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Refraining from doing evil
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"Many of you, I'm am sure, who have done something wrong and deeply regretted it, know the incredibly, beautifully, clean feeling that comes as a result of remorse. As it is often said, tears wash away what we have done wrong. Therefore, one should know that the true intent of refraining from doing evil and the purifying of the heart are one and the same thing. In refraining from doing evil there is the pure intention to do no evil. And if there is this pure intention and this refraining, then naturally there is not more rubbish being thrown into the immaculacy of the heart. In this way, "the Moon can reflect naturally upon the water". The less evil we do, the less karmic rubbish we create, and the cleaner the water of our own spirit becomes, the clearer the Moon can shine. The Moon, remember, represents the reflection of the Unborn, the Buddha nature which is in every one of us. When there is much dirt, then the Buddha Nature cannot be reflected." |
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From: Roar of the Tigress, Volume II. Chapter: The Deeper Meaning of Precepts. (Shasta Abbey Press, 2005)
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Content:
- News from the North American temples
- News from the European temples
- From the editor
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Ten Precepts Jukai retreat
Our main spring event was our annual week-long Ten Precepts Jukai retreat 22-29 March. Eighteen people offered their commitment to uphold the Precepts and received their Ketchimyaku bloodline. An additional dozen people participated in the retreat as well. The abbots for the week were Rev. Master Meian, Rev. Master Astor, and visiting prior Rev. Master Vivian.
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Funerals
On 18 April we held a funeral for long-time congregation member Don Van A., who had died unexpectedly. He was Vice-Abbot Rev. Master Daishin’s lay disciple, and Rev. Master Daishin was celebrant for the ceremony.
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Another funeral was held on 7 May for James H., husband of long-time congregation member Colette. Jim was a dedicated TM practitioner, but had requested our Buddhist funeral in order to receive the Precepts. Several of Colette’s friends from Roseburg, Oregon, where she resides, plus a few of her former teaching colleagues from Fairfield, California, attended. Colette was a lay disciple of Rev. Master Oswin; he was the celebrant for the ceremony. Jim’s ashes were enshrined in a beautiful ceramic urn in the Avalokiteshwara Shrine. |
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Wesak celebration
We ended the spring on 17 May with the celebration of Wesak and the completion of the Order’s lay minister retreat. It was with great joy that we filled the Buddha Hall and had the pleasure of the participation of a number of first-time guests. Rev. Master Meian offered a talk on Footprints in the Dust, a new biography of the Buddha based on the earliest historical records. Afterward we all rang the great bell and had a festive tea together.
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Visits
On May 19-21 Rev. Masters Daishin and Oswin and Reverends Allard and Simas traveled to Abhayagiri, a Theravadin monastery in Ajahn Chah’s lineage near Redwood Valley, California. We had contacted them earlier in the year about donating some Theravadin books which we had in storage. Their abbot, Venerable Nyaniko, generously spent considerable time with us talking about their practice and showing us around the monastery.
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After the mid-day meal on Wednesday at Abhayagiri, we drove the half-hour ride to the City of 10,000 Buddhas, a Chinese Mahayana monastery outside Ukiah to make donations there, too. We were hosted by one of their senior monks, Venerable Jin Chuang, and were able to make bows in their Buddha Hall, where a 10,000 Buddhas Repentance Ceremony was in progress. We also had the unexpected good fortune to spend a few minutes visiting with noted translator of Pali scriptures Bhikkhu Bodhi, who was in residence for the week lecturing on his anthology of the Buddha’s teachings on social and communal harmony. |
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Redding Zen Buddhist Temple
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Rev. Helen and the Redding Zen Buddhist Priory Sangha are pleased to let you know that on June 18, Redding Zen completed the purchase of the property which they have been renting for the past eight years.
The Priory building, built in 1920 and moved to its current location in 1960, is a two story building in downtown Redding on about a quarter acre of land with redwood trees, crepe myrtles, plum, lemon, and apricot trees, as well as Japanese maples. Our location is perfect for our purpose to offer “…a place of quiet sitting in downtown Redding”. In spite of its urban setting - our neighbors are a church, a community health center and the County Office of Education - it is a remarkably quiet and peaceful place. |
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The address and contact information remain the same:
1190 South Street
Redding, CA 96001
USA
reddingzen@gmail.com |
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Mild Mountain Spring
The mild spring weather has brought a bumper crop of pine and fir cones falling prolifically beneath the canopy of our mixed-conifer forest, here on the Wallowa Buddhist Temple grounds. There has been much gathering of cones and mowing of abundant prairie grasses as we work to keep “defensible space” clear around the buildings in preparation for our area’s wildfire season, which has already begun.
