|
Posted 7/26/10
Global Warming Discussion Course
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.
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.
|