Temple News
Temple News Archives:
2014
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7 8 9 10
2013
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7 8 9 10 11 12
2012
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12
2011
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7 8 9 10 11 12
2010
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7 8 9 10 11 12
2009
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Busshin - April
(PDF file, 3.3mb)
Busshin - February
(PDF file, 4.7mb)
NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2014 EVENTS
NOV: 6th, 13th Essence of Zen Study Group 7:30pm
9th Chasen Kuyo Tea Ceremony 11am-3pm
10th Veteran’s Day - temple closed
11th Board Meeting 7:30pm
16th Shichi-Go-San 11am
22nd Entering the Temple Ceremony & Dharma talk by Gengo Akiba Roshi 4pm
23rd Fujinkai Meeting 10am
Dharma Inquiry Ceremony 10am
Monthly Service & Memorial 11am
Potluck Luncheon 12pm
27th Thanksgiving Day - temple closed
30 - Dec 6 Rohatsu Sesshin 6am-8pm
DEC: Nov 30 - Dec 6 Rohatsu Sesshin 6am-8pm
7th Jukai Ceremony 10am
Jodo-E & Monthly Service & Memorial 11am
Potluck Luncheon 12pm
9th Board Meeting 7:30pm
14th Garden Cleaning/Omigaki 9am
Goeika Osame 1pm
21st Dr. Kato’s Buddhism Lecture in Japanese 10am
25th Christmas Day - temple closed
27th Mochigome Washing 8am
28th Mochitsuki 7am - 4pm
31st Year-End Service 4pm
ZENSHUJI SUTRA BOOKS
We are excited to announce that our long awaited Zenshuji Sutra books have finally arrived! Sokan Daigaku Rumme, who initiated this project 2 ½ years ago, felt a need to publish our very own book filled with sutras typically chanted here at Zenshuji during memorial/Sunday service and daily service and includes the meal verses as well as other significant Mahayanan sutras. The sutras are written in English, Roma-ji and Japanese. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the committee members, our sutra book project has finally come to fruition. It was a labor of love and commitment on the part of everyone involved. Thank you to Sokan Rumme, Kojima Sensei, Toho Sensei, Julie Iwamoto, Atsuko Kubota and Sunil Vernekar.
The books will be available for use in the Hondo and also for sale to individuals who would like their very own copy. They are hard bound and will sell for $25.00 each. For those who cannot pick up a copy from the Temple, we will be happy to sell by mail order. which will include a shipping fee of $5. Mail Order Form here.
Cover
- English side -
Cover
- Japanese side -
DHARMA INQUIRY CEREMONY
Sat. Nov. 22: At 4:00 p.m., there will be an “Entering the Temple Ceremony” followed by a talk given by Gengo Akiba Roshi which you are all invited to attend. His talk will be on the koan “Ungan’s Great Compassion.”
Sun. Nov. 23: At 10:00 a.m., we will have a “Dharma Inquiry Ceremony” for Rev. Jisho Sara Siebert, a disciple of Akiba Roshi. These two ceremonies (Sat. and Sun.) are connected. In the Sunday ceremony, Jisho will be asked questions from the Assembly, both ordained and lay. You are welcome to attend. You are invited to ask her a question during the ceremony, particularly about compassion. I hope there will be a good turnout for these ceremonies. This kind of ceremony is one which all Soto priests are expected to complete. It marks a certain stage in the formation of a priest.
ROHATSU SESSHIN - NOV 30th to DEC 6th
You are all invited to attend Rohatsu Sesshin, our one and only
sesshin of the year at Zenshuji. (A sesshin is a week-long retreat
in which people devote themselves to zazen.) This year, Rohatsu
Sesshin will begin on Sunday, Nov. 30th, and conclude at
midnight on Sat. Dec. 6th.
Three meals will be served each day. For those who plan to join us for meals, it would be good to know if you are planning to eat with us. If you are planning to sit for quite a bit of the Sesshin, please send an email to webmaster@zenshuji.org to register. We often get more people sitting with us on Sunday and particularly on Saturday, the last day. There is a suggested donation of $50- 150, on a sliding scale depending on your situation. Please come and join us, even if you can only sit for an hour or two.
SHICHI-GO-SAN (7-5-3) SERVICE
Zenshuji Temple’s celebration for children Shichi-Go-San (7-5-3 years old) will be held on Sunday November 16, 2014 @ 11:00am. Usually girls of seven years, boys of 5 years and boys and girls of 3 years go to the local shrine to express gratitude to the Gods for their growth and continued blessings. The children dress in colorful traditional costumes as they enter the shrine. If Western attire is worn, the children dress up in party dresses and suits. The children are given candy called “chitoseame” (thousand year candy) to promise them long life. We need to order these candies from Japan. Pictures are taken by the proud parents for these mile stones. We will have Alan Miyatake of Toyo Miyatake Studio, San Gabriel taking pictures for this memorable event. Come early to take your pictures before the service. Alan will be downstairs. All children must register with the ministers at Zenshuji. Please call (213) 624-8658 and make your reservation. Deadline is November 8, 2014 to register.
JUKAI CEREMONY - TAKING THE PRECEPTS
Sun. Dec. 7: At 10:00 a.m., we will have a special ceremony to formally present the rakusus to the 11 people who have sewn one of these items. These people will formally take the precepts during this ceremony. This ceremony will be followed at 11:00 a.m. with “Enlightenment Day Ceremony” which commemorates the enlightenment of Shakyamuni Buddha.