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Jukai Pilgrimage
In March Alex, Ann, and Michael, of our local congregation, traveled in convoy together with Rev. Master Clairissa to attend the week of ceremonial at Jukai at Shasta Abbey, all three formally taking the Precepts to become lay Buddhists. It’s a nearly 600-mile road trip, each way! The pilgrimage was a good way to get to know each other better as a sangha, and all appreciated the opportunity to experience practice in a monastic setting at the Abbey, and to meet more monks and other lay practitioners. En route, we stayed overnight at the Eugene Buddhist Priory for a friendly visit with Rev. Master Hugh and a glimpse of another temple of the Order. We deeply appreciated the warm welcome offered at the Priory and the Abbey.
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Chipper Training
Back in the Wallowas, amidst many spring comings and goings of visitors, congregation, friends, and helpers, the temple hosted a work day for neighbors to receive instruction in safe use of a new giant chipper acquired by our community Firewise program for checkout by landowners. Volunteer trainees learned and practiced using large piles of pine branches from a large ponderosa crown blown down in a winter storm. The monks were grateful for the help; with many hands, short work was made of a large volume of downed wood, considerably reducing the fuel on the forest floor well before fire season.
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Joyous Wesak with Potluck, Then a Wedding
Rev. Master Clairissa served as celebrant for a joyous Wesak gathering on May 31st. This yearly festival ceremony was followed by a festive potluck and “open temple” afternoon, attended by new and long-time friends from as close as Wallowa County and as far away as Union, La Grande, and Portland, Oregon, as well as Walla Walla, Washington, who enjoyed the opportunity to relax together and get to know each other as sangha. Rev. Master Meido baked a most delicious polenta dish for the potluck.
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In early June, Rev. Master Meido performed a private wedding at the temple for a member of our congregation, followed by tea and carrot cake. |
More on Our Practice
The Wallowa Buddhist Temple website offers a page with further explanation and basic resources for those who wish to cultivate a practice of our Serene Reflection Meditation tradition. Here is the link:
https://wallowabuddhisttemple.org/more-on-our-practice/
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Individual retreats at the Wallowa Buddhist Temple
Hosting individual retreats has always been one of the main functions of the Wallowa Buddhist Temple. Retreats are currently being offered 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.
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Rev. Master Meido & Rev. Master Clairissa |
Lions Gate Buddhist Priory
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Spring flowers have bloomed and withered in successive bursts of color as the seasons roll on toward the heat of summer |
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As Rev. Master Aurelian returned from Thossel Hole mid-April, Rev. Owyn left to spend about a month at Shasta Abbey, joining them for their monastic retreat. Rev. Master Aurelian visited the Vancouver and Victoria meditation groups and returned with a lay guest from the UK, Dave Bearman, who visited for the month of May; we enjoyed his gentle presence and his help with outdoor work and cooking. We had 12 people attend our annual Wesak Festival on May 17 and shared a joyful potluck lunch afterwards. |
Rev. Owyn, a U.S. Citizen, has applied for a Canadian work permit with the help of a lawyer in order to be able to remain in Canada for up to 3 years as well as access Canadian health and vehicle insurance. He has also taken on the role of an assistant treasurer, helping with the data entry aspect of the treasury. Our office has been upgraded with a new desktop computer and all-in-one printer, eliminating many points of friction and streamlining office tasks and Zoom meetings. |
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upgrades to our Mandala Hall
We have had numerous upgrades to our Mandala Hall, which we use for meditation and ceremonies, including replacing the rough cedar siding with concrete board, adding a proper soffit and fascia, added insulation around the exterior of the foundation, a built-in shed to house our heater's propane tanks, new exterior paint, new blinds, and a new laminate floor inside with an insulated subfloor. The main benefits of these upgrades are increased resistance to wildfire, ability to use the building throughout the winter, and increased pest resistance, with mice and flies no longer occupying (and fouling up) the building.
