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Posted 12/27/11
The Shasta Abbey Ethics Committee has changed its name to The Shasta Abbey Ethics Refuge. Rev. Master Jisho Perry, Rev. Vivian Gruenenfelder, Rev. Amanda Robertson, Gene Cleaver, and Eloise Larson continue on as members of the Refuge. Our stated purpose is 'to offer a Dharma refuge to anyone who has a current ethical concern within the Shasta Abbey Sangha, and to promote trust, truthfulness and harmony within the fourfold Sangha.' We are currently in the process of talking together to develop guidelines for our responses to concerns. We are happy to hear from anyone with a concern, a suggestion, advice, or questions. Our email address is ethicssa@shastaabbey.org, or any individual on the Refuge may be contacted directly.

Posted 12/23/11
The monastic community spent December 1 through the 8th in retreat preparing for the Festival of the Buddha’s Enlightenment on December 8th, the traditional commemoration of the awakening of Shakyamuni Buddha. During
this retreat, we put aside most monastic responsibilities to reflect on the teachings of Buddha and deepen our
training. We are grateful for the support of the Sangha that allows us to be able to take this time.

On the evening before the retreat started, about 9:30 pm, a strong windstorm in the area resulted in one of the tall trees on the property breaking off and crashing into the roof of the Bodhidharma Hall, one of our residences for monks. The tree hit the south side of the building, damaging the roof, the attic and the gutters. Thankfully no one was hurt, but there was some damage as framed pictures and plants fell to the floor. We submitted a claim to our insurance company and are pleased to know they will cover the costs of repairing the damages.

During the retreat we became aware of the presence of a bear on Abbey grounds, particularly around the compost area and the kitchen. We have taken steps to encourage our ursine friend to move on. We wish him well.


On December 17th Rev. Master Daishin was celebrant for the Memorial Service for Rosemary Mitchell, Marie Mitchell’s mother. And on December 20th Rev. Master Ando was celebrant for the Memorial Service for Anneliese Weiss, Uli LaRochelle’s mother. Memorials are offerings of merit that benefit those who offer the ceremony, as well as those for whom the ceremony is offered. Please contact Sacristan at sacristy@shastaabbey.org to make arrangements for a memorial if this seems good to do.

On December 18th the Four-fold Sangha held the Lay Donors’ Offering ceremony. This ceremony has its roots in the traditional ceremony held at the end of the Rains Retreat in the time of the Buddha. The monastic community received the generous offerings of our lay friends in a ceremony that included the passing of all the gifts by all in attendance.


Thank you for all the wonderful donations that you gave to us at the Offering Ceremony
and for your kindness and generosity during the past year.
We hope that you and your families will have an enjoyable holiday season
and that the coming year will bring you peace and happiness.
May your practice of the Buddha’s Way continue to help you and all those around you.
We look forward to another year of training together with you.
With Gratitude,
The Community of Shasta Abbey

 

Posted 11/27/11
Rev. Helen was celebrant for a memorial service for her dear friend Fronia Corry on November 5th. Fronia died in September at the age of 92. Her sons, John Stuart and Davidson, attended the ceremony and the tea afterwards, and were deeply moved by this remembrance.

Friends of Shasta Abbey (FOSA) held a workday for the benefit of the Abbey on November 12th. Several lay friends helped with the Vimalakirti Hall boiler and other projects throughout the monastery. We had the opportunity to clean up the grounds and prepare them for winter. There was also the opportunity to participate in cider pressing. More than ten gallons were left at the end of the day after we had shared the work of our pressing.

Rev. Astor met with the Lay Congregation Reading Group at one of the member’s homes in Mount Shasta during October and November to discuss the book "The Opening the Hand of Thought", the teachings of Kosho Uchiyama. Each week they studied a chapter, and came to the class ready to ask questions and share thoughts about the content. The group members are grateful to the Abbey and all the monks who have made these classes possible during the last few years. It has deepened greatly the harmony of the Sangha.

The main part of the Cloister Project is completed. Thanks to the hard work of the Extern Sacristans and kind lay friends there will be more shelter around the kitchen during the coming winter months. The Extern Sacristans and friends also installed a 1000 gallon stainless steel water tank in the Vimalakirti Hall just in time to provide heat and hot water for the Introductory Retreat November 18 - 20. The work is about three-quarters finished. Pictures will be avaiable soon.

We had a beautiful Thanksgiving Festival and a tasty Thanksgiving meal. We are grateful to all who help the monastery in so many ways throughout the year. Pictures will be avaiable soon.


Posted 10/25/11
Reverend Masters Meian, Daishin, Jisho and Rev. Renee attended the Western Buddhist Monastic Gathering at the
City of the Dharma Realm in West Sacramento (CA) from October 17 through 21, 2011. This annual meeting is an opportunity to meet together with other monastics from a range of Buddhist traditions, to see old friends and make new ones, and to support and encourage each other in our practice. This year’s talks and discussions focused on Building Community.

On Saturday, October 22, Rev. Vivian and Rev. Amanda led a day-long retreat titled THE FEMALE IN BUDDHISM: One Buddha Nature at the Applegate Community Center, Applegate (CA) for 35 participants from the Bear River Meditation Group and friends from as far away as San Jose. The day included periods of meditation, scripture recitation and ceremony. Meditation instruction was given at the beginning of the retreat for those new to the practice of Serene Reflection (Zen) Meditation. Dharma talks explored Female Archetypes of Prajnaparamita and Avalokiteshwara; Historical and Modern Issues; and The Female Face of Buddhism in the West. On Monday, October 24, Rev. Vivian and Rev. Amanda addressed the World Religion’s Class at Sierra Colleg, Rocklin (CA). They spoke about the history of Buddhism as well as contemporary Buddhist practice at Shasta Abbey.

On Friday, October 21, Rev. Master Ando gave a public talk at the Zephyr Forest Dharma Center for interested participants from the Susanville (CA) area. She then led a daylong retreat for local participants that included ceremonial, meditation, Dharma Talks and the opportunity for spiritual counseling.

We are grateful for the hospitality of both the Bear River Meditation Group and the Zephyr Forest Dharma Center and the generous support they provided in the food and lodging they offered to our monks.

Our Extern Sacristy has begun a project to install a new boiler and hot water tank at the Vimalakirti Hall. This will improve the heating in the building and increase the supply of hot water. It involves a little remodeling and reinforcing of existing structures, and we hope to have it finished by the end of November.

Posted 10/18/11
We were delighted to welcome 37 guests at the Introductory Retreat held this past weekend. The next Introductory retreat is scheduled for November 18 -20. For more information about our Introductory Retreats please click here.

John Kieres, who is a disciple of Rev. Master Oswin Hollenbeck and a postulant at Eugene Buddhist Priory, has joined
our community through our December Monastic Retreat. We welcome him and are delighted to have him train with us
for these three months.

Rev. Masters Meian, Daishin and Jisho and Rev. Renee are attending this years Western Buddhist Monastic Conference.


Posted 10/15/11
Reverend Masters Meian, Daishin, Shiko, Ando, and Reverends Astor, Berthold, Serena, and Vivian returned safely from Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey. They were weary, but very pleased with the harmonious work done at the Conclave regarding the OBC Rules, the Faith Trust Institute assessment, and the OBC Interim Board. It was a joy to spend this time at Throssel and to be with our larger family in the Order. We plan to have “family gatherings” every two years, with a Conclave at one gathering in three, i.e. every six years. This will help us to work together and keep our familial ties strong. Rev. Master Jisho arrived on October 13th after visiting De Dharmatoevlucht, Rev. Baldwin’s Schreuers' temple in Holland; he also visited Die Dharmazuflucht Schwarzwald, Rev. Master Fuden Nessi's temple in Germany before the Conclave. Rev. Berthold
was also visiting temples in Europe this summer, as well as spending time at
Throssel. It is good to have all our monks home again.

