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Volume 3, Number 2                                                                                        Spring, 2018
In this issue of the newsletter we highlight Work Practice at Shao Shan Temple. Work Practice is not only a type of Zen practice similar to sitting meditation or chanting, but it is also an opportunity for contributing to the temple's well being. In the lead article, Dharma Talk: Work Practice, Kenzan explains the value of Work Practice as a tool to help us stay  in the present moment. Next, we offer Work Practice: A Pictorialwhich depicts sangha members performing a variety of Work Practice activities that are regularly performed around the temple.
Also in this issue are two new features. The Shao Shan Temple Cemetery Report will provide semi-annual updates on cemetery news and improvements.  A "Question and Answer" column entitled Ask the Priests will feature responses from Taihaku and Kenzan to questions submitted by readers that are of general interest to the sangha.
The Development Committee has provided a detailed update on a variety of temple issues and a preview of the Annual Meeting on June 9. The Community Programs & Ceremonies section highlights the temple's community outreach efforts. You can learn about the temple's diverse programming in the News sectionThere is an encouraging update about the financial status of the temple in the 1st quarter Financial Report. We hope that all of this invigorating news inspires you to make a contribution to support Shao Shan, and the Opportunities for Giving Back section provides some suggestions.

Many people in our sangha have worked hard to bring you this edition of the newsletter. We would like to thank: Kenzan and Taihaku for writing pieces and reviewing drafts; Kenzan, Noah Weinstein, and Raven NK Bruce for their photos; Scott Fields for his copyediting; and Nancy Schulz for her proofreading services.

 In the Dharma,

Monica DiGiovanni and Max Schlueter
Co-editors

Upcoming Events Calendar

The Shao Shan website is a great way to check on the dates and times of the temple's regular schedule of zazen, study groups, work practice, oryoki, and services. View the temple calendar: http://www.shaoshantemple.org/home/calendar

Before coming to a Shao Shan program, please be sure to check the temple website calendar or call 802-456-7091 to make sure event details have not changed. An RSVP is appreciated for special events. You can email the temple at: shaoshantemple@gmail.com

WEDNESDAY MORNING PROGRAM RETURNS
Beginning on June 13,  the temple will again offer the Wednesday early morning program.  The program begins with Zazen at 6:10 am, followed by a service at 6:50 am, and closes with Oryoki breakfast. This program will be held every Wednesday morning from June 13 - August 29.
May  2018
12          Mt. Retreat Opening
20          Buddha's Birthday

June  2018
9            Shao Shan Annual Meeting
16          New: Youth Program
17          Zazenkai
23          Animal/Pet Blessing

Click on an event for more information
July  2018
1            Jukai
14          Family Program
17-22     Mini Summer Practice Period
22          Zazenkai


August  2018
11          Family Program
12          Annual Open House
26          Nature Pilgrimage
by Rev. Kenzan Seidenberg
 
One of the practice opportunities available at Shao Shan Temple is Work Practice.  Like sitting meditation, walking meditation, and chanting practice, work practice is an opportunity to be in the present moment – actually experiencing “what is the reality of this moment.” In Zen, we are encouraged to enter into each moment and each activity fully and wholeheartedly. To be fully present with our activity is a moving meditation. In Zen monasteries, carrying objects with both hands assists us to bring our
whole mind together – the opposite of multitasking! Sometimes there can be the idea that to work mindfully means to work slowly, but this need not be the case. Sometimes the situation calls for working slowly, and sometimes it calls for working with the energy appropriate to the task at hand.

Read more of Kenzan's Dharma Talk on Work Practice at Shao Shan Temple....
Featuring Members of the Shao Shan Temple Sangha
 
Formal Work Practice at Shao Shan Temple is generally scheduled for the first Saturday morning of each month and alternating Thursday morning Temple Day Programs. Opportunities vary with the season, but there is always work to be done at the temple. The following photos depict our sangha engaged in a variety of tasks during Work Practice. Come join us!
Soto Zen Buddhist Association
Taihaku and Kenzan are registered teachers with this American-based organization.

Shao Shan Temple Cemetery Report 

The Shao Shan Temple Cemetery provides a place of interment for cremated remains on temple grounds, in close proximity to our place of active practice. A brief Cemetery Report will appear periodically in the newsletter to keep the sangha up-to-date with the latest information about this unique and important feature of our temple community.
Main Path of the Temple Cemetery 
We continue to enhance the cemetery's peaceful atmosphere with ongoing landscaping improvements. In the Fall of 2017, we removed a number dead or damaged trees and planted flowering trees in their place. We are expecting the delivery of additional granite posts in the Spring of 2018 to mark the four corners of the cemetery and to delineate the inner oval.