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Interior of the Meditation Hall, before. |
Interior of the Meditation Hall, after. |
New building project
Our new building project has been moving forward: initial site testing has been done and a first draft of building plans have been made.
See for further information: New Building Announcement
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Monthly recitations
In addition to our weekly zoom meetings, we have begun holding monthly recitations of our Precepts Ceremony and of the Shurangama Festival, which take the place of one of our Saturday zooms. If you are interested in joining one of the meetings, drop us an email at lionsgatebuddhistpriory@gmail.com.
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Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey
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Jukai
Nine lay trainees took lay ordination at this year's Ten Precepts Retreat. We congratulate Kenny, Karen, Ed, Will, Jane, Isobel, Jishin, Estelle and Dave, and welcome them to the family of the Buddhist Sangha. A good number of lay trainees who have been to Jukai before also attended; their help and support was much appreciated by us all.
We were also grateful to be joined by Rev. Master Aiden and Rev. Master Willard who travelled up from their respective temples to help the Throssel Community with the many practical tasks – mostly in the sacristy and kitchen departments – which were involved in running the retreat.
Rev. Master Jishin helped Rev. Master Berwyn with the teaching offered during the week, and Rev. Daigen and Rev. Kōjō acted as assistant celebrants for the ceremonies.
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Jukai – Ketchimyaku Ceremony
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Introductory Day
In April we trialled a new event, an Introductory Day, open to those who live locally. We advertised this in local shops and community hubs, and also placed a notice in the local paper. 11 people came, some of whom are neighbours who were interested to just come and find out about what we do. They told us it was appealing to come and learn about meditation at a one-day event, as our usual introductory weekend would be too long for them.
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The two monks who led the day found it a pleasure to welcome the group and introduce them to our practice. The main element was meditation instruction. There were several sitting periods during the day as well as a talk about how Zazen is applied in daily life – at work and in other everyday situations. There were also some useful discussions and questions over tea, plus some working meditation in the kitchen. The day was appreciated by all who attended, and the feedback we received will help us prepare for the next such day which will take place in July. |
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Wesak
The Family & Friends Weekend was most enjoyable. The children who came enjoyed joining in with activities including pottery, art projects and a treasure hunt. We are grateful to lay friends Jill and Isla who came along and shared their knowledge and skills by leading activities. A barbecue lunch and decent weather made for a convivial time. Several neighbours and friends from the nearby villages also came along for this sociable afternoon which was particularly pleasing.
Rev. Finnán was celebrant for the Wesak Festival on the Sunday, and he gave a Dharma talk after the ceremony whilst the children were occupied elsewhere.
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Monks' Retreat
The monastery was closed for two weeks in May, enabling the Community to be on retreat. Our sesshin week was very beneficial, and the few days of relatively unstructured schedule which followed proved to be restful and relaxing.
At the end of May, all Throssel monks, together with other OBC monastics in Europe, took part in an online training course run by the safeguarding organization Thirtyone-eight. Awareness of the importance of safeguarding in religious groups has been growing in recent years, and we have been availing ourselves of the resources and advice provided by Thirtyone-eight for some years now, in order that we might ensure the essential principles of safeguarding followed at the monastery. We are grateful to Thirtyone-eight for helping both Throssel and the OBC draw up policies and procedures which will enable us to respond to and resolve safeguarding concerns when we become aware of them. For more information, please see the Safeguarding and Ethics page of the OBC website.
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Poetry & Practice Retreat
In mid-June, we held a weekend retreat during which participants explored the way that the practices of reading and writing poetry, as with meditation, can help us to pay attention to our lives and our essential connectedness. As well as regular periods of meditation and participating in the daily schedule of the Abbey, everyone took time to read poems together, and also enjoyed opportunities to write in a supportive environment. The sessions were led by lay trainees Kathleen and Alex, together with Rev. Master Berwyn. It is the second time we have hosted such a retreat, and those who attended found the experience highly rewarding.
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Teaching by Rev. Master Berwyn
Some Newsletter readers may not know that Throssel’s abbot is now publishing a Dharma article approximately once a month. They appear on this page of our website. Topics covered recently include Taking Care with Words: the Responsibility of Expression, and Freedom and Choice. The feedback received so far has suggested lay trainees are finding these teachings interesting and useful.