On October 12th twenty-four seniors from the Mount Shasta Parks and Recreation Department Senior Program came for a tour of the Abbey. We were delighted to welcome this keen group. They enjoyed the opportunity to ask questions in the Guest House, and then visited the Buddha Hall. They ended the tour at the Buddhist Supplies Shop. All expressed gratitude for the visit, and several hoped to return.

Rev. Helen was celebrant for her kitty, Jason the Gingerman’s funeral.
Jason died two months after his beloved Iris and was buried next to her in the Animal Cemetery.




The following request for assistance with the OCB website comes from the OBC Interim Board: A big thanks to all who responded to the OBC website working group report sent out in July. Responses have been very favorable. Also, we would like to thank the working group for all they have done to get us to this point. Rev. Master Haryo has given his OK to begin work on the new site, with the understanding that he will be reviewing it along the way. So, we are now ready to move on to the second step of this process, which is to form a website development group that will oversee the creation of the updated OBC website.

Rev. Leon Kackman, a senior monk based at Columbia Zen Buddhist Priory in Columbia, South Carolina, USA has expressed willingness to step forward and serve as project manager, coordinating and overseeing the site development. We deeply appreciate his offer to take on this large project. There is a need for more people to be involved in this work. We are asking for three (lay trainees and monastics) to work closely with Rev. Leon, serving on the website development group to get the website up during the next 6-12 months. Additionally, it will be helpful to know who else might be available to be called upon for specific help with the site development along the way.

It would be good to have people
-with “designer” sensibilities;
-to act as editors to proof read text (one in North America and in one UK/Europe);
-with writing skills;
-web development skills (WordPress or Drupal platform is yet to be decided);
-and anyone else who thinks they might have skills, abilities, internet experience or just a willingness to work in some capacity on the site development and who could be called upon as needed.
It would be helpful if one or more monks would be available specifically to help with gathering materials from the various temples and priories, as needed.

The work plan for the OBC website development group includes (but is not limited to):
-soliciting bids based on the current proposal;
-presenting estimates and recommendations to the interim board and head of the Order;
-coordinating developer agreements and contracts with the Order;
-overseeing the site design and development;
-seeking and responding to feedback on the site design;
-running beta testing of the site with a cross section of the OBC sangha;
-and overseeing the final launching of the new site.

Please refer to the attached current proposal submitted by the website working group for more information and details.

If you are interested in putting your name forward for possible involvement with this project, please respond to websitefeedback@obcinterimboard.org with your name and any particular skills, abilities, interests or experience you might bring to the work to be done. Please indicate whether you are available to serve on the core OBC website development group, or are offering to be available for help as needed along the way. We hope to have the website development group up and running by early November. We thank you all for your support and encouragement to get on with this project.

In gassho
The interim board
To read the Website Development Committee's Recommendations, please click here.



Posted 10/03/11
A Public Statement from the General Meeting of the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives was released today: Dear Friends, As many of you know, in May 2010 R. Master Eko Little was asked to resign as abbot of Shasta Abbey...to read further please click here.


Posted 09/24/11
On Saturday, September 17 we showed the movie The Dhamma Brothers (http://www.dhammabrothers.com) for
16 lay residents and lay congregation members. The film is an excellent documentary on the implementation of a Vipassana Meditation program in an Alabama prison. After the movie there was a lively Dharma discussion.

A Memorial for Carol Jenkins’ mother, Muriel Jenkins, was held on Sunday, September 18, the first year anniversary of
her death. The celebrant was Rev. Renee. A Memorial for Rev. Dilys’ father, Robert Cromack, was held on Tuesday, September 20, the tenth anniversary of his death. Rev. Renee was celebrant. Memorials are a way of offering merit and gratitude to those we love.

On Friday, September 23rd, we held a one-day Silent Meditation Retreat for our lay residents and members of our local congregation. It is good to remind ourselves of the importance of stillness in the midst of activity.

Posted 09/15/11
Rev. Master Shiko gave the Precepts to Traleathea Bernadette Fairbanks. Rev. Serena was chaplain. “Now the Universe rejoices…” and we welcome to our new Dharma sister into the Buddhist Sangha.

Rev. Master Meian and Rev. Master Daishin and other senior monks traveled to the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives Conclave that will be held at Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey to review the OBC Rules, as well as to discuss issues and concerns facing the Order. They will return to the Abbey on October 1, 2011.

Posted 09/09/11
On Saturday, September 3rd, we welcomed 110 visitors from Duc Vien Temple who arrived at the Abbey a little before noon. They went immediately to the Buddha Hall to make bows and to hear a Dharma Talk by Rev. Master Meian. Visitors, monks and our lay residents then enjoyed lunch outside in our picnic area. Many thanks to Bob Johnson, Holly Hansard and Dina Ederer who staffed the Gift Shop during this visit. We will have pictures of this visit soon.

On Monday, September 5th, our Dharma relatives and friends from Malaysia and Taiwan came to visit the Abbey. Ven. Seck Lee Seng, Abbess of Cheng Hoon Teng Temple and Ven. Juein-Ren, Abbess of Cheng Yuan Temple are Rev. Master Jiyu’s Dharma sisters, all having been ordained by Ven. Seck Kim Seng in Malaysia. The group included four of Ven.
Juein-Ren’s disciples: Tzi -Khuan Shih-Fu, Tzi-Liang Shih Fu, Tzi-Chien Shih-Fu and Ci-Qian Shih-Fu. The monks were accompanied by family members and friends: Siew Gaik Seet, Siew Lan Yap, Gee Niwo Tan, Geok Neo Tan and Doris Goh Soon Chin.

The group was most interested in our practice. They follow a Pure Land practice that includes chanting and recitation of the Holy Name of Amitabha Buddha. They came to meditation and Morning Service on Tuesday morning and visited the Founder’s Shrine to pay their respects to the relics of Ven. Seck Kim Seng, Ven. Seck Sian Toh and Ven. Wu Liao, Masters in our Chinese Dharma family. They shared meals and Dharma conversations with the monastic community and our lay guests. They enjoyed tea with the monastic community Tuesday evening. All too soon, the group left on Wednesday morning for the next steps of their journey. This whirlwind visit also included trips to Crater Lake, Mount Shasta and Lake Siskiyou.

We are very grateful for the support and spiritual friendship this visit expresses. And we are grateful for the help of all who made this visit the success that it was. We will have pictures of the visit soon.

Posted 09/01/11
The Surangama Sutra Retreat was a great success! Rev. Master Jisho offered his perspectives on the profound and subtle teaching of the Surangama Sutra (click here for his Dharma Talks) during this seven-day retreat to the 35 people who attended from long distances and from Mount Shasta. We celebrated the Surangama ceremony each day. We are most grateful to the Buddhist Text Translation Society who generously donated 30 copies of their recent translation of the Sutra for our use at this retreat.

On Sunday afternoon, immediately after the delightful brunch that ended the retreat, Rev. Master Jisho left to go to the Conclave. He will be visiting a number of European priories and temples before arriving at Throssel for the start of the Conclave on September 16th. Eight senior monks from the Abbey will be leaving for the Conclave on September 12.

Also on Sunday, Rev. Master Meian celebrated the Naming Ceremony for Maya Allison and Mark Swislocki‘s new son, Casimir Kennett. It was a joyous ceremony, though Casimir appeared to sleep soundly through it all. Maya and Mark came from New York in order to have this ceremony here at the Abbey, where Maya grew up as a member of the Abbey family living at Kannon Dell, a piece of property a few miles away that formerly belonged to the Abbey, and attending the Abbey school.

