morning Service together, which is an opportunity to offer incense, make bows to the Buddha, and recite the Scripture of Great Wisdom and the Ancestral Line. Mid-morning we stopped for a tea break and Rev. Aiden offered a Dharma Talk which was followed by a good discussion. Thank you to Estelle for taking the photo.
Following a bring-and-share vegetarian lunch we had another couple of meditation periods in the afternoon, and the day ended with an opportunity to ask questions whilst we drank tea together.
Thank you to all those who helped organise it and make it happen, and for all your support and donations in many different ways. We hope to hold another retreat at the same venue next Spring.
|
|
Dharma Talk and discussion during the retreat
|
|
|
Improvements to the Temple: a new conservatory
During the Autumn we had a conservatory built at the back of the property, where there was previously a patio. This will give us a good sized space which will be very useful, for example, for festival ceremonies when the weather isn’t quite good enough to sit outside.
The base of the conservatory was built at the end of September, and in early November two fitters were here for three days to install the uPVC and glass top part. Fortunately the weather stayed dry for those days, and we have had a few sunny days since then to help the conservatory dry out a bit before we head into the colder and darker winter months. The photo below shows the completed conservatory, compared with the original patio
|
|
|
The completed conservatory
|
|
|
Now that the conservatory is complete and the concrete floor and interior brickwork are protected from the weather, they will need to dry out for about three months before we can lay any flooring. We have a dehumidifier running in there part of the time to help with that process. Although this means we won't be able to make full use of it for a while, it wouldn't have got that much use during the coldest and darkest months anyway. It will really come into its own when the weather starts to warm up in the Spring.
Rev. Master Aiden |
|
|
Dharmazuflucht Schwarzwald
|
|
|
Segaki retreat
In the last week of October, we had our week-long Segaki retreat, with several of our congregation members attending. The actual ceremony happened on the last day of the month. The weather was fortunately still quite mild, so that we were able to hold the ceremony outside.
|
|
|
|
Annual general meeting of our German charity
At the end of November, we had the annual general meeting of our charitable organization. Two of our lay ministers, Benjamin Britz and Susan Sting, were named by the members to be part of the board of directors of our charity. Apart from the two of us, the board includes Rev. Master Mokugen, the two Lay Ministers Andreas Körner and Karola Haar, and now also the two new members mentioned above.
|
|
|
Rev. Master Haryo’s visit
We had the great pleasure to welcome Rev. Master Haryo in December for a two weeks visit. We had invited him to come and visit us, while he was at Throssel. He visited us several times in our old temple, as well as in our current one. Several of the German Lay Ministers had told us that they hoped that he may come to our temple at this point, so that they could express their gratitude to him. Andreas and Benjamin will spend Christmas in the temple, while Rev. Master Haryo will still be here. Irene very kindly collected him at Basel airport and drove him to the temple, after he spent a couple of days in the house of Irene and her husband Hugh. We are deeply grateful to Rev. Master Haryo for all the help he has given us over many years in the past.
|
|
|
|
Public talk and retreat in Stuttgart
Rev. Clementia gave a public talk and led a retreat at the Buddha Haus city center in Stuttgart. Rev. Fuden joined online on the second day, to give a Dharma-talk. We have been leading retreats there for almost twenty years now.
|
|
Rev. Master Fuden and Rev. Master Clementia
|
We send a heartfelt wish to all our brothers and sisters in the Sangha for a peaceful and bright 2026! |
News
This past fall, the Sangha, which had been carrying on with Zoom meetings, resumed in person practice once a month in the capital, Riga. A half day retreat takes place on the third Saturday of every month and includes chanting the Scripture of Great Wisdom (in Latvian) and the Ancestral Line, and reciting Dogen’s rules for meditation during one of the meditation periods.