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Monastic News
Rev. Gareth Milliken, who was ordained in 1999, has returned to lay life. He has expressed his gratitude for his years as a monk, and we offer our thanks for all his contributions as a member of the Throssel Community. We also appreciate his efforts during the time he spent as resident teacher at Reading Buddhist Priory, a post he held for several years up until 2024. We wish him all the best for the future.
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Reverend Master Daishin Morgan visited the temple over the first weekend in June. On Sunday morning, he gave a dharma talk followed by questions and answers. A recording of this can be found on the temple website here: https://dragonbelltemple.org.uk/audio-talks/. |
Norwich Zen Buddhist Priory
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News from Norwich Zen Buddhist Priory can be read in their latest newsletter, which can be found here on their website. |
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On 23rd May several priory members attended a Buddha Day at the Satipanya Centre in Wales, practicing within the Theravada tradition. As part of the day, Rev. Mugo blessed a Japanese style bell hung within a circle of metal representing a circle of emptiness, Enso. Afterwards we processed around the property, chanting. |
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Regional Sangha Day in Leeds on Saturday 6th June
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It was a very good day at the regional day retreat at the Jamyang centre in Leeds. There were about 25 people attending, with lay sangha from various regions including Leicester, Nottingham, Leeds, Huddersfield, Manchester and Lancaster. Rev. Master Berwyn and Rev. Kojo came from Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey, Rev. Master Mugo from Telford Buddhist Priory, Rev. Master Alicia from Sitting Buddha Hermitage, and Rev. Master Aiden from Turning Wheel Buddhist Temple. It was lovely to be able to catch up with lots of old friends and familiar faces, some we have known for many years now.
At lunch time the Jamyang Centre's vegetarian cafe, The Happy Yak, did a very good job of providing lunch for everyone, and we sat around tables downstairs and were able to enjoy varied exchanges with one another. |
Later in the afternoon, there was a meditation period followed by an opportunity to ask questions and discuss any of the issues that had been raised during the Dharma Talk, whilst enjoying a cup of tea together. Rev. Master Mugo pointed to micro moments in our lives where stillness can be noticed like the moment just before a bell or gong is struck. The day finished at 4pm with a group photo (taken after Rev. Master Alicia had left), which is attached.
Finally, we would like to thank Tony, Treasa and all the Leeds the group for their generosity and hard work they put into organizing the day and making it possible. |
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Tony and Jill Johnson (Huddersfield group) |
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Dharmazuflucht Schwarzwald
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Rev. Master Berwyn’s visit
In April, we were very pleased to welcome Rev. Master Berwyn, the Abbot of Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey, for a ten days visit. At the end of his stay, we drove him to Lay Minister Irene who lives not far away from our temple, and she then very kindly drove him to Basel airport, from where he flew back to the UK. We very much enjoyed having Rev. Master Berwyn here with us.
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Three months retreat at the temple
Lay minister Andreas, who is a member of the executive board of our charity, took some time off from his work and spent three months on retreat in our temple, which he had done once before already. We are very grateful for the time he spent with us.
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Inter-religious meetings
Rev. Clementia participated again at several inter-religious meetings in our area, to which we are regularly invited. These meetings sometimes happen in one of the local churches. Some of the participants have visited us at the Dharmazuflucht Schwarzwald.
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Rev. Master Fuden and Rev. Master Clementia
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Lay ordinations
On the 19th of April, Gerben (left) and Jorrit (right) took during a lovely ceremony refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha and received the precepts from Rev. Master Baldwin, thereby formally becoming a buddhist. Many Dharmatoevlucht sangha members, as well as Jorrit's spouse and daughter, were present at this joyous occasion. We wish Gerben and Jorrit all the best in continuing and deepening their training.
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You can share this Newsletter by giving others the following link: https://campaign.emailblaster.cloud/MjE2MDE/23.html |
There is also an OBC newsletter 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. |
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I hope you enjoyed reading this Newsletter. The next one will be published on the 1st of October.
With greetings and in gassho,
Rev. Master Baldwin (De Dharmatoevlucht)
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