Posted 08/20/11
The Extern Sacristan were delighted this week to receive the approval of the Siskiyou County Building Inspector for the renovations of the cloister area around the kitchen, including a recent concrete pour. Rev. Master Daishin, Rev. Master Chosei and Rev. Enya, as well as several lay residents have been working very hard on this significant upgrade to our buildings.

Rev. Helen was celebrant for the funeral of her beautiful kitty, Iris-of-the-Rogue-Valley on August 12.
Iris died peacefully, though suddenly and unexpectedly, two days earlier in Rev. Helen’s arms with Jason, Iris’ long-time kitty-companion close by. Iris and Jason came to the Abbey from Miriam King, who bequeathed us the Compassionate Friend Hermitage.

Posted 08/09/11
We successfully moved our server! The moved seemed to go smoothly, and we thank you for your patience during this time.

Rev. Berthold is spending the summer prior to the OBC Conclave visiting OBC priories in Europe. Since June he has been to Reading Buddhist Priory, the OBC Interim Board Retreat in Cornwall, Dragon Bell Temple in Exeter, Telford Buddhist Priory, and Dharmatoevlucht in Holland. He is now visiting Rev. Jigen and Rev. Larena's temple in Norfolk. Rev. Berthold is Shasta Abbey’s representative to the OBC Interim Board and, through the miracle of Skype and Go-To-Meeting, has been actively involved with the work of the Board while he is traveling.

Twenty-three individuals retreat guests, ranging in age from 17 to 87 88, participated in the August 5-7 Introductory Retreat led by Rev. Renee and Rev. Amanda. The retreat ended with the Kshtigarbha Festival and Rev. Master Meian’s Dharma Talk on Who is Kshtigarbha?

We are rebuilding part of our cloister by the kitchen and strengthening the adjoining roofs to support the weight of winter snow, which has been more than usually heavy the last two years. This section of cloister will also be mostly enclosed to reduce the snow that blows in onto the walkway, and thus make this area safer for everyone. We will have pictures soon.


Posted 07/28/11

Rev. Astor Douglas and Rev. Leon Kackman gave a Dharma Talk on the Buddhist Precepts to more than 25 people at the Mount Shasta City Park. There were lively questions and great interest in how to bring the Precepts into daily life. The next talk, scheduled for Monday, August 15, at 7 p.m. at Lower Lodge of the Mount Shasta City Park, will have Rev. Master Daishin Yalon and Rev. Master Ando Mueller talking about The Four Wisdoms - Charity, Tenderness, Benevolence and Sympathy. All are welcome; there is no charge.

Rev. Master Kodo was celebrant for the memorial services held on July 26 for Darla Totten’s parents, Wanda Mae Richardson and Winton Lee Richardson. May they be in their own True Home in peace.

We are in the process of switching servers for our website and email. The process began today and should be completed over the course of the next three days. We ask your patience as we make this move.

Posted 07/25/11
Eight members of the Chico Meditation Group came to the Abbey for a weekend retreat July 22-24. Rev. Serena, one of the Group’s chaplains coordinated the weekend, which included a Dharma Talk by Master Chosei and Rev. Serena.

Brandt Allen and Paula Patterson were married at the Abbey in an afternoon ceremony on July 23. Rev. Master Jisho was celebrant. A number of family members and friends attended the ceremony and celebrated with festive picnic tea afterwards.

Also that weekend we welcomed two Korean female monks who stayed overnight with us, attending meditation and Morning Service, and talking with Rev. Master Shiko and Rev. Astor about aspects of monastic training.

Rev. Helen attended the 2011 Hymn Society of the US and Canada Conference in Colorado Springs from July 17 - 21. The Conference theme was Touching the Earth Lightly. Rev. Helen gave a presentation on A Buddhist Perspective on Touching the Earth Lightly. Our hymn titled Mindful of the Earth was included in one of the evening Hymn Festivals. It was lovely to hear it sung by over 300 church musicians, organists, and ministers attending the Conference.

Posted 07/13/11
Rev. Master Ando and Rev. Astor joyfully participated in the12th Sakyadhita International Conference on Buddhist Women in Bangkok, Thailand, from June 12 to 18, presenting two workshops on Rev. Master Jiyu’s musical legacy. They led two well-attended sessions on our chanting and invocations, leading the participants in our Morning Service chants, festival invocations and processionals. The Conference was held at Sathira-Dhammasathan, a Buddhist learning community founded in central Bangkok in 1987 by Mae Chee Sansanee Sthirasuta. Buddhism is the official religion of Thailand, and the Thai royal family strongly support the practice of the Dharma. Our monks also had the opportunity to visit Cambodia and the Temple of Angkor Wat. This visit to Cambodia impressed them deeply. They brought back a beautiful Cambodian Parinirvana Buddha statue, which we have placed on the front altar in the Buddha Hall.

We were particularly glad to have them back for the Fourth of July. We celebrated this national holiday with a festival ceremony in the morning and our annual Fourth of July picnic in the afternoon. Guests at the picnic included three monastics from the Orthodox monasteries of St. Elizabeth and St. Gregory Palamas, and a good number of congregation members and friends of the Abbey.

We held our monthly Memorial for Rev. Master Jiyu on the evening of July 6th. In this lovely summer weather we were able to circumambulated the Stupa. This ceremony is a remembrance of Rev. Master Jiyu which all are most welcome to attend. For information please click here.

We are looking forward to the visit of our Dharma relatives from Malaysia, particularly Ven. Seck Lee Seng, Rev. Master Jiyu’s Dharma sister, in early September. Because of this visit, our Silent Meditation Retreat scheduled for September 6 through 8 is cancelled.

Posted 07/03/11
On June 7th we were delighted to welcome Rev. Koji Heiro from Japan. Rev. Koji has been a monk for a very long time. He knew Rev. Master Jiyu when she was at Soji-ji, and his father was a good friend of hers.

During the week of June 19 – 26 RM Meian led nearly 30 lay friends in the Silent Illumination: The Teaching of Great Master Hongzhi Retreat. They studied Great Master Hongzhi’s 12th century classic, Cultivating the Empty Field, translated by Taigen Dan Leighton with Yi Wu (Tuttle Publishing, 1991). Master Hongzhi’s teaching significantly influenced Great Master Dogen and our own Serene Reflection Meditation Tradition. Focusing mainly on the Practice Instructions, Rev. Master Meian explored their relevance to our day-to-day practice in 2011. This seven-day retreat included seven Dharma Talks (available at http://www.shastaabbey.org/teachings-RMmeian-hongzhi.html), Dharma discussions, spiritual counseling and opportunities "simply to sit serenely in silent introspection."

During that week we also welcomed 50 Sufi visitors who made bows at RM Jiyu’s stupa and circumambulated in her honor. The group was led by Saul Barodofsky, longtime friend of the Abbey. RM Jiyu was warmly welcomed and supported by Saul when she first came to the US.


Posted 06/14/11

Shasta Abbey now has an Ethics Committee that includes Rev. Master Jisho Perry, Rev. Vivian Gruenenfelder,
Rev. Amanda Robertson, Gene Cleaver, and Eloise Larson. To express your concerns or for further information
please contact ethicssa@gmail.com.


Posted 06/06/11

The North American Lay Ministers Retreat was held at Shasta Abbey from May 18-22. We were delighted to welcome more than 20 Lay Ministers for these five days. We offer our congratulations to local congregation member Laurie Ottens, who was named a new lay minister.

At community tea on the evening of 24th May, Rev. Enya received her Parish Priest certificate from Rev. Master Daishin.

Over the chilly weekend of June 3-5 Rev. Master Kodo and Lay Ministers Gene and Ellen Cleaver led the Introductory Retreat for 35 lay friends who participated with enthusiasm and mindfulness.