There are currently four interments in Shao Shan Temple Cemetery and several other lots have been purchased or reserved. It is now possible to reserve your selected lot in advance with a down payment of half the lot price.  Additional information is available by contacting the temple at: shaoshantemple@gmail.com.
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE UPDATE

The Development Committee met on April 19 to plan for the Shao Shan Temple Annual Meeting and to discuss the progress of ongoing projects. 

Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting will be held on Saturday, June 9 in the Little Hall after the morning programs. Light refreshments will be served. The Development Committee will present detailed updates on the items mentioned below including ongoing projects, the financial status of the temple, and the temple's fundraising strategies, including the Annual Alms Round. Questions, feedback, and discussion will be encouraged during the presentations. We are encourageing all formal students and sangha members who have received the Precepts to attend this important event. 

Land Transfer Project
The survey of Taihaku's land is now complete. The Committee formulated questions for Taihaku's and Kenzan's visit with the trust attorney in April. The 
 



purpose of the April meeting was to discuss the trust through which the temple land will be deeded to Shao Shan Temple, Inc.

Financial Issues
The Committee reviewed the first quarter financial statement (see below). Donations almost equaled budgeted expenses. There was a preliminary discussion about investing all or part of the temple's Endowment Fund as a seed fund to establish an endowment with the Vermont Community Foundation (VCF). The VCF invests part of its assets to support the needs of Vermont communities. The Committee also reviewed sample bequest documents which friends of the temple can include in their wills to provide a gift to the temple upon their death. 

Current and Anticipated Projects
Several additional projects were discussed, including a plan to expand the parking lot, finish the Treasure House, and repair the upper driveway. 
 
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS & CEREMONIES

In addition to conducting services, planning programs, and tending to the needs of the sangha, Taihaku and Kenzan are also actively involved with local communities. Here are a few examples of recent community outreach programs and ceremonies.

Vermont State Senate
Taihaku and Kenzan have each offered the opening blessing for the Vermont State Senate in Montpelier twice this year. Shao Shan Temple priests have now been invited for a number of years to give a three-minute devotional exercise to begin one of the Senate's daily sessions. Taihaku led one on February 14 focusing on Open Heart and on April 19 one on 
 



A Sacred Wish for the Future.  Kenzan offered the Peace Dedication on March 2 and a Light of Goodness Dedication on April 20.

High School Mentoring
The year-long mentoring program of two U32 high school students continues through May.  Shao Shan Temple is also mentoring a high school student from Harwood Union for a couple of months.

Central Vermont Medical Center (CVMC)
Kenzan continues offering a weekly meditation in the CVMC chapel midday on Tuesdays for hospital staff, patients and their families/friends.
Vermont State Senate

Ask the Priests

We are pleased to present a new newsletter feature: Ask the Priests. You may submit a question(s) on any subject related to the Dharma, the temple, or your practice. Questions will become part of a "question pool." Temple priests will select and answer a question from this pool in each newsletter issue. If you have an urgent question, it is best to contact the priests directly.

Please submit your Ask the Priests questions to:  shaoshantemple@gmail.com

Q: Parking can be a problem at the temple, especially for special events and in the winter.  Do you have any plans to expand the parking area?

A: Yes!  
We are in the midst of creating an additional parking lot at the bottom of the temple entrance on the left side.  There is a good flat space that will give us at least a dozen additional parking spaces.  This year we will be able to afford to take out the trees and roots and flatten the area.  A culvert will also be installed. This will be sufficient to start with and we can use it during the time when the dirt is dry or frozen.
We plan to finish the parking lot over the next few years.  Each year we will finish a section with gravel and road fabric.  We expect the project will be completed in three to four years.
 

Program News

New Year's Eve Ceremony
The New Year's Eve Ceremony at Shao Shan Temple on December 31 was a celebration of sitting, chanting, fire, and cold. The quintessential essence of our best intentions was reflected in the natural environment with the crystal purity of the cold air, the rising of the full moon above the snow-covered pines, and the blazing fire in the circle of snow. This natural beauty was combined with sincere reflection, warm fellowship, hearty chanting, and delicious food. Warm wishes to all in 2018!


Family Program:  Heart & Loving-kindness
In honor of Valentine's Day, during the February 10 Family Program, the children explored what "heart" and "loving-kindness" mean.  They made "loving-kindness cards" which were dedicated in the temple, before they were given away.
 

Buddha's Parinirvana
On February 15, Shao Shan Temple had a ceremony honoring the death date of our original teacher, Shakyamuni Buddha.  This year we conducted a formal ceremony which included an offering of tea and cakes, musical instruments (bell, drum, and cymbals), and a chanting procession.
 

Sesshin
The winter Sesshin was held on February 16-18.  A Sesshin is a multi-day, silent meditation retreat. The Sesshin began on Friday evening at 6:30 pm with an entrance ceremony followed by sitting and walking. On Saturday the day began at 5:30 am with sitting and walking meditation, followed by morning service, breakfast, and Study Group. The remainder of the day was spent in sitting and walking meditation. Sunday followed the regular Zazenkai schedule. 

