Spring 2025

"It comes down again to sitting still and meditating, with bright hope which leads to faith, which leads to certainty, which leads to true liberation and the going in and out, the coming and going, arising and vanishing. Enlightenment is not escaping. It's not a two-dimensional thing; it is the Third position. It is a permanent here-and-now thing, and those who truly understand it regard the world as a joyful place, as a place where they can do, and offer, incredible help as the pipeline of the Unborn. You cannot give that help while there is a "you" in the way and you cannot truly give it until you have found that incredible peaceful Place of stillness."

Content:

• News from the North American temples
• News from the European temples
• News from the Lay Ministers
• Dharma articles and talks 
• Upcoming events
• From the editor

North America

U.S.A.

Shasta Abbey

We were saddened by the departure of Rev. Vera Giordano in early January. Rev. Vera had been a monk for ten years and committed much of her time here as the monastery bursar. We are grateful for her many years of service to, and friendship in, the Sangha.

Vera has moved to the San Francisco Bay Area where she is living with her parents and attending to some health concerns. We wish her the very best as she takes up this new path of training.

On 28th January we welcomed Rev. Owyn Summers of Lions Gate Buddhist Priory in British Columbia for the spring term. He is applying for Canadian citizenship and was advised he’d likely have more success if he applied from here in the States. Rev Owyn has trained with us many times before, including two stays as a postulant, and we are always grateful for his energetic and enthusiastic contribution to the community. Rev. Owyn is a disciple of Rev. Master Koten Benson.

Then on 4th February we welcomed the arrival Rev. Shinkyu Cate of the Nebraska Zen Center, also for the spring term. Rev. Shinkyu was ordained in Feburary of 2024 and is a disciple of our long-time monk-friend Rev. Shuji Mitzmeyer, who is currently setting up a Sangha space in Manhattan, Kansas. Rev. Shuji and Rev. Shinkyu practice in the Katagari-roshi Zen lineage. 

Both Rev. Shinkyu and Rev. Owyn are assisting in the kitchen and helping our Dharma sister Ven. Kalden Wangmo as she serves as the Chief Cook for the month of March. Ven. Kalden, originally ordained here as Rev. Berniece, resides in India and often spends the winters with us. When in India she studies with the prominent nun Ven. Tenzin Palmo and usually spends a number of months engaged in retreat practice in a Himalaya mountain cave.

On 7th February we hosted an overnight visit by 20 nuns and 5 lay devotees from Duc Vien Temple in San Jose. They were accompanied by their abbess, Rev. Dam Nhat. Their community, often including nuns from Vietnam, has been joining us for practice for many years. They always bring an abundance of wonderful food and practical supplies and prepare one or more meals for everyone. Their visit includes chanting and bowing in the Buddha Hall, joining us for meditation and morning service, and participating in a Dharma discussion with the commnity. We continue to be inspired by their devotion to the Buddhist Way and are grateful that we can offer them an example of how Buddhism is practiced in the West.

Later in the month (22nd February), Rev. Jisen Coglan, resident priest at the Boise (Idaho) Zen Center, arrived for a several week stay. Rev. Jisen is another long-time friend in the Katagiri Zen lineage who did her head novice term here. She visits several times a year, and we are always heartened to have bright presence among us. We are glad we can support her practice in this way.

With four novice monks now in residence, we are cheered to have enough younger monks to constitute an actual novitiate. This term they are participating in a book group reading Rev. Master Jiyu-Kennett’s The Wild White Goose, the diary of her years in Japan. The group is led by a different senior monk each week.

At the monastery we are joined in residence at present by eight cats, who provide companionship and frequent entertainment for the monks. Pictured here are some of our special feline friends: Toby, Bella, Mitra, Rohinee, Gracie, and Ollie. Our animals are all rescue beasts needing a home or creatures who simply turn up ‘applying for a job’. Not pictured are Moshan and Teddy (and Ranger the Dog!).

Wallowa Buddhist Priory

On the afternoon of December 31st, fourteen participants made their way over icy rural roads to fill our ceremony hall, as Reverend Master Meido revolved the Scripture of Great Wisdom in all directions while we recited it together during our New Year’s Eve Ceremony. The event was scheduled to finish early so that all might return home safely before the last light of day. The next morning, more friends dropped by in small groups to toast the New Year with non-alcoholic sparkling cider, and to take turns ringing the temple bell a total of 108 times as we held a cozy, informal “Open Temple” with refreshments and good cheer.