Posted 05/16/11

Rev. Leon Kackman is here for the summer, visiting from the Columbia Zen Buddhist Priory in South Carolina; and Rev. Master Mugo White is visiting us from England for a few weeks. She is the Lay Ministry Advisor and will be here for the Lay Ministers’ retreat next week. We are very happy to have both of these monks with us, especially at Wesak. They both trained here at the Abbey for a number of years and are our old friends.

We celebrated the birth, life, teachings and death of the Buddha over a festive Wesak weekend, marked by a beautifully decorated altar, ceremonial and conviviality, and in snow and sleet, ringing in the Buddhist New Year 2554 with the Big Bell. The plants on the altar and the small trees around the stupa were a generous loan from our friends at
Native Grounds Nursery. It was too cold to have live flowers outside!

16 people came for the Wesak Celebratory Retreat, and many more came for the events of the weekend. We are most grateful to Laurie Ottens, Flora Perlman and her student Kaleb, Ahnee Morehead, Carol Jenkins, and Marie Mitchell who offered a lovely evening of music and poetry to start the weekend on Friday.

On Saturday afternoon monks and laity together celebrated the Vigil Ceremony for Wesak. Then on Saturday evening, Choir Director Carol Taforo led us in the Ceremony of the Eve of Wesak and we had a festive tea following this joyous event.

And on Sunday there were more than 50 of us at the Festival Ceremony of Wesak, ladling water over the statue of the Buddha. Rev. Master Daishin blessed the eight Royal Children and all enjoyed this moving ceremony, and heard RM Meian’s talk Wesak: The Buddha as a Human Being. The Big Bell was rung 108 times.

Wesak is the high point of the Buddhist year and we were grateful that the Four-fold Sangha came together to honor the Buddha with gratitude and joy.



Posted 05/10/11
On Thursday, May 5th, Rev. Vivian and Rev. Renee participated in a forum at the College of the Siskiyous, answering the question “What does your spiritual practice offer to young people?” The discussion among the 10 panelists representing a wide range of faith traditions was lively and there were many questions from those in the audience.

On Saturday, May 7th, Friends of Shasta Abbey (FOSA) held a work day at the Abbey in preparation for the Wesak weekend (May 13-15). About 35 of us, monks and lay friends, enjoyed a festive morning putting up flags throughout the cloister, decorating the Buddha Hall and the Stupa, and polishing and sweeping where needed. FOSA provided a delicious lunch, and a good time was had by all!

Later in the afternoon on the 7th we held a community meeting where Rev. Master Meian presented the reasons for, and purpose of, the current Faith Trust Institute assessment. There were nearly 40 lay and monastic participants in a candid and compassionate question and answer session that followed Rev. Master Meian’s talk.

On Sunday, May 8, Rev. Bridin was celebrant at the wedding of Angelo and Stacy Gower in the Buddha Hall. The Gowers had traveled from St. Louis (MO) to be able to have a Buddhist wedding ceremony. Their young daughter, Amira, was ring bearer for the ceremony.

Rev. Master Ando offered the Dharma over the weekend of May 6-8 in Susanville (CA). She gave a public talk on the topic of The Practice of Serene Reflection Meditation in light of the Buddha's Teaching on the Four Noble Truths on Friday evening. On Saturday, the 7th, she led a partial day meditation retreat at the Zephyr Forest Dharma Center, attended by 15 people, included a Dharma Talk on The Three Refuges. She also offered spiritual counseling to members of the Dharma Center, and took a walk through the beautiful high-desert country of Northern California.

Posted 05/06/11
Special Announcement From the OBC Steering Group for the Faith Trust Institute (FTI) Assessment at Shasta Abbey Dear Friends, This announcement is to let you know that we have asked Faith Trust Institute to conduct an assessment... For the full text of this announcement, please click here.

Posted 05/05/11
The monastic community celebrated Rev.Master Hubert’s 80th birthday on April 18th with joy, cake and many expressions of gratitude to him on this special day.

The monastic community is grateful for the opportunity to observe the Denkoe Retreat. During the retreat there are no formal monastic office working meditation periods. Monks are asked to put aside their work responsibilities and “just sit”. Rev. Master Jisho Perry offered the Meditation Hall Talks on the Surangama Sutra.

Rev. Helen and Rosemary Dyke performed the Animal Shelter Blessing at the Sikiyou Humane Society on Saturday April 30. The cats, dogs and the Humane Society staff all seemed to enjoy and benefit from this offering of merit and blessing.

The Friends of Shasta Abbey (FOSA)is sponsoring a workday on May 7th from 9:30 AM-2:30 PM to ready the Abbey grounds for Wesak. Indoor work is also available. We invite you to join the Friends of Shasta Abbey and the monastic community as we prepare for the most important Buddhist holiday of the year. You are welcome to come for all or any part of the day. We will meet in the Dining Hall at 9:30 AM for work assignments, but if you come later, please look for Bob Johnson or Reverend Master Daishin to learn what work team would be good to join. As usual, we will provide lunch!

At 3:00 PM on Saturday, May 7th, we will hold a meeting on recent developments with the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives (OBC), including the assessment here at Shasta Abbey.

Posted 04/19/11
On the evening of April 13, 2011 Rev. Master Daishin Yalon gave Dharma Transmission to his monastic disciple, Rev. Enya Sapp. Dharma Transmission involves a deeper commitment to the Precepts and the practice. We warmy congratulate Rev. Master Daishin and Rev. Enya.

On Sunday, April 10, Rev. Vivian joined members of the Bear River Meditation Group, including some who had joined recently, and two members of the Mountain Stream Sangha (Vipassana practitioners based in Auburn) for a convivial
and congenial potluck brunch followed by an afternoon retreat at the Applegate Community Center in Applegate, CA.
The theme of the retreat was "Opening the Heart of Pain." Meditation instruction and practice were followed by Short Morning Service and a Dharma talk in which Rev. Vivian explored the deep-seated tendency to turn away from and
reject pain rather than to offer it the acceptance that is of true help. In the talk, and the lively discussion which followed, they explored questions like: What is real acceptance? What is engagement with what really is? How do we bring an end to the wanting, which is the root cause of our suffering? What is the delusion in that very wish? Within grief and loss, what is
the arising of compassion? And, does our practice offer hope?
They ended the afternoon with meditation and the chanting
of Vespers. For further information on the Bear River Meditation Group or for information onupcoming retreats contact bearrivermeditationgroup@gmail.com.

Rev. Berthold spent four days (April 12 – 16) at the Sky Creek Dharma Center, Chico, offering teaching in many forms to the members of the Chico Serene Reflection Meditation Group and interested inquirers. He met individually with Group members for spiritual counseling, performed an ordination for the Perskes’ dog, Bodhi, and held a day-long retreat on Saturday. All were very grateful for Rev. Berthold’s teaching.

Over the weekend of April 15 - 17 we welcomed 40 people to the Introductory Retreat led by Rev. Master Daishin, Rev. Enya and Lay Minister Bob Johnson. The retreat concluded with the celebration of the Festival of the Buddha's Birth and Rev. Master Meian's Dharma Talk on Accepting Impermanence.


Posted 04/04/11


We celebrated a wonderful Jukai (The Ten Precepts Retreat) that started in near blizzard conditions and ended with a bright sunlit, spring day. The ceremonies of the week were profoundly moving for all who attended. The following took the Precepts for the first time: Nancy Anderson, Robert Ashworth, Dan Clifton, Dina Ederer, Emily Fisher, Ruth Handy, Janet Kafel, Terri Keyser-Cooper, Fred Lindley, Brian McGuire, Shelley Means, Alex Platt, Steve Rodgers, Eris Rushton, Ian Trent and Gayle Yamasaki.

Rev. Valeria, the former Rev. Celia, is joining the blossoming community at Dragon Flower Mountain (Canada). We are grateful for all she has done for the Abbey community, and will miss her.

