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Eugene Buddhist Priory Eugene, Oregon |
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Links to printable versions of the EBP Calendars, Newsletters, and Special Announcements and Events:
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Dear Friends, As autumn leaves begin to fall and cooler days arrive, we can use this time to reflect on the impermanency of all life and the inevitable death of all as well. In Buddhism death is not seen as an opposite to life, but rather as a part of life, inherent in all things, great and small. Meditation practice is aimed at finding the Buddha within birth-and-death, for then, as Great Master Dogen teaches in Shushogi, “birth and death both vanish”. We are one with the Life of Buddha, exemplified in the red line of the Precepts found on your Bloodline certificate—arising from the Source, flowing through all, and returning once again to the Source. At the same time, the devastating hurricanes along the Gulf Coast remind us of the suffering inher-ent in this world of birth-and-death and of the urgency to do something about ourselves and find the Buddha quickly. Of particular note is our upcoming introductory retreat on Saturday, October 15th. This full day retreat is for people who have not been to the temple before and who wish to receive an in-depth introduction to meditation in our tradition. I’ve attached the flyer which has all the pertinent information. We still need help with cooking, supervising working meditation, and support staff. Please call Sally Meadow at 343-8399 to offer your assistance. This is a wonderful opportunity to offer the Buddha’s teaching and practice to our local community. The other major event of October is the Feeding the Hungry Ghosts Ceremony on Sunday, October 30th. We make abundant offerings of food and Dharma to assist deceased relatives and friends, particularly those who died in distressing or tragic circumstances. A variety of food offerings for the altar are welcome—we have plenty of appropriate small dishes and plates for the offerings. On Saturday, October 29th, from 2-5pm, we’ll set up the altar. News. On September 18th, our Dharma school friends participated in the Kshtigarbha Bodhisattva Festival, in which Jizo (Kshtigarbha) is honored with offerings, scriptures and hymns, and stones brought by the children. Everyone did very well, and we are grateful for the part they play in our sangha life. On September 16th , as part of the national day of prayer for Hurricane Katrina victims, we held a memorial in the evening before meditation. We offered merit to all who had died or suffered loss. The Priory sangha held a meeting on September 2 to discuss future expansion of the temple. Minutes of the meeting are being emailed to members. Animals. It’s been an interesting time for the Priory resident and visiting animals. In early August Raja Cat had a severe abdominal blockage. After three trips to various veterinarians, the blockage was cleared. He was so happy to be home and through with the ordeal that one could feel the gratitude just pouring out of him. Gratitude is extended to Doreen Hock of Pacific Veterinary Care and Ann Samsell of Cat’s Care Ltd. for their assistance, much of which was donated. Visitors have included a small flock of wild turkeys from across Dillard Road—several adults and a bunch of young ones. We also often see an orphan fawn on the property. Its mother was hit by a car on Dillard Road. Lastly, it seems someone dropped off at our gate a beautiful red hen. She refuses to leave, so when we can catch her, she’ll be tak-ing up residence here. We’re calling her “Henrietta” or “Henry Dear”. May you all be well and at peace. In gassho, Rev. Oswin Drivers Still Needed:
Third Refuge Assistance Coordinators:
Future of Newsletter Shasta Abbey cookbook available
Respectful Dress at the Priory
Alms received: This past summer the temple was given a three-foot high standing amber glass statue of Avalokiteshvara (Kwan Yin) from China. It was crafted through a painstaking process of melting amber resin, adding glass shards, allowing it to cool, carving a piece of the statue, then reheating the piece and adhering it to the statue’s form. The statue was collected in the 1970’s from Buddhist peasants who had hidden her to ensure her safekeeping. It was given to the temple in memory of the collector by his widow. We are honored by her gift; she was delighted to learn our temple is dedicated to Kwan Yin/Kanzeon. Any amount of light causes the statue’s translucent form to glow with a yellow-gold light from and within every part of her. The statue’s exquisite carving testifies to the dignified love of Great Compassion. We also received a handsome pair of traditional Thai alms bowls from Ven. Tsung Tsu Shih, a Chinese Buddhist Master in Taiwan. Ven. Tsung Tsu became a friend of the Priory through the Taiwanese female monks who were living in Eugene two years ago. We thank him for his kindness and friendship. Thank you as well to all who contributed to our yard and bake sale in August. Together with items from Jami Oshiro’s estate sold separately, we garnered around $1000 for the temple. Next year we hope to have the sale closer to the temple and offer a greater variety of baked goods. Other donations in the past month included fresh summer produce, as well as many prepared dishes and meals, plus children’s e-books, a new crockpot, health and first aid items, a medium-sized cat carrier, a fluid-filled heater, blankets, and incense from Fugen Hermitage. Many of you have been making offerings of your time to cook, clean, shop, mend, sew, launder, run errands, care for the cats and the tools, keep up the grounds, maintain the building, and update essential services such as our dana book offerings and transfer of merit board. Thank you! We also give our thanks to those who contributed computers and parts in response to our request last month, and to Jerry Mohr who put together a new system for us. Alms Bowl: A few items the temple could use include: a light-weight, gasoline-powered lawnmower (preferably used), a large wok for outdoor cooking, smokeless or “less smoke” stick incense, and large stones for use as grave markers in our animal cemetery. We are very grateful to all who have made offerings in the past month. All offerings--large or small, material or spiritual, tangible or in service--enable the temple to exist as a place of teaching and refuge for those who wish to practice in the Serene Reflection tradition transmitted by Rev. Master Jiyu. Our support of the Priory is another way we show our gratitude for all that she gave us.
Let us know if this webpage of the calendar and news provides you with information and updates about the Priory in an easily accessible and timely manner. Any thoughts or suggestions regarding format, design, articles, graphics, mailing, web access etc. are appreciated. We also welcome contributions of articles or questions about meditation and Buddhist practice, as well as artwork, graphics, and digital photographs with a Buddhist theme. Eugene Buddhist Priory Members' Photo Gallery Copyright © 2004 The Eugene Buddhist Priory
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