One of the main purposes of the Wallowa Buddhist Temple from its beginning over two decades ago has been to offer individual retreats. If you are opening to the possibility of a future retreat here with the temple monks, you are most welcome to contact us directly via our website, wallowabuddhisttemple.org, where you also can find more information about the temple.

We continue to offer a temple podcast, Serene Reflections: From the Heart that Seeks the Way. Over ninety gentle, intimate Dharma reflections from Reverend Clairissa on a wide range of topics related to our practice and the teachings of our Soto Zen tradition are available for listening or download on the Serene Reflections Podcast page of our website, or by subscription without charge via a number of popular podcast apps.

In addition to our monastic practice, weekly services, and other temple activities, Rev. Meido and Rev. Clairissa often meet with individuals who stop by out of curiosity or goodwill, want to know more about our practice or the temple’s function, are hoping for instruction in meditation, or seeking spiritual counseling. 

Travelers drawn to this beautiful Eagle Cap Wilderness area are surprised to discover a Buddhist temple here, and sometimes decide to include a visit with Buddhist monks as part of their journey. We also welcome congregation, neighbors and friends of the temple who come to talk with us, or bring offerings of food, or pitch in with a work project. 

In this sparsely-populated corner of Oregon, our meeting one-to-one and in small groups comprises the majority of our interactions with beings who range widely in age, outlook, and circumstances. Both of us feel blessed to be able to open our hearts in this way.

To ask a question, arrange to visit, schedule meditation instruction, or discuss a retreat, you are welcome to contact the monks of the Wallowa Buddhist Temple by phone or by message via our temple website contact page.

Still Flowing Water Hermitage

December is a full month for the Bear River Meditation Group. Having just celebrated Thanksgiving and its chance to offer gratitude for the abundance within which we live, we move into an evening and then morning celebration of Rohatsu in honor of the Buddha's Enlightenment, then a Ceremony of Offering and Gratitude for the monks at Shasta Abbey. At this ceremony we pass gifts to the monastery from hand to hand before blessing them and setting them on the altar. Rev. Allard visited us all on Zoom later in the month, and we closed out December with New Year's Celebrations which Rev. Vivian attended at Shasta Abbey.

The first week in March we held our 'Intensive Practice Period,' a time when the meditation group comes together daily for meditation and Morning Service in the morning as well as meditation and Vespers in the evening. Dharma talks and discussions are offered throughout the week, and near the end of the week we held a half-day retreat at our venue at Applegate. Our topic this year was 'Vasubandhu's Three Natures,' and we found this foray into Yogacara thought to be enlightening and enlivening.

Canada

Lions Gate Buddhist Priory

In November we were offered the chance to take care of a lay minister’s house, as he has gone into long-term care in a nearby town. This house is about a five-minute drive from the Priory in Botanie Valley. At the time of this writing, there are only two of us here, Rev. Master Koten living on the Priory grounds at Bodhidharma Hall, and Rev. Master Aurelian staying down at the lay minister’s house. It has meant that Rev. Master Aurelian, who has had balance problems since his brain injuries, can live more safely during the winter with the ice and snow. He travels to the Priory every morning to join Rev. Master Koten in meditation and Morning Service and some of the other Priory activities.

As many people know, our town of Lytton was almost completely destroyed in a wildfire in June 2020. Although the rate of rebuilding was very slow at first, it has begun to accelerate. One of the first buildings to go up was the Chinese History Museum. It is located on the site of the Chinese ‘Joss House,” which served as a Buddhist temple and gathering place for the Chinese workers who came to Lytton initially during the Gold Rush in the mid 1800’s  and a decade later to work on the construction of the Trans-Canada railway. The museum was completely destroyed in the recent fire, including a  very old Kwan Yin (J: Kanzeon; Sk: Avalokiteshvara) statue which we had donated. The museum’s proprietor, Lorna Fandrich, managed to obtain an even bigger statue for the new museum which is similar to the original. We had been doing ceremonies there for many years, and this winter we held two ceremonies. The first was an eye-opening ceremony for the new Kwan Yin, and the second was the February Kanzeon Festival Ceremony. Both ceremonies were well attended, and it was a real pleasure to return. Before the fire we had been hosting weekly meditation meetings for the local people, and we are hoping to resume them this summer.