Rev. Master Shiko was celebrant for her cat, Maizie’s funeral on Saturday at the end of Jukai. Most of the retreat guests came to the funeral, as well as several members of our local congregation. Maizie had done much to overcome fear in her long life and had come to enjoy holding court from her ledge seat in the window of RM Shiko’s Bodhidharma Hall room.

Posted 03/26/11

Spring came to northern California with vigor.
Here is the west wing of the Guest House.

Over the past two weeks we have had one snow storm after another. All of us have spent a lot of time with shovels and Extern Sacristy has had a lot of tractor time. We’ve had a part of the cloister knocked down under the weight of a falling tree We have been experiencing internet connection challenges, and appreciate your patience in accessing our website and reaching us by email.

On March 22nd, one of the few bight sunny days so far this month, Rev. Master Meian ordained Kim Cromack in a ceremony attended by Kim’s mother, Gail Cromack, and a number of our lay friends. Kim received the name Houn Dilys – Genuine, True Steadfast Woman within the Dharma Cloud. Rev. Master Phoebe came to the ordination from Pine Mountain Buddhist Temple, as did Rev. Master Kinrei from Berkeley Buddhist Priory. All of us enjoyed a delightful celebratory tea and lunch after the ceremony. We will have pictures of the Ordination Ceremony available soon.

The Bear River Meditation Group presented a series of classes on Mahayana Buddhism and the Practice of Serene Reflection Meditation, beginning with a Dharma talk by RM Daishin Yalon on the Buddha's life and first teaching of "The Four Noble Truths". Lay Ministers Andrea Spark and Pam Johnson led the next three classes, first providing an overview of The Eightfold Path and the Precepts, essential teachings common to all forma of Buddhism. The next class followed the development and movement of Mahayana Buddhism along the Silk Road into China with the great translator Zuanzang carrying scriptures and reciting the Heart Sutra along the way. Bodhidharma was introduced, traveling to Southern China from India to teach “wall sitting”, and Hui Neng speaking from his platform on the “Formless Precepts”. The class next met Dogen on his way to China as he crossed the sea to bring back what we now call Serene Reflection Meditation, and “Rules for Meditation”, recited daily in our practice. The Introduction of Zen to the West followed in the fourth class with a short biography of RM Jiyu Kennett. Some history was provided on the founding of Shasta Abbey and the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives and the adaptation of our practice through translations and music. Rev. Astor Douglas completed the series with a full day retreat including periods of meditation ("wall sitting"); recitation of the Scripture of Great Wisdom (the Heart Sutra translated and put to music by Houn Jiyu Kennett), the chanting of the Ancestral Line (the path of our lineage followed throughout the class); the recitation of Rules for Meditation (Dogen); and discussion of ways to bring the practice into our daily lives. The meditation group expresses gratitude to the senior monks who travel regularly to meet with the group and offer the teachings and encouragement of training.

Posted 02/25/11
Rev. Master Daishin and Bob Johnson went to Auburn (CA) to participate in the first session of a 5-week series on Buddhism presented on Monday evening at the Applegate Community Center by the Bear River Meditation Group. Eight new people attended this session along with members of the group. The following sessions are scheduled for February 28, March 7, 14 and 21. For further information contact bearrivermeditationgroup@gmail.com.

We will hold classes on the Ten Precepts for those planning to take the Precepts at Jukai this year. The hour-long classes will be held each Sunday - February 28th , March 6, 13, and 20th in the Guest House during Tea (approximately 12:30 p.m.). Please contact the Guestmaster (guestmaster@shastaabbey.org) if you are interested in attending. Jukai this year will be held March 27th through April 3rd. For further information please see the Retreats page.

Gene and Ellen Cleaver very kindly offered a meal to monks this week. Four monks enjoyed a delicious meal and then, at their hosts’ request, offered a Dharma teaching. We are thankful for this generous offering.

You may call the following monastic offices or voicemail directly by dialing the 3-digit extension number listed below when you reach the main message on our answering machine. You may also reach these offices by email at the given email address. We hope this will help facilitate your getting in touch with us more easily.

Guestmaster ext. 305 guestmaster@shastaabbey.org
Prior (Administration) ext. 321  prior@shastaabbey.org
Treasurer (Bursar) ext. 337 bursar@shastaabbey.org
Sacristan (Transfer of Merit) ext. 319 sacristy@shastaabbey.org
Sacristan (other questions) ext. 357 sacristy@shastaabbey.org
Chief Cook ext. 304

Posted 02/18/11
Our first Introductory Retreat of the new year was held over the February 4-6 weekend. Rev. Master Chosei and several other monks offered Meditation Instruction and Dharma talks to the 24 men and women attending.

Sherry Ackerman hosted five members of the community for a delicious meal last week. All enjoyed her generous hospitality.

On Saturday some of the senior monks met with congregation members in the Vimalakirti Hall for an open meeting and discussion, which covered a range of topics and seemed to be enjoyable and helpful for everyone.

Posted 02/04/11
The month of January was a time of rest and renewal for the monastic community. Thanks to all who supported us during this time.

Reverends Chozen and Hogen Bays from Great Vow Monastery in Oregon came to visit on January 25. They toured the monastery and had tea with a number of the monks. They were very interested in what they saw, and all enjoyed the visit.

Rev. Scholastica will meet with the local congregation reading group weekly during February, March and April. The group will be reading and discussing RM Daishin Morgan’s book, Buddha Recognizes Buddha. For information about the reading group, please contact the Guestmaster (guestmaster@shastaabbey.org).

Kim Cromack's ordination date has been set: it will be March 22nd. Local congregation members are most welcome to attend this beautiful ceremony.
 

Posted 01/10/11
On Friday, January 7th we held the funeral ceremony for Deborah Hiple, local congregation member and lay minister, who died of cancer on December 24th. Rev. Master Meian was the celebrant and Rev. Scholastica and Rev. Amanda were the chaplains. Peter Reinheimer, Deborah’s husband, other family members and more than 200 friends attended. Following the ceremony many stayed for tea in in the Buddha Hall, offered incense and talked about Deborah, whose bright and generous presence will be greatly missed, both at the Abbey and in the local community. The next day some of the monks attended the Memorial Service for Seth Reinheimer, Peter’s son who also died recently, held at St. Barnabas Church.

Rev. Margaret Clyde arrived at the Abbey on January 10th for a six-month stay. We are very happy to have her here.

Posted 01/02/11
As of January 1, 2011, Rev. Brian Monzel has moved to Lions Gate Priory in British Columbia, Canada, to train with Rev. Master Koten Benson. We are most grateful for all that Rev. Brian has done for the Shasta Abbey community, and we wish him well as he continues his training.
Reverend Valora Ordination

Posted 12/31/10
Rev. Master Meian ordained Bronwen Midtdal on December 28th, giving her the name Houn Valora, meaning Strong and Courageous Woman of the Dharma Cloud. Rev. Valora’s mother, Ruth Scott, sisters Meredith and Megan, brother-in-law Stephen, and nieces Fiona and Petra came from Vancouver, British Columbia, to attend this beautiful ceremony. Rev. Valora’s father was remembered with a photograph. Lay congregation members came from as far away as Chico. All participants enjoyed the delicious cake that was kindly offered by Rev. Valora’s family in honor of her ordination. “Now the universe rejoices, the earth trembles and the flowers fall. The Bodhisattvas of other worlds ask their Buddha what this means and the Buddha replies that a new disciple has been given the Pure, Great Precepts of the Bodhisattvas and been converted to the Truth by the master who was given the Precepts before in the teaching of Shakyamuni who is the Buddha of this world…". Please click here for images of this joyous event.

Rev. Helen was celebrant for the funeral held in the Avalokiteshwara Shrine for Stormy, Larry Holben’s cat who died recently. Larry brought members of his congregation at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church to share in the ceremony with him. The ceremony was followed by an enjoyable tea.


