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<\/a><\/div>\nIn our tradition, we commemorate the Buddha\u2019s Enlightenment Day on December 8th. Zen lore has it that after sitting under the bodhi tree for seven days, the Buddha looked up, saw the morning star and roared his lion\u2019s roar, \u201cI together with the great earth and all living beings, attain the Way.\u201d
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In our heartfelt aspiration to do just like the Buddha did, we sit for seven days of rohatsu (twelfth month) sesshin,<\/span><\/span> sitting through the night, especially on the last night of sesshin.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nDue to my work schedule, this year we\u2019ll sit this upcoming weekend here at Transforming Through Play Temple.
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I\u2019m thinking that some of you might want to celebrate the Buddha\u2019s Big E and so I offer the ceremony here for your home practice.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n1. Light your candle, offer incense, and maybe some coffee or tea to the old guy who\u2019s been sitting for seven days.<\/span><\/div>\n2. 3 bows<\/span><\/div>\n3. Recite \u201cShakymuni Buddha<\/a>\u201d from The Record of Transmission of Light. <\/i>The link will bring you to Cook\u2019s version in Google Books, see page 29. If you want the version we use, shoot me an email and I\u2019ll send you a copy.<\/span><\/div>\n4. Dedication (chant this at the end):<\/span><\/div>\nOn this, the recognition day of old Shakyamuni Buddha\u2019s <\/span><\/i><\/div>\nseeing directly the morning star,<\/span><\/i><\/div>\nWe offer flowers, incense, candle light, and tea<\/span><\/i><\/div>\nas an expression of gratitude for the old teacher.<\/span><\/i><\/div>\nWe have recited \u201cShakymuni Buddha\u201d from The Record of Transmission of Light. We now dedicate all benefits from this to: The great teacher, Shakyamuni Buddha<\/span><\/i><\/div>\nThe first master in China, Bodhidharma<\/span><\/i><\/div>\nThe first master in Japan, Eihei Dogen<\/span><\/i><\/div>\nTo Mahaprajapiti and all great practitioners<\/span><\/i><\/div>\nwhose names have been left unsung<\/span><\/i><\/div>\nTo Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, triple treasures in the ten directions and all arahats and bodhisattvas.<\/span><\/i><\/div>\nMay the power of their liberating wisdom direct <\/span><\/i><\/div>\nthe wandering-in-circles world <\/span><\/i><\/div>\ntoward the peaceful Buddha land<\/span><\/i><\/div>\nAnd may the power of their inspiration <\/span><\/i><\/div>\nand their peaceful hearts <\/span><\/i><\/div>\nlead wandering beings to enter the authentic path.<\/span><\/i><\/div>\nWe aspire to turn the Dharma wheel unceasingly <\/span><\/i><\/div>\nand to free the world from every tragedy <\/span><\/i><\/div>\nof war, epidemic, natural disaster and starvation.<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n\u1ee0<\/span>\u00a0 All buddhas throughout space and time,<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n\u1ee0<\/span>\u00a0 All honored ones, bodhisattvas, mahasattvas<\/span><\/i><\/div>\n\u1ee0<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Wisdom beyond wisdom, mahaprajnaparamita.<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n5. 3 bows <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
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