This past fall and winter, both of our long term lay residents moved away. John Hruska left in October, and Andrew Fundytus left in February. Both men had been living here for about ten years, and we are infinitely grateful for their training and for all the hard work and support they offered us while they were here. We wish them both well.

Rev. Owyn has gone to Shasta Abbey to spend the winter training term there. The plan is for him to return in May. Because he is an American citizen, he is limited in how much time he can spend here in a year.

Europe

U.K.

Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey

We are pleased to announce that during Rev. Master Daishin's stay in January, he named Rev. Elinore Agnew as a Master of the Order. Also, Rev. Kōjō Bailey was given a purple small Kesa and certification as a Teacher of Buddhism. We congratulate both monks.

Our 25th Winter Sangha Retreat in January once again proved a time of many benefits for all involved. The monks are deeply grateful to those who came and supported us brightly and generously during this month. A small team worked together harmoniously and adapted to the needs they found: helping to prepare meals, cleaning the temple and assisting the Guest Department when time allowed. There was also some snow shovelling in the early part of the month when we had a heavy fall of snow.

We were also happy to be joined, for part of that month, by visiting monastics Rev. Masters Hakuun, Favian, Aiden, Leandra and Leoma, plus Rev. Reizan from De Dharmatoevlucht in the Netherlands.

In March, a local construction firm laid setts in the area near the guest dept office and cloister, replacing the gravel which has now been repurposed: to create substantial paths to the animal cemetery and Sange Shrine. The paving will make maintenance easier, improve wheelchair access, and make eating outdoors on festival Sundays in the warmer months more of a pleasure. There is also new lighting which will be helpful when retreat guests are unpacking their cars on dark winter evenings.

This upgrade was made possible by a very generous legacy we received recently.

Chief cook Rev. Caitlin has returned to train at Great Ocean Dharma Refuge for several months; we wish her well, and look forward to her return to Throssel. A team of seniors are sharing the cook's duties for the time being.

Dragon Bell Temple

Dragon Bell holds a regular schedule of both weekly and monthly events, centred around seated meditation. Some of these sessions are available to access online via Zoom. The meetings available online are – 7.00am (GMT) zazen, four days a week, Tuesday to Friday and Sunday morning meetings starting at 10.00am which include zazen, morning service and a gathering for practice talk. Anyone is welcome to join online, if you would like more details of how to join online please contact the prior, Rev. Willard at: dbtemple@pm.me

The temple is currently in the later stages of trying to complete on the purchase of a property. It’s probably not wise to say much more in this newsletter, hopefully we’ll have good news in the next.

On the temple’s website, dragonbelltemple.org.uk – you will find a calendar of the scheduled events including the Zoom ones, as well as articles written by me.

Norwich Zen Buddhist Priory

We held a five-day sesshin in the last week of November. Seven of us sat the whole of the retreat (six in person and one online), with others joining for parts of the schedule. The intensive retreat was held in silence and included nine meditation periods each day, as well as the daily ceremonies. We also ate breakfast and lunch formally in the meditation room. The Dharma talks during the retreat, centred on one of our core scriptures, the Sandokai. The schedule allowed for working meditation and time for reading or quiet contemplation. It is always special to be able to set aside a few days for a retreat and to focus on meditation. I am grateful to everyone who attended and who contributed to the smooth running of the sesshin, especially to the cook who oversaw the preparation of the meals. 

We hold two sesshins each year and the next one is scheduled for 25th - 29th June.

During the autumn, two trainees worked away at a major project to improve the front garden. There had been concern that soil from the bank at the edge of the garden was gradually falling away and spilling onto the road and our drive. After much deliberation, with input from others in the garden group, it was decided to shore up the base of the bank with treated boards. The two trainees worked with cheerful, steady, careful and diligent enthusiasm for many hours and the first phase (taking the boards up to the Priory’s steps) was completed. It was a tricky process to get angles and slopes just right (it seemed like three-dimensional chess at times), but the result is marvellous. The boards will not only do a fine job of retaining the soil, but they enhance the appearance of the bank, helping to make the approach to the Priory much smarter. My heartfelt thanks for the time, effort and bright-mindedness that have been offered to this project. 