Posted 12/23/10
On Saturday, December 11, twelve Shasta Abbey monks attended the joyful ordination ceremony for Larry Holben, now priest in charge at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Mount Shasta. Larry is a friend of the Abbey and we wish him well making this profound commitment.

Rev. Astor led a retreat for the Bear River Meditation Group on December 18th. The 8 people attending the retreat held a generous Ceremony of Gratitude. Rev. Astor spoke on “The Ship and Three Drums”. She cut her visit short to get back to the Abbey before the forecast winter storm.

On December 20th, in the midst of a blustery winter storm, Rev. Amanda was celebrant for the funeral ceremony for Mamacita, Jessica MacKenzie’s 11-year old cat. Jessica was very grateful to be able to offer this ceremony for her dear animal friend.

On December 21st, Rev. Vivian was celebrant for the wedding of Leslie Armstrong and Pascal Graebel. It was a small but festive event, and Leslie and Pascal were very happy to be able to have their wedding here at the Abbey.

Posted 12/18/10
Regarding Your Concerns
From Rev. Master Meian, Abbess, Shasta Abbey
December 2010

At the Induction Ceremony in November, I said:

The gates of Shasta Abbey stand open wide.
Whilst I remain within this place
This gate shall never be closed to any living thing.

Our gates are open, and in that spirit I hope that the lines of communication between you and all of us here at the Abbey remain open and clear.

We welcome all you have to say, and would like to provide a means for you to convey questions, concerns large or small, or any feedback on the ways we carry out the Buddhist Teaching transmitted to us by Rev. Master Jiyu-Kennett.

Please feel free to write us or email: comments2shastaabbey@gmail.com, or to speak to myself or one of the senior monks here at the Abbey. In addition, there will be a locked Suggestion Box available in the Guesthouse which will be checked regularly by the Guestmaster. Your communication will be addressed in a timely way, with respect and in confidence.

We hope that in offering these opportunities for more direct communication, we may strengthen harmony in the fourfold Sangha.

Rev. Meian Elbert, Abbess.

Posted 12/08/10
The monastic community was in retreat from December 1 through December 7. This is our traditional winter retreat in commemoration of the Buddha's Enlightenment. On December 6 Rev. Master Meian turned over the Dharma Seat to Head Novice Rev. Enya to give her first Dharma Talk on Training with Others to the community. Later that afternoon in her Head Novice's Dharma Ceremony she offered teaching on the following verse from Rev. Master Jiyu-Kennett's Roar of the Tigress II:

All things in their diversity are signs of the Truth,
all are part of the Truth,
and it is the diversity which brings us to religious training.

But if we get caught up with liking or disliking,
then we are very far away from the Truth, and "ism" exists.

You have to accept things as they are.
That is why all-accceptance is the key to the "gateless gate of Zen.


We thank Rev. Enya for her generosity and training throughout the term that included the OBC Conclave, the Abbess's Induction Ceremony and the 40th Anniversary Celebration. We congratulate her as she takes the nexts steps in her training.

Just before midnight on December 7th the Abbess's Dharma Ceremony was held, and the following day, weary but joyful, we celebrated the Festival of the Buddha's Enlightenment, followed by the Chief Cook's Ceremony of Gratitude and the End of Term Closing Ceremony.


Posted 11/29/10

Rev. Berthold visited the Chico group recently, meeting individually with group members, as well as giving a Dharma Talk on the Buddha’s female disciple, Sona.

Rev. Sheridan left the Abbey on November 26, to study with Venerable Ji Ru at the Mid-America Buddhist Association (MABA) in Heger, Missouri. We wish him all the best in his training there, and thank him for his five years of service to the Abbey."

For health reasons Rev. Alethea left the Abbey on November 29 to train at the Eugene Buddhist Priory. We are very grateful for all that Rev. Alethea gave to the community in her 17 years here. We hope to see her often.

Rev. Scholastica has returned to the Abbey from a year at the Berkeley Priory in order to help and support Rev. Master Haryo and the Abbey community. We are grateful for her presence and her training.

We celebrated Thanksgiving with ceremony and celebration. After the Festival of Thanksgiving the monastic community shared a celebratory meal. At the Guest House 10 lay residents and congregation members also enjoyed a lovely meal with Rev. Master Kodo.

From Wednesday, December 1 through Friday, December 10, during the December Monastic Searching of the Heart Retreat the monastery is closed to guests except for the Festival of the Buddha's Enlightenment on the 8th and the Festival of Taiso Eka on the 10th. No tours, classes, meditation instruction or overnight accommodations are offered during this time. The early morning meditation and morning services remain open to our lay congregation.

 

Posted 11/19/10

Elizabeth Colleran and Ruth Delany received the Precepts from Rev. Master Shiko in a deeply moving Lay Ordination Ceremony held in the Buddha Hall on November 13th. We offer our congratulations to them both!

Over the past weekend Rev. Vivian traveled to Meadow Vista, in the foothills of the Sierra east of Sacramento, in order to lead a Sunday afternoon retreat for the Bear River Meditation Group. The retreat was themeless; the group had decided that an open forum for questions, concerns, and discussion would be best for now. They sat together in meditation, did morning service, had a long discussion with tea, and more meditation, ending with vespers. The next day Rev. Vivian gave a talk at Sierra College in Rocklyn for a class on Women in World Religions. Rev. Vivian spoke on women in Buddhism, both historical and archetypal, and on the problems women face in practicing Buddhism in today's world.

Posted 11/12/10

Over the November 5-7 weekend, we celebrated the Abbey's Fortieth Anniversary, as well as the Induction Ceremony
for our new Abbess. More than 200 people attended these joyous ceremonies and celebrations. On Friday evening we shared a lovely evening of music and reflections on the history and spirit of the AbShasta Abbey Meian Inductionbey. Saturday morning unfolded with clear skies and warm temperatures. Rev. Master Meian and her five chaplains processed to the new red Temple Gate where she offered incense and affirmed that the gates of Shasta Abbey stand open wide. Whilst I remain within this place this gate shall never be closed to any living being. She was then escorted to the Buddha Hall by 24 lay ministers and lay disciples. The deeply moving Induction Ceremony continued with incense offerings and bows at the Main Altar, the Bodhidharma Altar, the Altar of the Temple Guardians, and the Founder's Shrine. The ceremony ended with final bows to Rev. Master Haryo, the Head of the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives. Rev. Master Haryo and Rev. Master Meian offered remarks of congratulations and gratitude after the ceremony, and invited all to stay for the potluck lunch - with an estimated 50 feet of food - which followed.

Please click here for an overview of the ceremony. And please click here for images of this joyous event.

Visitors came from as far away as England. We were delighted to welcome representatives
from Duc Vien Buddhist Temple in San Jose, the Greek Orthodox monasteries of St. Elizabeth Grand Duchess of Russia and St Gregory Palamas, and St. Barnabas Episcopal Church. Representatives came from Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey, as well as OBC priories and meditation groups. Also in attendance were former monks, lay ministers, and congregation members, as well as lay friends from the local community.

We are grateful for the many offerings of food for the celebratory meal, as well as the many cards and gifts for our new Abbess and for the community. St. Barnabas Episcopal Church very kindly loaned us 90 chairs and 8 tables. And so many offered time and help in decorating, setting up, cleaning up. The Weekend continued with the Festival Memorial for Rev. Master Jiyu on the 14th Anniversay of her death and Rev. Master Meian's Dharma Talk All Are Welcome.
 

The OBC Interim Board has been set up as recommended at the 2010 OBC Conclave. The Board includes:
Rev Berthold Olson
Rev Master Jigen Bartley
Rev Willard Lee
Andrew Taylor-Browne
Pam Hunter Johnson
Rev Master Mokushin Hart
Rev Master Meiko Jones

Rev Master Saido Kennaway (Chairperson)
Rev Alicia Rowe (Secretary)

You can reach the OBC Interim Board Website at http://www.obcinterimboard.org.
 

