Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple Open

Some last minute preparations.  Fluffy newly-sewn Zabutons.

Jizo greets us at the Zendo entrance.

Cakes and fruit, light, incense, and flowers for the Buddhas.

Enso by Shodo Harada Roshi.  Hogen points out that this enso reveals Roshi's state of mind, and encourages us to imagine the state of mind that could create such a piece.  

Please sign the guest book!

The teachers.

The Zendo was already full!  

Sitting in our new Temple for the first time, listening to the "new" sounds.  We are now in a neighborhood filled with the sounds of children!  At the seats nearest the walls, as the natural light fades, the lights in the ceiling gradually reveal our own shadows on the wall.  There is a faint smell of floor varnish and paint.  There is a lightheartedness, and a getting-to-know-you feeling in this place.  There is a sense of stunned joy that this is actually happening.  

Our first night, we did a Five Precepts ceremony.  Rooting the Temple in ethics from the start.

   

Jizo Shrines

One vow I took when I decided to blog was to never apologize for stretches of blogging absence. So I'm not. Instead I'm sharing a couple examples of recycled tin Jizo shrines.

Yesterday, I had the absolute pleasure of bringing a few bags of crafty goodness to a new event called the Spring Sangha Day, and assisting Sangha members to make their own portable, recycled Jizo shrines. I would say it was a real hit.

Another awesome thing about it was that there is no way I could ever use all the fabric, saved tins, fancy paper, mod podge, and glittery bits that I have squirreled in this lifetime. Sharing feels so much better.

Off to Sesshin tomorrow. Have a lovely week, y'all.