The Festival of the Buddha’s Enlightenment this year included an unintended extra feature, when a large section of fencing along the front drive blew over in strong winds that morning. I am grateful to everyone who helped after the ceremony to move the toppled fencing. But a huge “thank you” goes especially to the two trainees who returned later that week to replace the snapped fenceposts and restore the panels.

Thank you very much to everyone who enabled me to take some time away from the Priory for retreat and renewal in September. I am grateful to those who offered me the place to stay and who kept the Priory’s events happening in my absence. 

My thanks also go to those Sangha members who kept the Priory open for the Sunday morning meetings and who hosted the online early morning Zoom sessions, while I was away at Throssel in January. 

I continue to be grateful to everyone who helps with keeping the house and gardens tidy and well-maintained, as well as to those people who offer help with various office and computer tasks.

Telford Buddhist Priory

We held a memorial for Rev. Master Saidō on the second anniversary of his death (March 3rd 2023). After the ceremony we processed to the Stupa in which there is a portion of his cremated remains.

We make it our custom, whenever there is a suitable occasion, to offer incense and chant a Scripture in honour of Rev. Saidō, as well as for all those interred/remembered within. Since Rev. Master Saidō's death, we have held a number of ceremonies and events which were recorded on video. These can be found on the webpage: Remembering Rev. Saido. This series of videos covers, among other events, his coffin’s arrival at the Priory on the day of his death; the ceremony that evening; his Funeral Ceremony, and a video with commentary featuring John and Rev. Saidō, who made the Stupa out of concrete, engaged in the final stages of its construction.

After the 2nd annual memorial, and the chanting of the Adoration of the Buddhas Relics, John takes us, by means of a video, on a pilgrimage to our 'orchard' below the Priory building. Whilst walking, he shows off the new fence ‒ recently installed ‒ and the empty space where a large stand of trees once graced the border of the property. They were felled by contractors last September, this allows morning sunlight to flood into the Priory ‒ a most welcome improvement.

The Netherlands

De Dharmatoevlucht

Last year we adopted another dog as a companion to our first dog Bodhi, the English setter, who is deaf. His name is Renzo; he was rescued in 2022 from a puppy farm by the Dutch Animal Protection Agency. Renzo is a English Springer Spaniel and he and Bodhi  are very fond of each other and love to be in the temple. Renzo is always keen to participate with the meditation in the Zendo: he has a mat next to Rev. Baldwin and can sometimes be heard during live streams when he gently sighs or snores. They both bring a smile on everbody's face.

Lay Ministers

We are grateful that we as Lay Ministers may present ourselves in the new OBC newsletter. Often lay ministers work together mainly with their refuge monk, but since a few years ago we regularly meet as a community. Every 6 weeks we have a meeting via zoom which gives us the opportunity to share news and discuss topics that are important for our work as lay ministers, for the temples we are affiliated with or for our own practice. Depending on the number of participants, the discussions take place in plenary or in small subgroups. All Lay Ministers receive an invitation with the zoom link enclosed.

In addition, we maintain contact with the EBU (European Buddhist Union). Ute Heim is our representative and a member of the EBU (contact: jutyhome@googlemail.com).

And of course we, as members of the OBC, represent the Order and may be called upon to act on behalf of the Order to assist with or perform ceremonies, encourage daily practice and take part in other areas of consultation and decision making where appropriate.

Dharma articles and talks

• Rev. Master Rokuzan (Columbia Zen Buddhist Priory)

• Shasta Abbey Sunday morning talks on YouTube

• Wallowa Buddhist Temple podcast 'Serene Reflections: From the Heart That Seeks the Way'

Upcoming events

• Zoom meetings: 7:00 am (GMT) zazen, four days a week; Tuesday to Friday.
• Zoom meetings: 10:00 am (GMT) zazen, morning service and a gathering for practice talk.
  

• Sesshin: Wednesday 25th - Sunday 29th June.

• Every Wednesday evening on our YouTube channel: live stream meditation (7:30 - 8:00pm CET) with the large gong every 4 minutes.