Rev. Sophia Ellis has relocated to Dragon Flower Mountain to train with Rev. Master Koten Benson. We wish her the best in her training and look forward seeing her back at the Abbey in May next year.


Posted 11/09/10

Over the weekend of November 5 - 7 we celebrated the Abbey's Fortieth Anniversary, as well as the Induction Ceremony for our new Abbess. We will have more information about the weekend's event here in the next posting.

The Extern Sacristans have created a lovely new space for a new outdoor Kanzeon Shrine where the former Kanzeon Garden had been in the cloister on the way to the Buddha Hall. They also strengthened the roof and the posts along that section of the cloister.

The 27 attendees at the recent Feeding of the Hungry Ghosts Retreat participated in Dharma talks and discussions, as well as in the Ceremony of the Feeding of the Hungry Ghosts, the Ceremony of the Burning of the Tombstones, and the Festival of the Founder on November 1. The Ceremony of the Feeding of the Hungry Ghosts is a deeply moving offering of merit for those who have died.Shasta Abbey Alms Round

The next Alms Round in Mount Shasta will start at the Ray's Parking lot 10:00 a.m. on Friday, November 12. For 2,500 years since the time of the Buddha, Buddhist monks have walked the Alms Round. This practice is said to create a field of merit for all sentient beings, an opportunity to show the true qualities of the heart. Freely giving from a generous heart loosens the grip of selfishness. Both donor and recipient are enriched by this practice. We are very grateful to be able to carry on this tradition in Mount Shasta. We are indebted to the officials and the community of Mount Shasta for allowing us to practice the ancient way of the Buddha. We walk, with no expectations.

 

Posted 10/24/10

This week the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives released an announcement about the creation of the OBC Interim Board "...to identify those areas needing attention and through a process of consultation come to a common solution. This should help Rev. Master Haryo in his role as Head of the Order and facilitate all the work that we wish to do in response to the many challenges that we face." For the full text of this statement please click here.

Rev. Master Jisho and Rev. Amanda led the October Introductory Retreat for 30 lay friends new to the Abbey. Participants came from as far away as Valencia (Spain) and St. Louis (MO), and as near as Mount Shasta. On Sunday, the retreatants took part in the Transfer of Merit Ceremony and heard Rev. Master Kodo's Dharma Talk on When the Opposites Arise the Buddha Mind is Lost.

Rev. Master Ando and Rev. Master Koten visited The Temple of the Forest Beneath the Clouds in Weaverville, CA. Also called the Weaverville Joss House, the Temple is California's oldest continuously used Chinese temple. A Taoist temple, it was built in
1874 and is California's best preserved example of a Gold Rush-era Chinese place of worship. Rev. Master Koten was particularly interested in seeing the Temple because plans are currently being developed to restore a similar temple is being restored in Lytton, B.C., Canada, near to Dragon Flower Mountain.


We are most grateful for the offering made by Dr. Elizabeth Colleran of Chico Hospital for Cats and Jessica MacKenzie of the Chico Meditation Group who examined and treated all 14 of the Abbey cats. It turns out that our cats weigh from 18 pounds to 5 pounds. All have current vaccinations, and are in good health. Only Nanki-poo had to be treated for serious dental problems. Elizabeth also treated our dog, Moggie, for a sore foot and had him walking with an added spring in his step!

Posted 10/16/10

On Saturday, the 16th, Rev. Master Meian was celebrant for a Memorial Ceremony for Carol Jenkins’ mother, Muriel Colette Jenkins. Following the Ceremony Carol gave a moving reflection on her mother’s life and the teaching that has come to her through it.

The Monastic Community held its three-day Silent Reflection Retreat this past week. Monks were asked to put aside their monastic office responsibilities for these three days of meditation that included daily Dharma Talks in the Meditation Hall by Rev. Master Meian.

Rev. Berthold was celebrant for the Funeral Ceremony for Percy, Kirk Yarnell and Susan Place’s 17-year old cat, who was buried in the Animal Ceremony.

Posted 10/09/10

The 2010 Order of Buddhist Contemplatives’ Conclave concluded on September 30, 2010 with a Closing Ceremony with Rev. Master Haryo as Celebrant. The Conclave’s 12 working days were filled with necessary and helpful discussions. The two renewal days included trips to an array of local sights. For several of the monks attending the Conclave, this was their first visit to California and to the United States.


                                              OBC Conclave 2010

                                                                               PDF of Photo

We are most grateful for all who helped with preparations, including putting a retractable video screen in the Buddha
Hall ceiling and additional lighting in the lofts; completing the renovation of the two Jizo House rooms; and finishing the bathroom in the Tripitaka Hall (Library). We are also grateful for the many lay friends who came to help prepare meals for the community. The kitchen created with significantly greater quantities than usual: 150 eggs went into one breakfast’s scrambled eggs! 25 square feet of pizza were made for another day’s lunch.

Shasta Abbey’s 2011 calendar has been mailed out. Please click here for a pdf of the calendar for your use, or check the CALENDAR page for 2011 retreats, ceremonies, and other activities at the Abbey.

Posted 9/13/10

The monastic community started the Fall 2010 Training Term on Friday, September 10, with Rev.
Master Daishin's disciple, Rev. Enya Sapp as Head Novice. She entered the Meditation Hall in the traditional Entry Ceremony in which she asked Rev. Master Meian to be allowed “...to sit beside you within this Meditation Hall and learn from you.”

Rev. Master Ando Mueller was named a Master of the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives at the conclusion of the start-of-term Abbatical Tea held later that afternoon. Congratulations to both
monks as they continue their training!

On Thursday evening Rev. Master Ando led the first session of this term’s local reading group. The text they are reading is Great Master Keizan’s Denkoroku. Eleven members of our local congregation had a spirited discussion and they all look forward to next week's session.

Four members of the monastic community attended the University of Washington, and are featured in an article on the Abbey in the September, 2010, Columns, the UW Alumni Magazine. The article can be read online or downloaded at http://www.washington.edu/alumni/columns-magazine/september-2010/features/zen/

Posted 9/6/10

Please note that Shasta Abbey will be closed from September 17 through September 30 as members of the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives come together for the once-every-ten-years Conclave. However, you are very welcome to join us for early morning meditation and Morning Service during this time. We will let you know the time for meditation in the next while.

Rev. Master Jisho led a day-long retreat on The Shurangama Scripture for about a dozen members of the Bear River Meditation Group (bearrivermeditationgroup@gmail.com.) in Auburn, California, on Saturday, August 25th. He spoke on the teaching of the Scripture in a morning Dharma Talk, and then all attending the retreat performed the Shurangama Ceremony in the afternoon. During the day there was time for questions and discussions, as well as for spiritual counseling. Steve Larsen accompanied Rev. Master Jisho as his chaplain. Pam Johnson and Andrea Spark kindly had Rev. Master Jisho and Steve stay at their home over the weekend. Kim and Gloria Woodward organized a lovely potluck brunch at their house on Sunday morning before Rev. Master Jisho and Steve returned home.

The September Introductory Retreat, led by Rev. Astor and Rev. Ando, was very well attended. Some thirty retreat guests, young and old, participated wholeheartedly in the weekend that included the Festival Memorial for Great Master Dogen and Rev. Master Daisin's Dharma Talk on Great Master Dogen's Three Minds.

Rev. Helen spent a day observing practices and procedures at Chico Hospital for Cats through the courtesy of Dr. Elizabeth Colleran. She was able to bring back to the Abbey greater insight into caring for our cats in sickness and in health.

