Links

Ceremonies

The following ceremonies are observed regularly at the Casa Zen:

Buddha’s Parinirvana (on or near February 13)— All-Day sitting or evening zazen which concludes with specialchanting service with account of the Buddha’s Parinirvana.

Jukai—Formal ceremony of entering the Buddha’s Way. Short Repentance Ceremony; chanting; taking of the Three Refuges, Three General Resolutions, and Ten Cardinal Precepts. Below, Jukai altar.

Vesak, the Buddha’s Birthday Celebration—Offerings made by participants of sweet tea, flowers and small baby present; story or play of the Buddha’s birth; parade with elephant; sleeping sage tells Jataka tales; pot-luck picnic with birthday cake; presents for all children.

Water-Baby Ceremony—Ceremony for infants and fetuses who have died through miscarriage, stillbirth, and abortion. Tiny garments are sewn and placed on Jizo figures as a way of remembering these "water babies."

Bodhidharma Day (on or near October 5)—Zazen (or all-day sitting); special chanting service.

The Buddha’s Enlightenment (December 8)—Five- or seven-day sesshin beginning with ceremony, or ceremony during a sitting. Reading of Buddha’s Enlightenment account; chanting; circumambulation; "tossing" of the sutra books.

New Year’s Ceremonies (December 31)—Zazen; full Repentance Ceremony; reading aloud of unsigned resolutions; incense offerings at altars throughout the house; driving out of demons circumambulation with noise-making; Precepts ceremony; candle-lighting ceremony with gongs; New Year’s prayer; music and refreshments.

Ceremonies of Aid and Famine Relief Ceremonies (quarterly)— Zazen; chanting; prostrations; circumambulation with incense offering and, if a Famine Relief Ceremony, offerings of dry or canned food and money; Special Eko to return merit to focus of ceremony.

Other services held at the Center include weddings, naming ceremonies for babies, memorial services and funerals.