|
|
|
|
We are supported in our ability to meet together by a Tibetan temple in Riga, the Ganden Center, which offers the use of their space. Ganden doesn’t charge a fee, and graciously accepts whatever donations are given. The theme for practice during the fall/winter period has been the Shushogi which Rev. Bridin has translated into Latvian. |
Ongoing Zen practice is supported by volunteers who offer Zoom meditations AM/PM on work days, and a Zen discussion group once a month, one in Latvian and one English. Rev. Master Koten and Rev. Aurelian attended a Zoom meeting in November much to our delight. Rev. Master Koten spoke on the topic of “How good always prevails over evil”. |
|
|
We wish you a happy and prosperous 2026
We hope that in this new year your Buddhist practice may deepen and be a light in a world that unfortunately grows steadily darker, with more suffering for many. Just as the stars shine in a clear dark night, so can a pure and still heart/mind shine brightly in this world and disclose the refuge that the Three Treasures (Buddha, Dharma and Sangha) give to us. |
|
|
Segaki ceremony
In October 11 congregation members joined us for the Segaki ceremony in which recently died relatives and friends were remembered. The altar was filled with food and drink offerings. We sang several scriptures and recited the Segaki mantras. The ceremony was followed by meditation and a joyful get-together with coffee and Segaki buns.
|
|
|
|
Sunday morning meditation |
Rev. Master Baldwin and Rev. Reizan |
Wolk en Water (Clouds and Water) hermitage
|
|
|
|
Zoom Dharma meetings
Wolk en Water Hermitage holds English language Dharma meetings via Zoom on Thursday evenings at 8:00 pm Dutch time. Also every third Sunday of the month at 11:00 am. Longer-term practitioners are welcome to join. Please request a link via email.
|
|
|
Suffering and the willing heart
There is an important foundation of spiritual life that has become more and more important for me over recent years. It has to do with our intention to approach the suffering we perceive in ourselves, in our outer circumstances and in the actions of our fellow human beings with a willing and accepting heart. Through this willingness, we make ourselves available for Buddha to teach us, and for life to teach us.
What is it that makes it possible to stay open, receptive and willing, when we are confronted with suffering? .....
Read the full article: Suffering and the willing heart
|
|
Rev. Master Fuden, Dharmazuflucht Schwarzwald
|
|
|
Practicing Peace
When I wake up in the morning, I spend some time watching the light come into the valley and sending out thoughts of loving kindness into the world. There are so many conflicts!! We all wish for peace, we pray for peace and we offer each other the blessings of peace.
But peace needs to be practiced in order to be real.
Practicing peace begins, as all practice does, with ourselves. To cultivate an attitude of peace we need to not fight… not resist or resent what is happening. This means allowing the fear and sadness that may arise to simply be acknowledged and accepted.
|
|
Rev. Master Phoebe (l) en Rev. Master Seikai (r)
with their dogs Ninja and Quinn,
Pine Mountain Buddhist Temple
|
|
|
From that place of inner peace wise action will suggest itself; acceptance does not mean passive “rolling over”. Then, practicing peace will become acting in a wise and kind manner, soothing upsets, comforting those who are in pain, supporting those who are in need. Even when circumstances are not peaceful in themselves, we can find a small safe place in our heart where peace exists. This place is a refuge and needs to be cultivated so it does not get buried or forgotten.
We like to think that if only everyone would practice peace, the world would be at peace, but of course we also know this is a dream. But the fact that not everyone practices as we do does not mean that we should despair and not even try ourselves. Peace exists when it is practiced, a tiny place of peace is a reality and makes the world a better place. |
|
|
You can share this Newsletter by giving others the following link: https://campaign.emailblaster.cloud/MjE2MDE/16.html |
There is also a new OBC News website where this newsletter is posted. The website address is: https://newsletter.obcon.orgOn the Newsletter subscribe page of this website you can subscribe to our Newsletter. |
|
|
I hope you enjoyed reading this Newsletter. The next one will be published on the 1st of April.
With greetings and in gassho,
Rev. Master Baldwin (De Dharmatoevlucht)
|
|
|
|
|
