Autumn 2025

Content:

• News from the North American temples
• News from the European temples
• Dharma offerings
• From the editor

North America

U.S.A.

Shasta Abbey

Rev. Master Meian, our Abbess, offered the June week-long retreat, using as her theme the Serene Reflection Meditation poem by Kanchi Sosan, our Third Chinese Ancestor, “That Which Is Engraved Upon the Heart That Trusts to the Eternal.” The title is often abbreviated as “On Trust in the Heart” or “Faith in Mind.”

Then in August Rev. Master Enya led the week-long retreat studying Red Pine’s translation of the Lankavatara Sutra, a Chinese Chan scripture, incorporating references to Great Master Dogen’s Shobogenzo discourse “On the Spiritual Discourses of the Mountains and the Waters” (Sansuikyo), or “Mountains and Waters Sutra.”

Both retreats were well-attended and appreciated by all who participated.

On July 19th Rev. Master Daishin ordained Donald Hart into the monastic sangha, giving him the religious name “Hōun Simas.” The name means “He Who Hears and Listens within the Dharma Cloud.” The ceremony was attended by Rev. Simas’s brother and sister and their families, as well as by many of our local congregation members and a large group from the Redding Priory together with their Prior, Rev. Master Helen. We gladly welcome Rev. Simas into the monastery community and our Order.  

In early July we held a funeral for Adam Stolinsky, a long-time congregation member who was also associated with the Santa Barbara Priory. The ceremony was attended by his widow Lynne and his children and grandchildren. The grandchildren placed mementos on the altar during the chanting of scriptures, and Adam’s ashes were placed in the Avalokiteshwara Shrine. Tea with the community followed.

Rev. Master Meian announced following the Dogen Festival on September 14th that Rev. Master Serena (Seidner) had died peacefully at her daughter’s home in Oakland, California. Rev. Serena had been living there for several years because of altitude difficulties caused by her cancer. Rev. Serena was ordained in 1998 and had served many years as the monastery bursar. A funeral will be held later this autumn.

Wallowa Buddhist Temple

This quiet mountain temple tucked away in the foothills of Oregon’s Eagle Cap Wilderness has entered its third decade serving friends and community from near and far. For a glimpse into Wallowa Buddhist Temple history, with photos of monks, friends, and temple grounds (including the early days of Rev. Meido’s journey here and the building of our guest house with many helpers), we invite you to visit our webpage About the Temple.

Since its beginning, hosting individual retreats has always been one of the main functions of the Wallowa Buddhist Temple. If you are considering an individual retreat here with us, we invite you to contact us via our website to discuss the possibility. 

Canada

Lions Gate Buddhist Priory

Summer has been lovely this year, with fairly moderate temperatures and a good deal of precipitation, which has kept the wildfire danger low. As usual in summer, we’ve received a steady stream of visitors from far and wide. We welcome guests for day visits and longer-term stays.

In June, Rev. Master Koten travelled to Vancouver Island to visit with the Nanaimo meditation group, and in early September Rev. Master Aurelian visited both the Nanaimo group and the Victoria group. Both groups are doing well, and it was a pleasure to see everyone.

On September 11, a number of visitors came from Vancouver to participate in a memorial ceremony for Mogi Wong and Doris Liang, friends of the priory who died a number of years ago. Mogi was originally from Malaysia, and she was present at the ordination ceremony of Rev. Master Jiyu Kennett in 1962.

We hired a local person to come up with his large excavator and dig out a significant portion of the hill beside Bodhidharma Hall. This greatly expanded the parking area and provided space for a sturdy storage shed for firewood and tools. Rev. Owyn deconstructed the old shed, which was starting to deteriorate, and he has been working on building the new shed all summer. He has also cut back much of the encroaching grass and bushes along the roads and trails. We have begun collecting firewood from the surrounding forest, then splitting and stacking it in the new shed. Much gratitude goes to Rev. Owyn for his industriousness!

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 in one of the meetings, drop us an email at lionsgatebuddhistpriory@gmail.com.

Europe

U.K.

Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey

Throssel now has an official Instagram account. This will serve to keep the sangha informed about upcoming events and teaching, as well as share pictures from our extensive photo archive.

And we will continue to post on our website blog as we have been, for those who don't use Instagram. We are grateful to lay trainee Catherine who is helping to administrate the account on our behalf.

Rev. Master Berwyn recently began publishing a series of 'Short Writings': reflections from a Dharma perspective, on which he welcomes comments, and he also invites suggestions for future topics he could cover.

The two week-long sesshins held in July and August are a highlight of the summer retreat programme. They were led this year by Rev. Sanshin and Rev. Master Berwyn respectively. Their Dharma talks, as well as many other recent lectures by monks, may be found on the Dharma Talks page of Throssel's website.

September has so far been fairly quiet. We are following a more contemplative daily routine and consolidating our energy following the busy summer schedule. We have been encouraged by, and are very grateful for, the generous response we have received to our request for volunteer help from lay trainees during the month. A dozen or more people have come for between one and thirty days, offering their practical help with tasks like kitchen duties and cleaning. This has been of great help to the community, and is a reflection of the valuable mutual support the lay and monastic branches of the sangha provide for each other. 

Dragon Bell Temple

On the 8th August, we completed on the purchase of a bungalow and moved in on 16th. Since then, much work has been done to get the place ready for people to come. We held our first meeting on Sunday 31st and will be gradually re-introducing our full schedule of events in October.
The small village of Shillingford St George is just two miles from the city of Exeter, Devon in the South West of England. There is quite a close community aspect to the village and I am delighted to say that people have been very welcoming.

Details of temple events are on our website calendar - https://dragonbelltemple.org.uk/calendar/  The calendar is updated one or two months in advance.

Some of our regular events are available on Zoom and are listed on the calendar. If you would like details of how to join online, please contact Willard.

Telford Buddhist Priory

Germany

Dharmazuflucht Schwarzwald

It was a great pleasure to have two monks from Throssel and Lay Minister Paul Taylor from Lancaster come and spend some time with us over the summer and in autumn. In July, Rev. Sanshin came for a private retreat time, and shortly after his departure, Paul Taylor came to stay with us. Rev. Master Olwen is due to come for a brief visit in autumn as well. We much valued having these friends here with us.

The Netherlands

Wolk en Water (Clouds and Water) hermitage

Some Reverends have asked if there are more translations into English on the way from me. At the moment I only offer a few Dōgen translations into Dutch to The Dharmatoevlucht newsletter.

We can be contacted by email and by phone: 00 31 6166 54027. You can leave a message and I can call you back.

Dharma offerings

Note from the editor: photos have been added by the editor for those unacquainted with the authors of the Dharma articles.