Posted 8/29/10

We were glad to welcome 4 Vietnamese nuns, a novice monk recently ordained and five lay friends from the Buu-Hung Buddhist Monastery in Vancouver, Washington who visited the Abbey and stayed overnight. They appreciated the opportunity to share our schedule, meditating and celebrating Morning Service with us. We are ever grateful to be able to share our practice with Dharma friends.

Some 20 Abbey monks and laity enjoyed a cloud-covered Sangha Walk at Lake Siskiyou on Saturday. The adventuresome hiked; the more contemplative sat by the peaceful lake. All enjoyed a lovely picnic lunch.

We are busy preparing for the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives (OBC) Conclave that will start on 17 September. We will welcome 38 monks from Europe, Canada, and across the United States, as well a 5 Lay Ministers for this two-week meeting. We are preparing rooms and meeting facilities, as well as cleaning and polishing the monastery for our guests - who will start arriving in early September! Help getting ready for the Conclave is much appreciated. If you might be able to offer help, please contact the Prior at prior@shastaabbey.org.

Posted 8/23/10

Rev. Master Daishin offered seven Dharma Talks on The Platform Sutra written by the Sixth Chinese Ancestor in our tradition, Venerable Hui-Neng (Daikan Eno), over the past week to nearly 30 retreat participants. The week-long retreat included Dharma talks every day and Dharma discussions every other evening, as well as time for spiritual counseling, meditation, reading and reflection. Also part of the retreat were Hui-Neng's Formless Precept Ceremony and Laurie Ottens' moving performance of her original song taken from the text of Chapter 52 of The Platform Sutra: "Deluded a Buddha is a being. Enlightened a being is a Buddha."  

 
Many thanks to Friends of Shasta Abbey (FOSA) for providing the materials and labor to make twelve beautiful meditation screens we used during the The Platform Sutra Retreat. The old screens are now in use by the Chico Meditation Group.

Bronwen Anne Midtdal entered the postulancy on August 20, 2010. We wish her well in her next step in becoming a monk.

Rev. Master Jisho performed a naming ceremony for Dorian Sheldon Perkins, son of Lay Minister Leroy Perkins and Gail Perkins. Their daughter Valerie was also in attendance, having gone through the same ceremony some years ago. After the ceremony the Perkins family planned an outing to celebrate this joyous occasion.


Rev. Helen performed the funeral ceremony for the Taforo family's dog Mogli, who had been hit by a car on I-5. Carol, our Choir Director and singing teacher, her husband, two sons and two dogs were there. Monks and members of our local congregation offered their support and merit at the ceremony.

Posted 8/16/10animal ordination

Rev. Amanda was celebrant for the Animal Ordination ceremony performed for Joanne Keifer's four kittens - Homer, Ragamuffin, Sadie Hawkins and Juniper. This lovely ceremony was followed by a pleasant tea in the picnic area.

Rev. Master Seikai from Pine Mountain Temple in Southern California visited the Abbey over the past week and gave the Sunday Dharma Talk on Be Willing to Accept Joy in the Face of Adversity. It was nice to see him in good health, and it was a delight to have him with us.

Rev. Berthold visited the Chico Meditation Group over two days last week. He gave a Dharma Talk at the Skycreek Dharma Center on the text from Zen is Eternal Life: "Expect nothing. Seek nothing. Just live." He met with individuals for spiritual counseling, and also enjoyed social time with the group, as well as with individuals who were unable to come to the Center.

Posted 8/10/10

Shasta Abbey Buddhist Supply Shop is now accepting donations of items that can be sold in the Shop. Items that would be of interest are books approved by the Abbey, statues and such. If you have an item you would like to donate please bring it to the shop, or contact Bob Johnson at buddhistsupply@shastaabbey.org with any questions.

The Guest Office welcomed nearly 50 Vietnamese visitors from San Jose this past Saturday, and 12 members of the Rosicrucian Order on Sunday. All appreciated the opportunity to come to the Abbey and visit the Buddha Hall, to talk with the monks and enjoy a social tea. It was a busy weekend!

Posted 8/2/10

Koko, one of our beloved Sangha House cats, died peacefully last week at the age of 12. Rev. Master Meian was celebrant for the funeral ceremony held at the Kshtigarbha Shrine by the Guest House. Following the ceremony, monks and lay friends processed to the Animal Cemetery where Koko was buried. The cat population at the Abbey is now down to eleven: Miss Marple, Yum-Yum, Katisha, Aria, Copernicus, Nanki-poo, Iris, Jason, Brandy, Tess, and Maizie. Moggi, our one canine representative, remains stalwart - and gets along well with all the cats.

We gratefuly accepted the donation of a Dodge Dakota truck from a friend of the Abbey. This generous donation will be particularly helpful with Extern Sacristy projects and transport of materials.

The Externs Sacristans, along with several lay friends, brought back several cords of wood made available to us by a friend of the Abbey. Like so many in the area, he had a number of trees fall during the January 2010 storms. He very kindly donated the fallen trees to us for firewood.

Posted 7/26/10

A group of Shasta Abbey monks and several lay sangha members are participating in a Northwest Earth Institute (NWEI) discussion course on global warming. The participants are discussing a set of readings that focus on the history and science of climate change, personal values and habits as they relate to climate change, and personal actions to curb the effects of global warming.

Rev. Vivian Gruenenfelder led a retreat for the Bear River Meditation Group on Saturday, July 24 on the topic of Nirvana: What the Buddha Taught. The day included ceremonial, meditation, spiritual counseling and Dharma Talks.

Rev. Alethea Waxman performed an Animal Shelter Blessing at the Siskiyou Humane Society. The animals and the staff are very grateful for this offering.

Posted 7/19/10

Thanks to Pam Johnson, Mary Helen Fein of Parallax Design Group, Andrea Spark, Kathe Waterbury and many others, we are pleased to announce the launch of this new website. Special thanks go to Rev. Berthold Olson for the use of his photographs throughout the site. We hope you will find it useful, and invite your comments as to how we may make it more helpful for you. Please note that it can be translated into 56 languages by clicking the translate link at the foot of each page. We will be adding materials regularly so we hope you will become a regular and frequent visitor.

The Induction Ceremony for Rev. Master Meian Elbert will be held on Saturday, November 6, 2010 during our 40th Anniversary Weekend celebration. This is a joyous public ceremony in which our new Abbess is formally installed as the Abbess of Shasta Abbey.

The Abbey has been pleased to welcome OBC monastic visitors Rev. Master Haryo, Rev. Master Mugo, and Rev. Scholastica, as well as Rev. Master Phoebe from Pine Mountain Temple, Rev. Master Meiko and Rev. Margaret from the Portland Priory, Rev. Master Kinrei from the Berkeley Priory and Rev. Master Oswin from the Eugene Priory. We are delighted to spend time with members of our monastic family.

At the end of April, we completed the purchase of approximately three-quarters of an acre of land from CalTrans. This land, which extends our property to the north, will allow for more walking paths for our lay guests and more space for quiet reflection, as well as providing greater privacy for the Abbey. A fencing crew is currently working on the extensive existing fence repairs needed after the January storms. When they finish those, they will extend the current north fence by the Animal Cemetery to enclose the new property.

Rev. Ando and Rev. Alethea spent a week at Duc Vien Temple in San Jose where they assisted in offering the Dharma to the close to 300 young Vietnamese-American youth attending the 2010 Summer Retreat for Children. Duc Vien Temple's monastic community and lay congregation were happy to have Western female monks participate in an inspiring retreat. Our monks were moved by the reverence and generosity of the Vietnamese Buddhist community.

At their most recent board meeting, the Friends of Shasta Abbey welcomed a new board member: Cat Ruiz-Kigerl. We are grateful for her willingness to join the FOSA Board, as well as to FOSA for all it does for the monastery.

Posted 05/10/11