New Year's Eve, Zen Style

This ceremony is what helped me first feel connected to this community about five years ago, and I have not missed it since. I do love a good ceremony. On New Year's Eve, the Zen Community of Oregon and Dharma Rain Zen Center join together to create a lovely New Years' celebration. I believe they have been doing this for decades.

It begins with what is probably the best vegetarian potluck in the Pacific Northwest since Thanksgiving at Great Vow Zen Monastery. If you show up early, so many new dishes, er, people have shown up, you can have a completely different meal at seconds.

After a hearty meal and lots of chit chat, the group will split into about half or 2/3, with most going upstairs to participate in some very easy sacred circle dances. Chozen Roshi loves to lead these old dances from various cultures and countries, and always manages to weave in some Dharma teaching into all of them. Those who are not dancing are, quite gratefully I am told, washing all the dishes, pots and pans.

I enjoy the dancing, and am always amazed by how much I do. These dances are gentle and forgiving, can allow for turning inward (some can even be done with eyes closed), or focusing outward into the larger body and all of our fumbling magnificence.

The large number of dancers usually heats up the Zendo quite impressively, and the big windows get opened, and usually stay that way all evening.

The dancing transitions into the evening's program, and people are given small pieces of paper and writing implements, so as to write down anything particularly unskillful to be let go of in the coming year. There is a shifting and a quieting as the dishwashers are reassured that the coast is clear, and people can begin to come upstairs, settle down on a cushion and reflect on a few things in need of refinement.

During this time, the teachers and all the monastics go to change into their robes. The coming evening program is relatively formal, with lots of bells, a ton of bowing, and the big taiko drum! The teachers carry their sticks, wear their malas, and Kyogen even carries his fly whisk. Although it is formal, despite all the "smells and bells" I do find it very accessible.

The burning bowl is set up in front of the altar, with two of the teachers there to tend it, usually saying something about the transformational quality of practice. Chanting begins, and people are given an opportunity to step forward and burn their small paper in the fire.

There is a Fusatsu Ceremony, including the Gatha of Atonement:

All evil karma

ever committed by me

since of old

on account of my beginningless

greed anger and ignorance

born of my body, mouth, and thought

now I atone for it all.

Then we verbally and physically take refuge; recommitting to the Precepts, and offering a full body prostration after each one, to help the body absorb its vows, and to express them bodily.

We list and chant Being One with the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, with bells and bows after each precept, and after each ancestor is announced. I am usually pleasantly sore in the morning from all these full prostrations.

When the precepts and honoring the ancestors are done, there is quiet as the hour approaches midnight. Participants sit in Zazen, and four people, two from each Sangha are chosen to ring the big bell and offer a bow 27 times each, bringing the total to 108 bows (I got to do this two years ago) while Southeast Portland erupts all around us into the new year.

During this time, the four teachers go through each of the rows and individually, reverently, ceremonially pour and serve each student a small cup of sparkling cider. It is a way to express humility, honor, and respect in this relationship. After all are served, there are a few words, and then it's done! "Happy New Year!"

Then I go find my husband Bansho and give him a kiss.

When we first attended this, you know what the most striking difference was? Feeling bright and clear on New Year's Day -- not hung over the next morning. Not that I used to get fall-down drunk on New Year's Eve or anything, but just staying up that late while nursing a buzz for 4-5 hours will lead to some foggy-headed late-sleeping mornings needing more recovery than anything.

This is a blessed tradition, one that I cherish, as is writing a death poem, or a poem of our deepest understanding for the year. These are shared the next day. I am working on mine for this year. Last year's was posted here.

Happy New Year!