Toward the end of the winter training period at the Hazy Moon we observed Parinirvana Day--a ceremony commemorating the Buddha's death and his last teaching to his disciplines. It's a time for each of us to recall our Original Teacher's exhortation: "Be your own light."
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In keeping with a tradition that began with Taizan Maezumi Roshi, each New Year's Day the Hazy Moon sangha visits Evergreen Cemetery, where we perform services to honor Japanese-American military personnel who fought and died for the United States in World War II as well as the men and women who first brought Zen to California from Japan. Be sure to keep an eye out for pictures of Nyogen Senzaki's epitaph and for Manny, the rooster who has set up shop in our garden.

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New Year's Eve at the Hazy Moon involves both celebration and high ceremony. We begin around 11pm by performing fusatsu, or atonment service, after which we sit zazen until just past midnight. As the stillness of the zendo fills with the crackling of fireworks, the sangha chants to welcome the New Year and Nyogen Roshi revolves the Heart Sutra. Then we gather downstairs for a little soba and a lot of fellowship. Check out photos from New Year's Eve 2008 above.

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During Year End Sesshin at the Hazy Moon, Virginia Tadeo, a member of the Mexican sangha, took jukai and acquired the name "Mo-Shan" (implication: "Summit Mountain" or "Ultimate Attainment"). See pictures from Mo-Shan's jukai above.

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An early winter sesshin at the Hazy Moon's sister temple--the Black Scorpion Zen Center near Tepoztlan, Mexico--attracted about 30 participants and deepened the sangha's love affair with the Black Scorpion. Stay tuned for upcoming notices about future retreats south of the border!

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