Honey Bee Memorial
On Thursday, February 22 as part of the Thursday morning program we had a small memorial ceremony for the Shao Shan Temple Honey Bees who died during the past winter.  We hope to have new bees this spring and try a new hive location above the orchard.

 


Family Program:  Snow, Change, & Breath
During the Family Program on March 10, the children explored the changing seasons and made snow Buddhas. Teens and parents had time for meditation.  Parents discussed mindful parenting. 

Spring Equinox Ceremony
As part of the Thursday morning program on March 22,  Shao Shan Temple had a small ceremony celebrating the Spring Equinox. With ongoing chanting as we walked in gratitude along snow and mud covered paths, we gathered an offering of newly budded pussywillow branches and an offering bowl of snow.

 

2018 Home Blessing Visits
This year we continued the Shao Shan Temple tradition of offering Home Blessing Visits during the months of January through March. Taihaku and Kenzan traveled to the homes of sangha members and friends of Shao Shan Temple and joined together with them in generating a blessing and protection for their home.  The visits generally included a short time of chanting and/or sitting at a person's home place of practice.  This year we visited 26 homes - a record number!

Young Adult Program:  Transforming Suffering & Cultivating Well-Being
Young Adults (in their 20s and 30s) came together for an all-day program on the topic of “Transforming Suffering & Cultivating Well-Being” on April 22.  The program included meditation, discussion, active explorations of mindfulness, and a garden-produce lunch. The discussion included guided exercises on compassion for oneself and others.

Spring Cleanup at the Temple
In addition to the usual Saturday morning program on May 5, there was a half-day Spring Cleanup Work Practice.   The snow finally melted, exposing lots to do!  Those working on Spring Cleanup raked the lawn, picked up sticks, and worked on the new bee yard.

Wagesa and Rakusu Sewing
Also on May 5, sangha members participated in sewing practice in preparation for the Jukai ceremonies in July.  Those receiving the five precepts this year came together to sew their own wagesa - prayerfully putting their aspiration and intention in with each stitch. This year, Kathleen, Sarika, Brian, and Dan will be receiving the five precepts. During winter/spring there has also been weekly Rakusu sewing for sangha members who will become formal students. This year, Hollie will be becoming a formal student.

Sangha members have requested that each newsletter include a simplified year-to-date financial report. The report for the 1st quarter of 2018 (January 1, 2018 thru March 31, 2018) is as follows. 
The 2018 annual operating budget for the temple is $22,000. The 1st quarter funding goal was $5,500 ($22,000 divided by 4 quarters). As of March 31, 2018, contributions for the 1st quarter of the year amounted to $5,181 -- approximately 95% of the goal.  

Thank you for your continued financial support.
Each issue of the newsletter includes a list of suggestions for ways that sangha members and friends can give back to Shao Shan to ensure a stable future for the temple.

SPECIAL FUNDS

Land Transfer Fund
This fund supports the costs associated with the initiative to transfer the property on which the temple now rests from Taihaku to Shao Shan Temple.  Costs include legal fees, a land survey, engineering studies, and property transfer taxes. The costs associated with this project are estimated to be $10,000.  After paying the cost for the survey this quarter, there is $5,148 in the Land Transfer Fund.

Endowment Fund
This fund was created by a group of individual friends of the temple who donated $7,000 to initiate the fund. The money in this fund is intended for the long-term support of the resident priest(s) and visiting monks who teach and care for Shao Shan Temple and its sangha, and the long-term support of the temple.  There is currently  $7,261 in the Endowment Fund.
 
If you would like to contribute to one or more of the Special Funds, please send a tax-deductible donation to Shao Shan Temple or contact Shao Shan Temple for more information.  You may also click on the "Donate Now" button below to make an online donation using PayPal. Donations may be earmarked for the exclusive use of the Land Transfer Fund or the Endowment Fund.
 

SANGHA DONATIONS

For those who can afford it, a weekly or monthly donation placed in the offering bowl, sent as a check, or paid through PayPal is a wonderful way to help support the services and programs provided by Shao Shan Temple.

Sangha members often ask, "How much should I be giving?"  The Development Committee suggests that if 30 active sangha members each contributed about $70 per month, the sangha would fully fund the annual temple operations. So please give what you can, but remember that everyone is always welcome at Shao Shan, regardless of whether or not you can afford to give a financial offering.
DONATE NOW
Shao Shan on a Spring Morning
Our mailing address is:
Shao Shan Temple
125 Cranberry Meadow Rd.
East Calais, VT 05650

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shaoshantemple.org
shaoshantemple@gmail.com
(802) 456-7091






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Shao Shan Temple · 125 Cranberry Meadow Rd. · East Calais, VT 05650 · USA

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